Realm Cellars The Falstaff 2016
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Jeb
Dunnuck -
Wine
Enthusiast -
Robert
Parker
Product Details
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2016 Falstaff is the Cabernet Franc blend of the estate (there’s 37% Cabernet Sauvignon) that was sourced primarily from the Oakville appellation. Ripe black cherries, currants, scorched earth, chocolate, and a flowery, forest floor-like character all emerge from this powerful, concentrated, structured Cabernet Franc. It doesn’t have the sexiness of the To Kolan Cabernet Franc release, yet it’s classic Cabernet Franc all the way and offers sensational purity of fruit. Hide this for 3-4 years and enjoy over the following two decades.
Rating: 98+ -
Wine Enthusiast
This is the producer’s Cabernet Francbased blend (64%), the remainder Cabernet Sauvignon. The Franc comes from the heart of the valley’s sweet Oakville-based spot for the variety, near Rudd and Dalla Valle. It’s tense, focused and brawny in black fruit, violet, tobacco and sweet oak, is laced in peppercorn, cedar and dried herb, an has an Old world sensibility riding over its complexity and structure.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Blended of 63% Cabernet Franc and 37% Cabernet Sauvignon from the To Kalon vineyard, the very deep garnet-purple colored 2016 The Falstaff is a little closed to begin, opening up to reveal red and black currants, blackberries and black cherries with floral wafts of roses and lilacs plus earthy hints of truffles, fertile loam and mossy bark. The palate is full-bodied, very firm and grainy with wonderful freshness and depth given by red fruit and mineral sparks, finishing long. This should age amazingly.
Other Vintages
2019-
Jeb
Dunnuck - Vinous
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Wine
Spectator -
James
Suckling
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Robert
Parker -
James
Suckling
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Robert
Parker
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Robert
Parker
Realm Cellars is one of Napa Valley’s most electrifying wine brands with estate vineyards in Stags Leap District, Pritchard Hill and Coombsville. In 2012, owner Scott Becker and his partner, winemaker Benoit Touquette teamed up to revive a nearly bankrupt brand. Since then, Realm has been transformed into one of the most collected wineries in Napa Valley, with a vineyard portfolio that today exemplifies the beauty and longevity of Napa Valley. Making wine at the very highest level is at the core of Realm Cellars. Since 2012, the wines have been awarded more 100-point scores from internationally recognized wine critics than any other producer in Napa Valley.
Formerly the Hartwell Estate, Realm acquired the property in 2015 and began initial construction and development phases of an endeavor that will take decades to realize. In 2022, Realm acquired Nine Suns and Houyi Vineyard in Napa Valley’s famed area, Pritchard Hill. Realm’s portfolio of wines includes estate, single vineyard wines and proprietary blends, unified by a “style” best described as a creative tension between richness and precision, density and finesse, purity of fruit and nuance. In addition to its estate vineyard sites, Realm partners with Napa Valley’s most prestigious and iconic wine growers and vineyard sites, including Beckstoffer Dr. Crane and Beckstoffer To Kalon.
Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.