Realm Cellars The Bard Red Napa Valley 2021

This wine opens with complex layers of dark plum, black cherry, cocoa, and bergamot. It is a dark, lush, and velvety wine with all the fruit and personality in perfect balance. 2019 The Bard offers plenty of pleasure even in its youth, with poise and approachability.

Critical Acclaim

99Jeb Dunnuck

2019 The Bard checks in as 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot, and its another dense, rich, powerful wine from this team that readers are going to absolutely love. Coming from throughout the valley (its always a great representation of the vintage), it offers up a brilliant nose of crme de cassis, ripe plums, graphite, scorched earth, and chocolate. About as seamless as they come on the palate, its full-bodied and has a thrilling texture, building tannins, and a gorgeous finish. Its one of those wines where I feel like Im overusing adjectives, but its warranted.

98James Suckling

Fantastic aromas of blackcurrants and graphite, then plums, licorice and violets. Medium to full body with a cashmere quality to the tannins. Length and true beauty. This has a really luxurious feel to it. 81% cabernet sauvignon, 14% merlot and 5% petit verdot. Drink or hold.

97 Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

A blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot, the fruit for 2019 The Bard fetches from Calistoga to Coombsville, including potions from illustrious vineyards such as Dr. Crane, Moonracer, Houyi and Larkmead. Deep garnet-purple colored, the nose bursts with bold notions of blackcurrant pastilles, wild blueberries and chocolate-covered cherries, plus suggestions of violets, star anise and unsmoked cigars. The full-bodied palate is chock-full of bright, crunchy black and blue fruits, framed by very fine-grained tannins and beautiful freshness, finishing with lots of floral and exotic spice layers. This 2019 is particularly spectacular, drinking beautifully now and yet has the stuffing to cellar beautifully for 20 years+.

96Vinous

2019 The Bard is classy and elegant from start to finish. Inky blueberry jam, lavender, spice, rose petal and blood orange lend brightness to this beautifully layered, expressive Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend from Realm. Silky and creamy, The Bard is a winner in 2019. Core vineyard sources are Blair, Houyi and Upper Range for the Cabernet Sauvignon, Farella and Orchard for Merlot and Dr. Crane for Petit Verdot, spread across a total of about 20 separate lots. Best After 2024.