2008 Vintage Notes

The 2008 vintage in Napa Valley was a season of multiple challenges but ultimately the small crop was harvested very ripe with mature tannins and produced rich, showy wines with a refined balance. The growing season began with a major cold snap that caused considerable frost damage throughout the valley, especially at higher elevations. Fortunately the Realm vineyard sources largely avoided this damage however yields were well below average. Flowering in the warmer alluvial fans of Oakville and St. Helena was very quick during a heat spike in late May but the cooler vineyards were flowering during a drawn out 2-3 week period of cool temperatures in June, which triggered even more intense attention to detail in the vineyard. This attention paid off and the result was a very small crop of beautiful fruit harvested in late September and early October. Our 2008 vintage wines were bottled in July 2010.

Winemaking Philosophy:

The Realm Cellars winemaking philosophy has remained consistent with a goal of producing singular wines that represent intense and delicious portraits of the Napa Valley vineyard sources from which the wines are derived. Our intensive farming approach in the vineyards produces low yields and great evenness of ripening, which thereby allows the vines to mature and allows the grapes to achieve perfect ripeness. Realm Cellars wines always undergo extended lees contact and minimal handling in 100% new French oak. The final results have always been bottled unfined and unfiltered.

2008 "The Bard" Proprietary Red Wine - Napa Valley AVA. Blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Petit Verdot and 6% Malbec. The Bard is our Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend and is modeled after the great Left Bank wines of Bordeaux. Stagecoach contributes Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec, Farella contributes Cabernet Sauvignon and Beckstoffer Dr Crane contributes Petit Verdot. Aged in 100% new French oak including Taransaud, Darnajou, Ermitage, Remond, Meyrieux, and Francois Freres.   360 cases

Winemaker Notes: 2008 The Bard shows its hillside and mountain roots with gutsy, rich red and black fruits, spice and anise aromas and a serious personality. The mid-palate is dense and full, but the tannins are in balance and this allows the full-bodied finish to blossom beautifully.

2008 Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon - Napa Valley AVA. Blend of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot from a single vineyard. These tiny berries are grown in the extremely gravelly soils on the west side of St. Helena. The Cabernet is comprised entirely of Clone 6, which is known for its low yields and tends to produce muscular wine with great concentration. Aged in 100% new French oak consisting primarily of Darnajou and Taransaud.  145 cases

Winemaker Notes: If we had to select a true Vin de Terroir from our 2008 vintage portfolio this is it. The aromas of this Cabernet convey the source from which it was derived: a rock-laden gravel pit. Lush red fruit, vanilla, anise and stony minerality grace the nose of this vintage of Dr. Crane. The mouthfeel is dense, full and structured, leading to a finish that is aromatic and floral, with a lasting impression of the St. Helena sunshine.

2008 "The Falstaff" Proprietary Red Wine - Napa Valley AVA. Blend of 77% Cabernet Franc, 20% Petit Verdot and 3% Merlot. The Cabernet Franc for the 2nd vintage of this wine is sourced from two sites: Temple Family Vineyard and Stagecoach Vineyard. While Temple provides the aromatics and verve, Stagecoach provides depth and length. Petit Verdot from Beckstoffer Dr. Crane fills in the mid-palate and provides backbone. Aged in 100% new French oak including Ermitage, Taransaud, Darnajou and Remond.   360 cases

Winemaker Notes: Bursting from the glass with raspberry, strawberry, anise, flowers and black peppercorn, this wine is very forward. The invitation provided by the aromatics is confirmed by the palate where rich flavors are on full display. This is Cabernet Franc at its essence with lithe, graceful mouthfeel and elegance. The finish is a lenthy sail complemented by ideal levels of tannin.

2008 Farella Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon - Napa Valley AVA. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Farella is a cooler climate site in Coombsville with soil comprised of volcanic tufa and rich red decomposed rock. A vineyard with rich history of producing distinctive wines, this wine is comprised of Clones 4 and 8. Representing our 6th vintage from this special site, we believe the 2008 vintage is our best Farella to date! Aged in 100% new French oak including Darnajou , Ermitage and Francois Freres. 250 cases

Winemaker Notes: Red cherry, raspberry, chocolate and hot rocks greet the nose from the glass. The impression is one of cool climate but the wine is very ripe, showcasing the high-toned fruit and focus that the Farella Vineyard provides in full. The mid-palate is very dense yet there is a distinguished sense of refinement. This should prove to be a very age-worthy wine.

2008 “The Tempest” Proprietary Red Wine - Napa Valley AVA. Blend of 50% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Cabernet Franc and 7% Petit Verdot. The Tempest is our tribute to the great wines from the Right Bank of Bordeaux. Stagecoach Vineyard in the hills east of Oakville contributes the Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc which the gravelly Beckstoffer Dr. Crane vineyard in St. Helena contributes the Petit Verdot. Aged in 100% new French oak including Darnajou, Taransaud, Ermitage and Remond.   300 cases

Winemaker Notes: Boisterous aromas of Damson plum, black cherry, blueberry, cinnamon, chocolate and toasty oak for the nose. The flavors abound on the palate and the density provided by the red mountain soils gives some backbone to this Merlot-based wine. As rich as our Cabernets, if more elegant.

2008 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon - Napa Valley AVA. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Representing our 7th vintage from this famous gravel vineyard on the west side of Oakville, this wine is comprised of 4 different blocks of Clone 4 and 337 Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged in 100% new French oak Taransaud barrels. 225 cases

Winemaker Notes: This is one of our denser To Kalon wines with rich, full fruity flavors, a chocolate streak and a masculine structure. The aromatics are vibrant, and the wine is fruity and full, filling out the structure nicely and providing a velvety length. As with Farella, this wine should also prove very age-worthy.