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95 RP. "The 2014 The Tempest, a blend of 62% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot is a 500-case cuvée aged in about 65% new Taransaud and Darnajou French oak cooperage. A beautiful nose of cedar wood, chocolate, spice box, forest floor and black and red fruits jumps from the glass of this dense, opulent, voluptuously textured and full-bodied wine with terrific purity, can be drunk now, or cellared . . . . Realm Cellars purchased the Stags Leap winery of Hartwell Estate Vineyards and is in the process of building new facilities and making that their future home. This is one of the stars of Napa Valley and has been since their debut in 2002. Their general philosophy is to find some of the finest vineyard sources in Napa, and not only fashion creative blends, but of course turn out some remarkable Cabernet Sauvignons. 2014 offers their normal lineup of wines, plus their newest estate wine from the Stags Leap AVA. But first, their less expensive offerings, which are phenomenal blends. Remarkably, the 2014s are close in quality to the 2013s! Like most of the 2014s, they are actually more charming and drinkable than the more massive, tannic and potentially longer-lived 2013s." Wine Advocate #228, Dec 2016 |