2004 Realm Cellars The Phoenix

Community Tasting Notes (8) Avg Score: 91.2 points

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  12/13/2021 - msuwine wrote: 95 Points

  The story of this wine is one of my favorites in modern Napa, and the wine is also really tasty… but first to the story: Realm Cellars was founded in 2002 by Juan Mercado, a nurse in Oakland and part-time wine shop employee, and Wendell Laidley, a financial guy based in SF. Originally designed to make wine from non-estate fruit, Realm assembled an impressive array of sources early on, including the (impeccable) vineyards in this blend: To Kalon, Madrona, and Napanook. Only a few years into the project, though, a warehouse fire destroyed their entire 2003 vintage. When Juan called customers to tell them of the news and offer to refund their money, most refused, saying that they trusted the winery and would wait until the next vintage. For those patient and lucky few who helped the winery survive, Realm made 45 cases of the Phoenix - rising from the ashes - as a way to say thanks.
  
  And boy this wine is good - maybe not as good as the story, at least not now, but it’s awfully impressive, especially after three hours of air. Dark garnet in color and full in body, the wine offers aromas of blackberry, mulberry, mocha, fresh gravel, and underbrush. The flavors are integrated but forward, with notes of blueberry, black cherry, leather, and eucalyptus, with a dusty and silky finish that dances between graceful and fragile. 15.7% alcohol. I tasted this next to a 2005 Dominus, which was more full and savory, but the Phoenix held its own, with a ripe and punchy energy that was impossible not to love; it was the David to the Goliath, and David - win or lose - is a glorious thing to behold. 94-95 at the moment, but drink now.

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  1/28/2016 - JBVino wrote:

  Had low expectations based on initial bottle and comments that this wine was over top extraction and alcohol.
  
  This bottle had none of those characteristics so that was a positive. Bottle unfortunately lacked a personality due to missing definable structure and presence. Fruit has mellowed, oak is still overshadows a bit but has begun to integrate all components. Wine lacks length, secondary flavors and mouthfeel/texture to elevate it beyond just simply/modest enjoyable cabernet. This bottle was better than the first so interesting to see what last bottle holds.

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  10/17/2010 - cawinenerd wrote: 83 Points

  I'm a big Realm fan, so this is a sad surprise. There are nice fruit flavors present somewhere in the background, but this wine is terribly over-oaked. It is not brett or corkiness, so I cannot claim it is flawed... but by the time the oak has reached an acceptable level, the fruit will be long gone.

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  12/19/2009 - Phin wrote: 94 Points

  Sweet red currant, young and fresh. Little cinnamon. Sugar of fruit comes through. Some acidic structure left for some age.

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  9/30/2008 - Siggy wrote:

  Candied, searingly hot, and undrinkable. Possibly an off bottle.

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