Pop and pour, took a few minutes for fierce tannins to settle down. Very full body of cherry and blackcurrant with long finish of fruit peel, cassis, and bitter pit. Great as a cocktail wine and stood up to wagyu New York steaks.
Really nice bottle of wine. Opened 4 hours and allowed to slow ox. The nose is all fruit with a touch of cinnamon. The palate is swirling flavors of blackberry, red cherry, red plums, figs, currants and a little cinnamon which leads to a long rich finish.
(5/5) - Deep ruby color with hints of purple. (14/15) - Fantastic nose showing a bit more red fruit than the 2016 Aperture Nomad Merlot we put against this. Red Raspberry, plum, pomegranate, oak spices. (18/20) - Continues to improve. As noted before this vintage shows a bit more restraint than 2015 version. Sad this was my last bottle as I think this likely drinks a bit better still in a couple more years. (7/10) - We paired this as a showdown against a 2016 Aperture Nomad (Sugarloaf Merlot) and I felt the Aperture was more to my liking by a point or two and seemed to get a bit more care and attention than the more entry level Realm Merlot. Still a wonderful wine and would certainly drink more if I had more of this vintage.
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5/10/2024 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 93 Points
Pop and pour, took a few minutes for fierce tannins to settle down. Very full body of cherry and blackcurrant with long finish of fruit peel, cassis, and bitter pit. Great as a cocktail wine and stood up to wagyu New York steaks.
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11/25/2023 - markcic Likes this wine: 94 Points
Really nice bottle of wine. Opened 4 hours and allowed to slow ox. The nose is all fruit with a touch of cinnamon. The palate is swirling flavors of blackberry, red cherry, red plums, figs, currants and a little cinnamon which leads to a long rich finish.
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9/30/2023 - GrapeCrusader Likes this wine: 93 Points
Tasty, tasty, tasty! Coconut, cassis and blueberries on the palate. Velvety and structured at the same time. Great finish that went on forever.
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4/17/2023 - TMOVino2 Likes this wine: 94 Points
(5/5) - Deep ruby color with hints of purple.
(14/15) - Fantastic nose showing a bit more red fruit than the 2016 Aperture Nomad Merlot we put against this. Red Raspberry, plum, pomegranate, oak spices.
(18/20) - Continues to improve. As noted before this vintage shows a bit more restraint than 2015 version. Sad this was my last bottle as I think this likely drinks a bit better still in a couple more years.
(7/10) - We paired this as a showdown against a 2016 Aperture Nomad (Sugarloaf Merlot) and I felt the Aperture was more to my liking by a point or two and seemed to get a bit more care and attention than the more entry level Realm Merlot. Still a wonderful wine and would certainly drink more if I had more of this vintage.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
12/3/2022 - Mbad77 wrote: 93 Points
One of like to revisit in a while. Better than the 17 but maybe not quite the heights of 15, though given it’s vigour maybe it will hop over.
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