Realm Cellars 'The Bard' Napa Valley 2016

98 points in Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - "A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot from 21 different lots from 11 different vineyards, the 2016 The Bard is very deep purple-black in color and sashays out of the glass with strikingly beautiful violets, warm cassis, star anise and chocolate mint notes with hints of wood smoke, tobacco and kirsch, with blackberry compote at the core. Full, muscular and built like a brick house with layer upon layer of black, blue and red fruits, it finishes very long and savory."

97 points in James Suckling - "This is really glorious with blackberries and licorice. Lavender, too. Full body, round and soft tannins and a gorgeous center palate of ripe fruit and a fresh, linear finish. Drink or hold."

94 points Wine Enthusiast - "The Bard is 85% Cabernet Sauvignon this vintage, and the producer's largest production wine, which still is small and devoted to detail. Sweet red-cherry-liqueur flavor meets a grippy herbal undertone of forceful weight and power, the structure balanced and complex, yet immediately enjoyable."

95 points in Vinous - "The 2016 The Bard is a big step up from preceding vintages. Dark and brooding, with tremendous intensity, the 2016 is a magical wine. Black cherry, plum, graphite, spice and licorice infuse the 2016 with striking dimensions of complexity, but more than anything else, the 2016 is a wine of pure and total pleasure."

94 points in Decanter - "The 2016 iteration of this Cabernet-based 'proprietary blend' is focussed and energetic. It has a higher-toned profile than the other two vintages tasted, carrying notes of black cherries, tar, sap and orange pulp throughout. Due to its youth it has a grainier tannin structure, which adds a nice layer of grit to the otherwise seamless finish. This is the first vintage made at Realm’s new winery, and around 2,500 cases were produced."