2013 Houyi Vineyard Pritchard Hill Cabernet Sauvignon
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Tasting notes
The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Houyi Vineyard, here in its debut release, is potent and savory to the core. Black cherry, graphite, grilled herbs, menthol, espresso and bitter sweet chocolate are all dialed up. Exotic and sumptuous, the Houyi is a real head-turner. I find the new oak a bit much and the style over the top, but that starts to change a few vintages later. The 2013 is a Cabernet of real dimension and resonance that is sure to thrill Realm fans.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Houyi Vineyard is another 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, this one from Pritchard Hill. Made from clone 337, the wine is again brilliant. Its blueberry and blackberry fruit are obvious, and the wine also shows some violets along with charcoal and some subtle background oak. The fruit is sweet, the tannins velvety, and the wine voluptuous, opulent and approachable now, although it probably won't hit its peak for at least another 4-5 years and keep for 25 or more.
The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Houyi Vineyard emerges from a site on Pritchard Hill formerly known as Chang. Beautifully layered in the glass, with intriguing ferrous, floral and savory notes, laced together effortlessly. The Houyi boasts remarkable textural finesse, unctuousness and exceptional balance. This is a strong debut from a vineyard I am sure we will be hearing more about in the future. Rose petal, cinnamon and sweet red fleshed fruits add lift to the precise, sculpted finish. Above all else, the Houyi speaks to texture, and it does so with great eloquence.
The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Houyi Vineyard is a stunning debut from this Pritchard Hill site, formerly known as Chang. Graphite, blueberry jam, spices and menthol add nuance to this dark, inky Cabernet Sauvignon. Powerful and expressive, yet also tightly wound today, the 2013 is a wine of immense promise.
About the producer
Realm Cellars has become one of Napa Valley’s most compelling modern estates, known for site-driven Cabernet Sauvignon. Drawing from some of the valley’s most sought-after vineyards, Realm’s wines consistently earn top critical acclaim while remaining firmly rooted in place.