2018 Realm The Falstaff
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Tasting notes
Dried geraniums and lavender on the nose with ripe blackcurrants, cloves and mocha. Hint of dried mint and eucalyptus, too. It’s full-bodied and concentrated with firm, integrated tannins. Structured, yet juicy and elegant. Mostly cabernet franc. Drink from 2022.
Critic scores
Robert Parker
James Suckling
More reviews and scores
The 2018 The Falstaff is composed of 65% Cabernet Franc (from Upper Range vineyard), 25% Cabernet Sauvignon (from Beckstoffer To Kalon vineyard) and 10% Merlot (from Realm SLD, Blair and Orchard vineyards). Deep garnet-purple colored, it charges out of the gate with bright, vibrant cassis, black raspberries and warm redcurrants scents plus hints of wild sage, rose hip tea, fallen leaves and fragrant earth. Full-bodied, the palate reveals a rock-solid structure of firm, grainy and lively freshness, adeptly supporting the taut, muscular black and red fruits, finishing long with fantastic purity. (Note that The Falstaff was not made in 2017.)
The vivid purple-hued 2018 Falstaff is mostly Cabernet Franc blended with a splash of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot that's primarily from the Upper Range Vineyard, which sits on the east side of the Silverado Trail overlooking the Georges III Vineyard. Beautiful black cherry, blueberry, spring flowers, incense, and forest floor notes all emerge from the glass, and this awesome wine has a purity of fruit that is just about off the charts. Medium to full-bodied and flawlessly balanced, with good acidity and silky tannins, it's as classy and elegant as they come yet still brings awesome opulence and richness. It has some upfront charm but deserves 4-5 years of bottle age. It will evolve for 30 years or more.
A drop-dead gorgeous beauty, the 2018 Falstaff showcases the tremendous character of Cabernet Franc, an inspiration from Dalla Valle's Maya. Iron, smoke, cedar, red fruit and mint give Falstaff striking aromatic intensity and nuance, especially with a bit of aeration. This is the first vintage based on Franc from Realm’s development in Upper Range, on the western hills above Rutherford. Needless to say, it is a very impressive debut. Time in the glass brings out richness, power and textural depth that amplify the red fruit flavors. Bright acids and beams of tannin give the wine energy and a real sense of drive. The blend is 65% Cabernet Franc, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot.