2018 Hartwell XX

Realm's latest awfully clever move is to purchase the old Hartwell property, constituting the highest blocks above their already estate-owned Stags Leap District vineyard (the source for Moonracer). The vines planted here originate from budwood acquired by Bob Hartwell (the previous owner) from Dick Grace of Grace Family Vineyards in the 1980s. They feel that this label, made exclusively from these upper blocks, "pays tribute to the lineage and history of Napa Valley." Deep purple-black colored, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Hartwell (Grace Clone) leaps from the glass with bold blackberries, crushed blackcurrants and wild blueberries scents plus wafts of black cherry compote, oolong tea, red roses and fragrant earth. The palate has beautiful restraint, revealing medium to full-bodied elegance with a very structured, firm, grainy texture and lively freshness, finishing very long with lots of mineral and earth sparks. There is so much latent power waiting to burst out of this wine, I wouldn't be surprised if it warrants a higher score when revisited in 10 years' time.

- Lisa Perrotti-Brown (10/2020)