Freddy R. Troya

9.5

Realm Cellars – Farella Vineyard – Red– 2021
Coombsville AVA – Napa Valley – California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A site-driven, estate Cabernet Sauvignon from Realm Cellars’ Farella Vineyard in the cool-climate Coombsville AVA. The 2021 vintage is composed of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from a high-elevation block within the vineyard known as the “rockpile,” named for its dense concentration of stone and gravel soils. This unique position in the foothills of the Vaca Mountains delivers natural freshness, complexity, and refined structure.

Aromas & Flavors
Layered aromas of red and black cherry, cassis, and ripe plum unfold alongside graphite, crushed stone, subtle floral tones, and hints of cedar. As the wine opens, nuanced notes of spice, earth, and mineral depth continue to build, revealing impressive complexity.

Mouthfeel
Medium-to-full bodied with a remarkably polished and silky texture. The tannins are refined and seamless, offering structure without weight. Fresh acidity from the cool Coombsville site carries the wine effortlessly through a long, graceful finish.

Food Pairings
Herb-crusted lamb, grilled filet mignon, roasted duck breast, mushroom-forward dishes, or aged hard cheeses.

Verdict
A beautifully composed Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon that emphasizes elegance over brute force. Complex, multi-layered, and progressively expressive, this is a refined interpretation of mountain-influenced Coombsville Cabernet.

Did You Know?
Coombsville is one of Napa Valley’s coolest AVAs, influenced by morning fog and volcanic soils from the Vaca Mountain range, often producing Cabernets with heightened aromatic complexity and natural acidity.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
I was genuinely surprised by how smooth and delicate this wine is for a site of such intensity. Multi-layered, graceful, and beautifully balanced, it’s an exceptional Cabernet that showcases finesse as much as depth. — 7 days ago

Ming L

8.9

100% PN from North Coast for 21’. Raspberry, pink grapefruit, watermelon, hint of strawberry and sea breeze. Juicy and refreshing on the palate, with touch of chalky mineral. Crisp acidity with round edge.

— 4 years ago

Al Shikoh

9.2

pale translucent ruby, tawny rim; wild berries, plum, hibiscus, pine needles, hints of spice; tart red fruits, medium length; medium body, medium+ acidity, light dusty tannin, 13.3% ABV; sourced from a blend of sites in the North end of the Anderson Valley; very nice introduction to the range; $45 — 5 years ago

Sarah O'Kelley

9.2

Can’t stop won’t stop with broc! First time having this chenin and loved every step definitely a new world Chenin but in all the right ways - fleshy, layered, delish. Think lemon meringue pie with a garnish of sea salt 😋 excellent with pan roasted grouper and the six seasons kale salad which if u have never had that you must! — 5 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.5

Boars’ View “The Coast” Pinot Noir 2018
Fort Ross–Seaview AVA, Sonoma Coast, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
Handcrafted by Thomas Rivers Brown at the dramatic West Sonoma Coast site, this Pinot Noir highlights maritime fog, Goldridge loam soils, and heritage clones. The 2018 “Coast” includes 100% heritage clones—Calera, Mt. Eden, and Swan—meticulously fermented and aged to express both elegance and power.  

Aromas & Flavors
Plush and aromatic: expect cranberry compote, lavender, sandalwood, and hints of violet. On the palate, it delivers black cherry, plum paste, nutmeg, quince, forest floor, and licorice—all layered over a finely tuned mineral edge.  

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied yet refined. Silky tannins and well-integrated acidity support rich fruit without heaviness. A harmonious finish unfolds with persistence and grace.  

Winemaking Notes
Destemmed fruit underwent fermentation and then aged 10 months in French oak barrels, 50% new, from François Frères, Remond, and Gauthier cooperages. The result is focused power with nuanced oak influence.  

Food Pairing
Perfect with grilled duck, game birds, roasted pork, or truffle-scented risotto. Its depth and savory complexity also pair beautifully with hearty stews or mushroom-forward dishes. 

Verdict
Boars’ View “The Coast” PINOT NOIR 2018 is a masterclass in West Coast Pinot—intensely flavorful, texturally rich, and meticulously crafted. A cellar-worthy wine with both grace and longevity. A rare Napa-level Pinot Noir priced in the $145–160 range. Cheers! — 4 months ago

Steve Rura

9.0

The 2022 white blend is Picpoul, Clairette, Orange Muscat, Marsanne, Rousanne and Chardonnay. More Muscat than the Pet Nat, and the orange peel and floral notes are great. A little nutty, dried apricot, pear, yuzu, sea salt. Medium acid. Very good versatile and Rhône-inspired white. — 3 years ago

Vanessa

9.2

This is a biodynamically-produced Cabernet Franc wine from Costa Toscana IGT, a coastal subregion within Toscana IGT, in Tuscany, Italy. 🇮🇹

Given their proximity to the coast of the Ligurian Sea, the vines likely experienced coastal influences, such as sea breezes and fog. 🌊

Although not native to Italy, Cabernet Franc thrives in this kind of environment with cooling factors and soil comprised of clay, schist, and limestone. 🍷 And while Cabernet Franc typically finds itself playing a supporting role (such as in a Bordeaux blend), with this wine, it’s captivating at center stage. 💫

To help promote the purity of fruit character, the winemaker used a percentage (15%) of whole cluster berries in the fermentation process and aged this wine 10 months in stainless steel, rather than oak. 👌👌👌👌

Ampeleia is the name of the producer, born out of a collaboration among friends Elisabetta Foradori, Giovanni Podini and Thomas Widmann. 💕💕

We’re loving this wine, which is bright, yet structured, featuring concentrated red fruit aromas and flavors, such as ripe cherry, strawberry, kirsch, plum, also bubblegum, violet, dried lavender, wet clay, wet earth, peat, tobacco, and vegetal notes.

Ampeleia, Cabernet Franc, Costa Toscana IGT, vintage 2018, ABV 12.5%.
@ampeleia — 4 years ago

with Deked1

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.7

I forgot to shoot the Moonracer bottle and borrowed some of these images from their site.

This is one of my favorite wines from Realm. Very kind of Leslie to open for us. The 2021 was outstanding and have it at 97-98. Showed very well at well pop and pour.

The nose on the 2021 Moonracer was quite feminine which has great appeal to me. Dark perfume florals, ripe, lush currants but more cassis with beautiful, soft baking spices.

The palate was fresh and shows round, ruby, lush fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, dark cherries. It is feminine & elegant in its style. Powdered, limestone, rocks & sandstone, soft, dark spice with gentle heat as it sets, sweet forest floor, black licorice, mixed berry cola, some soft, fresh tobacco, expensive, plush leather, softly stated baking spices-nutmeg, clove cinnamon & vanillin, melted dark chocolate, a mix of fresh, red, blue florals framed in violets & some lavender, perfect acidity, elegant, round, extremely well balanced, layered, structured long finish that is two-minutes.

One thing of note, there will be no 2022 The Absurd. The Absurd fruit will go into The Bard and a couple of their others wines. Reason, the six days of brutal heat during the potential harvest window.

Stunning pano view of Pritchard Hill from their estate. If we had been there the day before, fog and clouds would have made this photo impossible. Brand plate on their stainless steel tanks, believe a shot of their Moonracer vineyard and sitting area in their tasting room. — 2 years ago

Dawn E.

8.9

Clean and refreshing. Loads of red fruits. Raspberries, chocolate covered cherries, pomegranate, cranberries, and cinnamon. In grade school PE, we had to climb up a steel pole. I am picking up the essence of my hands, post descent. If anyone wishes to help me with a descriptor for that, you are welcome! Nice acidity! I would purchase again! — 2 years ago

Adriana Fabbro

9.2

Hey, Delectable— this is the Visions 2018 North Coast Pinot, but the ID wasn’t available.

Unabashedly ripe and warm, but with a distinctive umami flavor (hoisin sauce?) that I’m really digging. Black cherry, black plum and even blue fruit on the nose and palette. Lovely satiny texture. Medium + finish.

Hedonistic in the way you’d expect from a winemaker mentored by the Wagners, but the suppleness and umami notes make this wine stand out in a sea of north coast Pinot Noir, and the absence of new oak lets the fruit do the taking. Perfect with chicken lettuce wraps and haricot verts smothered in Madeira mushroom cream sauce.

Owner/founder, Mac Macdonald, has been making his own California Pinot Noir for more than 25 vintages now and it shows. Side note: he’s also one of the better story tellers in the biz.

Initially sampled as part of a tasting with the #AAAV (Association of African American Vintners) and took the bottle home.
— 5 years ago