2016 Realm Moonracer

Realm Cellars is one of the most exciting stories in Napa Valley today. Realm began in 2002 by sourcing fruit from top vineyards like Beckstoffer To Kalon and Dr. Crane. Like any entrepreneurial endeavor, the early years were full of ups and downs, but eventually the winery found its stride. Beginning with the 2012 vintage, wine quality significantly improved and they have since garnered 17 100-point scores from various wine critics. In 2015, Realm acquired a hillside estate in the Stags Leap District which transformed the brand from a virtual winery to a domaine. The first estate wine in the portfolio is called Moonracer and each bottle showcases a unique label. In 2018 Realm entered into a partnership with the Farella family which adds the Farella Vineyard in Coombsville as the second estate vineyard. The portfolio of wines includes both single vineyards as well as proprietary blends. The winery is led by owner Scott Becker and winemaker Benoit Touquette. This domaine is one to watch as Realm continues its ascent into the top echelon of the wine world.

Stags Leap District AVA in southern Napa Valley has a storied history. It is home to Stag’s Leap Cellars, whose 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon won the famous Judgment of Paris blind tasting that included several of Bordeaux’s most exalted First Growths. Vineyards were started in area in the late 19th century, but the district’s rise in prestige started in the late 1960s when Nathan Fay planted Cabernet Sauvignon. Fay later sold his estate to Warren Winiarski, founder of Stag’s Leap Cellars. The district was given its own AVA designation in 1989, and today there are 1,400 vineyard acres. The AVA is especially notable because it was the first in the U.S. to be granted AVA status based on terroir. Its distinctive soils is a mix of volcanic soils, river sediment and loamy clay-like soil. Because the soils don’t retain water well, vineyards in Stag’s Leap tend to grow fruit with great intensity and flavor. Cabernet Sauvignon accounts for 95% of the grapes planted in Stags Leap.

One of the most widely grown grape varieties, it can be found in nearly every wine growing region. A cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. It’s a hardy vine that produces a full-bodied wine with high tannins and great aging potential.