2017 Realm Cellars The Tempest Proprietary Red Blend | Napa Valley California 750ml

The Tempest - a famous play, a violent storm, and the name of our Merlot-based blend, fashioned after the great wines of Pomerol in Bordeaux. The Tempest was the first proprietary wine Realm released, so named for the "perfect" storm of three grape varietals that became available at the same time, from the same vineyard, in 2002 -- the year our tumultuous beginning...The Tempest is still made with beautiful grapes, from vineyards such as Beckstoffer Orchard and Dr. Crane, as well as Blair Vineyard in Calistoga. Predominantly Merlot, with lesser amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot depending on vintage, The Tempest is a roiling cauldron of lush, bright, red fruit - a wine that shows what Merlot can be in the right hands, from the right vineyards. | Realm Cellars

The Merlot-dominated wine in the lineup is the 2017 The Tempest and it's a beauty in the vintage, offering a saturated purple hue as well as classy notes of blackberries, black cherries, licorice, crushed violets, barbecue smoke, and hints of espresso roast. It's deep, full-bodied, has stunning purity of fruit, no hard edges, and purity and balance that's become the hallmark of this estate. | 94 points, Jeb Dunnuck for jebdunnuck.com