2013 Realm Cellars, Falstaff, Napa Valley

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2013 Falstaff, which is a blend of 42 Cabernet Franc, 42 Merlot and 16 Cabernet Sauvignon, is pushing perfection (but that will come with three other offerings made by Realm). This wine emanates from two great vineyards that don't get as much recognition as they deserve, Fortuna and Weitz, with the Blair Vineyard offering up some grapes as well. The wine has a dense purple color to the rim, flowery opulence, beautiful blueberry and blackberry fruit, some forest floor, and even some hints of black raspberries, mocha, tobacco leaf and lavender. An incredibly velvety, in-your-face, stunningly proportioned wine, this should drink well for a decade or more, if you can resist it that long.