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The December 2025 Auction: Part 1
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1 / 2Lot 90
Estimate: $500
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Collection name
Reviews
100WA
"Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr Crane Vineyard does not disappoint. Deep garnet-purple colored, it flies out of the glass with gregarious scents of black cherries, blueberries and boysenberries plus hints of potpourri, sandalwood, Chinese five spice, cast-iron pan and fragrant earth. Characteristically full-bodied, rich and full-on seductive, the palate is packed with generous, perfumed black fruits, supported by firm, ripe tannins and well-knit freshness, finishing mineral-laced and with epic persistence. The team at Realm seemed to have played it ultra-cautious in 2017. In spite of all the challenges caused by the Labor Day heat wave followed by the October fires that year, they have produced a strong lineup of very impressive wines. Fans should note that no Falstaff, Farella Vineyard or Beckstoffer To Kalon Cabernet Franc labels were produced in 2017, due to the situation that fruit was still hanging in these key vineyards during the fires. "In 2018, we had a lot of time to pick. We had a lot of time to make the wines," winemaker Benoit Touquette informed me. "Not to get greedy with Mother Nature was the challenge. We didnât have the huge crops that some people had. We could pick at our leisure. If you did the right viticulture, it was an easy vintage." Indeed, the Realm 2018s have an effortless, carefree purity about them, with all the bright, energetic, crunchy fruit that is a characteristic of this cooler vintage. This is not to say that that these wines do not possess that decadent personality fans have come to love. On the contrary, there is a lot of impactful intensity with these 2018s. Yet they seem to bear a cheery skip in their step, which is going to make you fall in love with this winery all over again."
Region
Red
Country
Score
"Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr Crane Vineyard does not disappoint. Deep garnet-purple colored, it flies out of the glass with gregarious scents of black cherries, blueberries and boysenberries plus hints of potpourri, sandalwood, Chinese five spice, cast-iron pan and fragrant earth. Characteristically full-bodied, rich and full-on seductive, the palate is packed with generous, perfumed black fruits, supported by firm, ripe tannins and well-knit freshness, finishing mineral-laced and with epic persistence. The team at Realm seemed to have played it ultra-cautious in 2017. In spite of all the challenges caused by the Labor Day heat wave followed by the October fires that year, they have produced a strong lineup of very impressive wines. Fans should note that no Falstaff, Farella Vineyard or Beckstoffer To Kalon Cabernet Franc labels were produced in 2017, due to the situation that fruit was still hanging in these key vineyards during the fires. "In 2018, we had a lot of time to pick. We had a lot of time to make the wines," winemaker Benoit Touquette informed me. "Not to get greedy with Mother Nature was the challenge. We didnât have the huge crops that some people had. We could pick at our leisure. If you did the right viticulture, it was an easy vintage." Indeed, the Realm 2018s have an effortless, carefree purity about them, with all the bright, energetic, crunchy fruit that is a characteristic of this cooler vintage. This is not to say that that these wines do not possess that decadent personality fans have come to love. On the contrary, there is a lot of impactful intensity with these 2018s. Yet they seem to bear a cheery skip in their step, which is going to make you fall in love with this winery all over again."
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The fourth-largest wine producer in the world, led by California. American fine wine is defined by ripe, expressive fruit and a spirit of innovation, with Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon among the most sought-after wines globally.
California's most prestigious wine region, celebrated worldwide for opulent, structured Cabernet Sauvignon. Diverse soils and mountain-to-valley-floor sites yield wines of remarkable ripeness, power and longevity.
St. Helena is a warm valley-floor sub-AVA in Napa Valley, California, producing rich, ripe and generously fruited Cabernet Sauvignon of supple tannins, plush texture and classic Napa structure.
2017 in Napa Valley saw a wet winter, a scorching Labor Day heat spike and October wildfires; Cabernet picked before the fires is ripe and generous, but quality is variable across this challenging vintage.
The world's most planted premium red grape, yielding deeply colored, tannic and structured wines with cassis, cedar and graphite notes. Firm tannins and acidity make it exceptionally age-worthy, whether as a varietal or the backbone of a Bordeaux blend.