Loading lot detailsâŠ
The May 2026 Auction: Part 2
Swipe left for previous · Swipe right for next
1 / 2Lot 186
Estimate: $390
Sold:
This auction has ended. Bidding is closed.
Collection name
Reviews
100WA
"Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr Crane Vineyard displays an opaque purple-black color. It saunters confidently out of the glass with compelling notes of warm black plums, blackcurrant cordial, Morello cherries and black raspberries followed by an opulent perfume of exotic spices, dusty soil, rose oil and crushed rocks with a waft of sandalwood. Full-bodied, rich, seductive and so, so spicy, the palate possesses a multitude of savory, earth and preserved fruit layers, framed by an achingly beautiful velvety texture and seamless freshness, finishing long, long, longâtruly showing off its latent power. Like a gorgeous intellectual, this is a wine that will absolutely turn heads and create a stir. 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 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr Crane Vineyard displays an opaque purple-black color. It saunters confidently out of the glass with compelling notes of warm black plums, blackcurrant cordial, Morello cherries and black raspberries followed by an opulent perfume of exotic spices, dusty soil, rose oil and crushed rocks with a waft of sandalwood. Full-bodied, rich, seductive and so, so spicy, the palate possesses a multitude of savory, earth and preserved fruit layers, framed by an achingly beautiful velvety texture and seamless freshness, finishing long, long, longâtruly showing off its latent power. Like a gorgeous intellectual, this is a wine that will absolutely turn heads and create a stir. 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."
Have questions?
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.
Realm Cellars is a cult Napa Valley producer known for powerful, polished Bordeaux-style red blends and single-vineyard Cabernets from prized sites such as Dr. Crane and Farella.
2018 in Napa Valley enjoyed a long, cool, even season and a late harvest with a generous crop; the Cabernets are balanced, structured and classically styled, with vibrant fruit, firm tannins and excellent aging potential.
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.