2017 Realm Cellars The Tempest Napa

The Tempest was one of the first wines, and the first Proprietary Blend, we produced. At the time, it seemed almost uncanny that we were able to access three grape varietals at the same time, from the same vineyard; it was blind luck, or perhaps the proverbial “perfect storm.” In 2002, our equipment was borrowed and the winery we occupied was just half finished, but the grapes were sound that year and the resulting wine reflected a fierce determination to brave the storm. The Tempest is still made with outstanding grapes, from vineyards such as Blair in Calistoga and cooler sites like Farella and Orchard. Predominantly Merlot with lesser amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot depending on vintage, The Tempest is a roiling cauldron of fresh red and blue fruit and silky tannins – a wine that shows what Merlot can be in the right hands, from the right vineyards.