Realm'Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard' Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

A longtime standout in the Realm lineup, the 2023 To Kalon comes from one of the longest growing seasons in two decades — a vintage destined for the history books. James Suckling agreed, awarding it 98 points. To Kalon — named after the Greek phrase for “highest beauty” — has long been considered Napa Valley’s most iconic vineyard. Realm has sourced from the Beckstoffer-owned parcel since 2002, an 89-acre historic site replanted to Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc in the early ’90s. Only a handful of top producers receive access to this fruit, renowned for its density and opulence. As Winemaker Benoit Touquette says, “You can’t always pinpoint what makes To Kalon special — but you feel it in every glass.” Realm’s bottling comes from select blocks planted to Clones 4 and 337 and is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Realm Cellars has been on a growth spree lately. From humble beginnings as a garagiste-style wine start-up led by founder Juan Mercado, they have made some impressive moves. First, they acquired Hartwell in 2015, followed by quietly taking over a vineyard down in Coombsville. This increased their estate vineyard holdings to over 40 acres. But the real showstopper came in 2021, with the purchase of Houyi Vineyard and Nine Suns Winery on Pritchard Hill. Talk about a major win. Stags Leap District and Coombsville are strong AVAs, but 22 acres of prime vineyard on Pritchard Hill? That's a game-changer for Realm. They've definitely earned a feather in their cap. Led by Scott Becker and winemaker Benoit Touquette, the team is determined to achieve further growth in the coming years. As we move into the new year, the winery construction will progress to the next phase. Excitingly, we will have a front-row seat, with a direct view of the future developments. It's clear that this team has their sights set on further success.