2013 Realm Cabernet Sauvignon Farella Vineyard

From the southeastern AVA Coombsville in the Vaca Mountains, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Farella Vineyard is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from white tufa and decomposed red volcanic sedimentary soils. For whatever reason, it seems that people who buy from this vineyard make better wine than the actual owners, which I'm sad to say, is not exactly what proprietors Tom and Frank Farella would like to hear. This is a terrific Cabernet Sauvignon made from clones 4 and 8, offering a rich nose of blackberries, dark earth, a touch of barrique, and some baking spices. The wine is rich, full-bodied, tannic and backward. Deep and super-concentrated, it needs another 2-3 years of cellaring, but should last another 25-30 years.

A total knock out, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Farella Vineyard is deep, inky and explosive, with superb energy to back up the pure power in the glass. The most intensely mineral and savory of the Realm Cabernets, the 2013 Farella Vineyard offers up a compelling mélange of graphite, sage, menthol, tobacco and inky blue/purplish fruit. Like all of the 2013s, the Farella has plenty of medium-term appeal, but with an extra edge of tannin underpinning the fruit. I would prefer to give the 2013 at least a few years in barrel to fully come together, as the acidity and tannins are searing at the moment. The cool climate of Coombsville is a good foil for the Realm style.

The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Farella Vineyard is wonderfully aromatic and savory, with explosive underlying structure and terrific overall balance. Lavender, violets, mint and new leather add nuance to the perfumed finish. Given the performance of recent vintages, I will not at all be surprised if the Farella comes in at the upper end of the range once it has been bottled.