The attractive 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Farella Vineyard (in the cooler Coombsville region) reveals loamy soil characteristics interwoven with black currant and cherry fruit notes. Opulent and medium to full-bodied with impressive purity as well as tobacco smoke, spice box, and earth notes, it should be consumed over the next 10-12 years. A new project of Juan Marcado, a former winemaker at Pax, and Mike Heiby, a former assistant winemaker at Behrens and Hitchcock, the Realm wines are produced at a winery on Spring Mountain. Classic Burgundian techniques are used to make these Bordeaux-styled offerings, including a 5-day pre-fermentation cold soak, extended maceration, some lees stirring, minimal racking, 20+ months in 100% new French oak, and no filtration at bottling. Some of the Realm production was stored in the Mare Island wine warehouse, which caught fire last October, but, hopefully, none of these cuvees were in that facility. P.S. Like most high quality newcomers to the California wine scene, this estate demonstrates little modesty with respect to their pricing policy. Distributed by Polaner Selections; Tel. (914) 244-0404