Arbalest, Red Blend, Bordeaux, France, 2022

Overview of the Wine 
From esteemed Napa Winemaker, Benoit Touquette, from Bordeaux, known for his multiple 100 Point Scores, has 12 years experience making wine in the Napa Valley (Realm, Fait Main, Teeter Totter and Jack Quinn). Working side by side with Michel Rolland has given him incredible mentorship and experience.

Arbalest is a Bordeaux blend with direct aim by Benoit Touquette. Precisely inspired, Benoit has created a delicious yet affordable Bordeaux surely to touch the hearts of wine drinkers everywhere. Touché! 

Born in Lyon France and gaining his education from the University of Bordeaux, Benoit worked at numerous French wineries before getting a job (with the help of his friend and mentor Michel Rolland) in Napa Valley with Andy Erickson. He consulted for the likes of Screaming Eagle, Ovid and Arietta. 

Grape / Blend
75% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc & 5% Petit Verdot

Origin
Bordeaux, France

Winemaker's Tasting Notes -  by Winemaker Benoit Touquette (Realm)
An elegant blend, Arbalest displays aromas of graphite, minerality, red plums and boysenberries. The integrated tannins show balanced flavors of kirsch, plums, graphite and cassis. With a beautiful hints of umami on the mid palate, this savory and fruitful beauty pairs well with pasta, game, meats and cheeses.

93 Points - The Wine Independent
Made by a Bordeaux winemaker who moved to Napa and is now the winemaker and a partner at Realm, Benoit Touquette, the deep garnet-purple colored 2022 Arbalest is a blend of 60% Merlot (from the Right Bank) and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon (from the Médoc). Black cherries, juicy plums, and black raspberry scents jump from the glass, followed by hints of cinnamon toast, potpourri, and black pepper. The medium to full-bodied palate is chock full of savory spiked black berry layers, supported by plush tannins and well-knit freshness, finishing long with a peppery lift. 2000 cases were made. This would benefit from decanting but is approachable right now, or it will easily cellar for 8-10+ years. At an SRP of $22,this is a no-brainer bargain to stock up on. 93 Points!

91 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Here's a seriously fun Bordeaux wine that offers jaw-dropping great value, made by French native, Napa super-star winemaker Benoit Touquette. The Arbalest is a blend of 75% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. The Petit Verdot and the Cabernet Sauvignon come from the Left Bank. I’m not allowed to tell the name of the Château, but it’s in the Saint-Estèphe area. The Merlot and Cabernet Franc come from the Right Bank, where the soil is clay-limestone on limestone rock, with a southwest exposure. Medium garnet-purple colored, it charges out of the gate with notes of warm black plums, Black Forest cake, licorice and candied violets plus hints of fallen leaves and cedar chest. The medium to full-bodied palate is jam-packed with juicy black fruit, framed by ripe rounded tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and spicy.

91 Points - Jeb Dunnuck 
One of the best values in Bordeaux out there, Arbalest comes from a mix of the Right and Left Banks and is 75% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Ripe, medium to full-bodied, and beautifully textured, it has classic notes of black cherries, leafy herbs, chocolate, and damp earth. With nicely integrated acidity, fine tannins, and a beautiful sense of purity paired with plenty of richness, it's a no-brainer purchase to enjoy over the coming decade.

Product size: 750ml