Realm Cellars Moonracer, Stags Leap District, Napa Valley, California, 2018

About The Producer
Moonracer. Realm Cellars’ first estate wine from our vineyard on Wappo Hill in the Stags Leap District. It is said this elevated site was important to the Wappo Native Americans as it provided the tribe with a central lookout from which to identify intruders and such. The Wappos, though small in number, were known for their bravery, strength and athleticism. Jack London, who wrote about the curious inter-tribal races that took place during full moons, noted that the Wappos often won. Thus Moonracer, an oblique reference to the earliest inhabitants of the place Realm calls home.

The Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine is composed of the finest lots from the vineyard. Winemaker Benoit Touquette has a lot to choose from, as the site, with its multiple blocks, elevations, facings and diverse soils, has character in spades. Moonracer bears the unmistakable mark of this stimulating vineyard, as well as the Stags Leap District. Strong, powerful, yet elegant, with refined tannins and plenty of depth. What Benoit calls “intellectual.” “It’s a wine that will appeal to both international and American palates. It walks the line, combining characteristics typical of northern and southern Napa Valley. It’s got plenty of fruit but also layered flavors, depth and complexity.”

Grape / Blend
90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot

Origin
Stags Leap AVA, Napa Valley, California

Winemaker's Tasting Note
“With red, blue and black (cassis) fruit, this is an aromatic wine that hits at the edge of minerality with a distinct note of graphite/pencil shavings plus a hint of licorice. The wine hits both high and low notes, with brightness but also density. It sits on the palate not with heaviness but with depth. With its tannic structure, this Moonracer is not for the faint of heart; however, it goes beyond hedonism and heft into something more serious and intellectual.” – Realm Cellars

Product size: 750ml