2015 The Absurd Proprietary Red

Exotic and flamboyant to the core, the 2015 The Absurd captures the essence of the Realm house style. Blackberry jam, grilled herbs, lavender, spice, licorice and menthol are all amplified in an opulent, large-scaled Cabernet that delivers the goods, big time. I imagine the 2015 will be the sort of wine that is delicious throughout its entire life. That said, I would prefer to enjoy it on the younger side, while it retains all of that youthful intensity.

Another wine where my tasting note needed censoring, the 2015 The Absurd is as good as wine gets in this critic’s opinion. Made from 88% Cabernet Sauvignon and equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc, it offers incredible notes of blueberries, incense, and Asian spices as well as more and more graphite, smoked earth, cedar and lead pencil notes with air. Deep, layered, and super concentrated, with a voluptuous texture and building tannin, it’s a massive wine by any measure, yet this is one case where I suspect the wine might shut down after a few years in bottle. If you’re lucky enough to have more than one bottle, I’d drink one in its youth and then hide the rest for at least 6-8 years. One of the most thrilling tastings I was able to do for this report, these incredible wines from Realm are made by the talented Frenchman, Benoit Touquette. These are true blockbuster, magical wines I wish every reader could taste.

Composed of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc, the singular, absolutely compelling 2015 The Absurd opens with a seriously intense black currant cordial and plum preserves core, slowly revealing cedar chest, mincemeat pie, potpourri and spice box hints plus a waft of chocolate-covered cherries. The full-bodied, concentrated palate is packed with opulent black fruits and baking spice layers, featuring a rock-solid backbone of tight-grained tannins and just enough freshness to lift and tantalize on the long, seductive finish. Only 250 cases were made.