Realm, 'Precious Twin' Rosé | Merchant of Wine (2024)

Overview of the Wine
After 20 years of winemaking in the Napa Valley, John Kongsgaard launched his own brand of Chardonnay with the 1996 vintage. As former winemaker for Newton Vineyards, John had already become well known for creating California's first unfiltered Chardonnay. Since then, he and his wife Maggy have added Cabernet, Merlot, Syrah and a Viognier-Roussanne blend to their portfolio of wines.

The core of their endeavor is the ten acre vineyard planted on a rocky hilltop in southeast Napa Valley which has belonged to the Kongsgaard family since the 1920's. For 50 years the volcanic slopes sustained a small herd of skinny cattle and provided the idyllic romping grounds for two generations of lucky kids including John. In the 70's John and Maggy planted eight acres to Chardonnay, adding an acre of Roussanne and Viognier in 1995 and the final acre of Cabernet Sauvignon in 2001 (which had its first crop in 2004).

Sustainable.

Grape / Blend
90% Merlot and 10% Charbono

Origin
Napa Valley, California

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
Raspberry, watermelon, strawberries. Full of flavor, almost like a jolly rancher but not in an artificial way. Very precise, mouth-filling, makes you salivate. Benoit says, “the finish is glorious.

The extraordinary Precious Twin Rosé 2023 is an elegant blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Charbono – a varietal you’ll be seeing more and more as it thrives in the northern reaches of Calistoga. With much of the Merlot coming from the Farella Estate Vineyard, there’s a noticeable vibrancy and concentration. Coming in at just 12.9% alcohol, it’s a whole new expression of Napa that everyone should experience. The extraordinary Precious Twin Rosé 2023 is an elegant blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Charbono – a varietal you’ll be seeing more and more as it thrives in the northern reaches of Calistoga. With much of the Merlot coming from the Farella Estate Vineyard, there’s a noticeable vibrancy and concentration. Coming in at just 12.9% alcohol, it’s a whole new expression of Napa that everyone should experience.

Product size: 750ml