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Monday, March 31st, 2025

Last Call and Pre-Tariffed

"Made by a Bordeaux winemaker who moved to Napa and is now the winemaker and a partner at Realm, Benoit Touquette... this is a no-brainer bargain to stock up on.

Benoit is pretty well connected in Bordeaux and the fruit tastes classified-y. 2022 was a warm, ripe, spectacular vintage, resulting in drop-dead deliciousness. Unfortunately, only 2000 cases were made. If you can find some, back the car up and load in all you can."

93 Points #4 Top QPR of 2024, The Wine Independent

(Lisa Perrotti-Brown former Editor-in-Chief of Robert Parker)

Dear Artisans,

Back in 2018, the internet went crazy when then Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin (worth ~$300 million) brought the 2015 vintage of this $20 stunning wine to Jared Kushner's house. (Mercury News Article Link)

The folks who were lucky enough to grab a case (or three) before we sold out, instantly understood why Mnuchin brought this wine after just one sip!

What the heck is all this about? Let's dive right in folks!

Benoit Touquette is unquestionably one of the greatest winemakers in the world:

• He has a total of 28 x 100-point scores to date

• He is the current winemaker of Realm and Fait-Main

• He was the previous winemaker of Screaming Eagle, Dalla Valle, OVID, Hartwell, Arietta, and more

As a Bordeaux native, the Arbalest is Touquette's beloved love letter to his origins, as well as an awesome collaboration with America's most elite fine wine broker, Kimberly Jones!

We're not allowed to know which Chateaus Touquette sourced the fruit from, coming from BOTH the Left Bank, where Cabernet Sauvignon reigns supreme, and the Right Bank, where Merlot shines.

This wine is gorgeous to drink now (I'm doing so as I type this) yet also has solid decade of aging potential. So, no rush, unless you can't resist…

The last time Arbalest was made was the 2016 vintage, which Jeb Dunnuck wrote it was “One of the best values in Bordeaux out there”.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate wrote it was "jaw-dropping great value + seamless freshness"

This vintage is even better and proves that, in the hands of a masterful multi-100-point winemaker, blending across Bordeaux’s iconic banks is not only possible but spectacularly successful. An insane value under $22, with only 2,000 cases made.

I don't need to tell you to move fast!

All my best,

—James Tran

2022 Arbalest Bordeaux

93 Points, #4 Top QPR of 2024 - 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.

I tasted this just a couple of weeks ago, and it was so good (and cheap) that the wine inspired this article...This iconoclastic blend of 60% Merlot from the Right Bank and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Médoc would be heresy if made by anyone but Benoit. He is not allowed to divulge his fruit sources, but let’s just say Benoit is pretty well connected in Bordeaux and the fruit tastes classified-y. 2022 was a warm, ripe, spectacular vintage, resulting in drop-dead deliciousness. Unfortunately, only 2000 cases were made. If you can find some, back the car up and load in all you can." - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, MW

More info:

Made by Napa winemaking star Benoit Touquette, previous winemaker for Screaming Eagle, Dalla Valle, Ovid, Hartwell, Arietta, and the current winemaker of Realm, Fait-Main, and Kata.

In creating the 2022 Arbalest Bordeaux, Touquette sourced fruit from both the Left Bank, where Cabernet Sauvignon reigns supreme, and the Right Bank, where Merlot shines.

On the palate, this wine is rich and full-bodied, with a round, supple mouthfeel driven by the Merlot. Blackcurrant, dark plum, and cherry flavors emerge first, accented by a spiciness and minerality that provide complexity and depth. The structure and tannic backbone of the Left Bank Cabernet Sauvignon are unmistakable, giving the wine a subtle austerity that promises solid aging potential. The balance between ripe fruit and silky tannins demonstrates Touquette’s skill in managing two different varietals and terroirs in harmony. The finish is long and memorable, with lingering notes of dark chocolate, toasted oak, and a touch of salinity.

Elsewhere: $25.00

Lowest NorCal: $22.00

Ours:

$21.97 (1-2)

$20.97 (3-5)

$19.97 (6+)