The Absurd is more than a wine. It's a philosophical journey, a blank canvas that challenges the very notion of winemaking constraints. Inspired by the philosophical concept of absurdism, this wine represents our ultimate pursuit: creating the best Napa Valley wine of each vintage, unrestricted by traditional boundaries. So where does “no rules” lead us after a decade? There is no simple answer, but one thing is clear – this is a wine that continues to rule the heart.
On the occasion of releasing our 10th vintage of The Absurd (it would have been eleven, had the wildfires of 2020 not intervened), we find ourselves at a natural moment of reflection. As Realm Cellars has grown, adding Estate vineyards and developing more terroir-driven expressions, we've at times questioned whether The Absurd still has a place in our portfolio. Each time, we arrive at the same conclusion: this wine represents something irreplaceable — freedom in its purest form. Unbound by varietal requirements, vineyard designations, or other traditional notions, The Absurd gives us the liberty to create something that transcends even our own expectations. It remains our ultimate canvas for expression and continues to inspire us in ways no other wine can.
Our recent vertical tasting gave us a new perspective. In their youth, these wines often present with similar characteristics—hedonistic, rich, commanding attention. But with time, each vintage reveals its true spirit, its individual narrative. The 2012 and 2013 vintages, we can now see (taste) with the benefit of time, emphasized richness at the expense of focus or balance. They were products of their time, reflecting our ambitions and the winemaking ethos of that era.
The more recent vintages showcase an evolution in our approach: a beautiful balance between hedonistic pleasure and intellectual refinement. They offer the same sensual gratification that has always defined The Absurd, now complemented by a greater sense of precision, energy and nuance. This is not a retreat from our original vision but rather its maturation—a recognition that the most compelling wine is one that engages both the senses and the mind. Our definition of greatness has also matured—the ultimate measure is now time, as in how well these wines can age gracefully for decades. In the beginning, we were focused on survival...whatever was right in front of us. Today, we can look ahead with greater clarity of purpose…the horizon line is extended.
As we look toward the next decade of The Absurd, we remain committed to its founding philosophy—that the only true constraint should be the pursuit of excellence itself.
We usually don’t assign specific descriptors to The Absurd because this is a wine beyond description, but rules are made to be broken, so we are sharing some of our tasting notes below. One thing is for sure, the descriptions flying around this tasting were uniquely Absurd! From “I want to take a bath in it” to “this is simply electric,” these are clearly wines that strike a chord within us that is difficult to capture.
2012: Pure Seduction
The 2012 embodies seduction itself—a sultry, concentrated wine that is more about feeling than flavor. Tar, violet and dark fruit coats the palate in decadent plushness. There is a lot of pleasure to this wine. The consensus around the table was to drink soon.
2013: Hold Please
The 2013 continues the legacy of power, density and structure with tons of gorgeous fruit exploding out of the glass. There is a lot to love about this wine but we recommend holding for a while in order for this wine to reach its incredible potential.
2014: A Perfect Moment
This wine is in a gorgeous spot, with plenty of primary fruit balanced with some character development. Notes of dark plum and blueberry mingle with dark licorice, cassis, and sandalwood. Dried herbs and hints of cigar are beginning to show the evolution of this wine. On the palate, the wine is round, dense, and velvety. Drink now if you want a wine perfectly in tune, or hold if you prefer a more intellectual pursuit, allowing additional layers of complexity to unfold over time.
2015: Plenty of Pleasure
The 2015 vintage sang of black fruit, violet, and baking spices—a warmer expression from a solar vintage that retained remarkable precision. This wine continues to be dense and structured with a creamy texture that somehow remains focused on the palate. There is plenty of pleasure in this wine now and it will continue to age beautifully.
2016: The Yum Factor
This is a seamless, sleek wine with incredible complexity and energy. Well integrated with electric fruit, this wine definitely has the yum factor.
2017: Transcending the Vintage
This is a lighter, more elegant wine that transcends the vintage. The usual decadent fruit flavors mingle with hints of earthiness and fresh herbs. A lot of intensity of flavor but not ponderous. This wine will continue to get better with age.
2018: A Textbook Vintage
This is a "skyscraper wine"—concentrated, dense and structured, yet surprisingly elegant and light on its feet. There is a mouth coating creaminess that is pure luxury. This is a textbook vintage and textbook The Absurd. We recommend holding if you have the patience. If you want to drink it now, give it a good decant first.
2019: Bursting With Energy
Extroverted, polished and very juicy, this wine is bursting with tension and energy. Still super youthful. We recommend holding for now.
2020 Vintage
We did not produce any red wines in 2020.
2021: Have Patience
Very polished, sleek and concentrated, this is a tightly wound wine with beautiful clarity and precision. Don’t touch this one anytime soon. Or if you are impatient (which we are often guilty of), open Tuesday, drink Friday.
2022: Impossible to Ignore
This is another wine that transcends the vintage. Layered, complex, with freshness and focus, this wine eases into your palate with purity and elegance. It's less sultry, more Audrey Hepburn: refined, intelligent, impossible to ignore.
To learn more about the label artwork, visit The Absurd: Behind the Label, click here.
