“The genesis of Ocean Crossing lies in the sharing of common values.”
– Jean-Valmy Nicolas, 5th Generation Proprietor, La Conseillante, Pomerol
Ocean Crossing, a wine crafted in collaboration with the revered La Conseillante domaine in Pomerol, began with a relationship. It was 2021 when Scott met Jean-Valmy Nicolas at a dinner arranged by their mutual friend, Mathieu Chadronnier, president of the Bordeaux négociant CVBG. The two quickly discovered they were kindred spirits, recognizing similar values around entrepreneurship, perseverance, and most importantly, a dedication to pursuing the highest standards of excellence. As the evening went on, a friendship formed, and the idea of creating a wine together took shape.
Scott: “At Realm, we’ve always had a reverence for Bordeaux and its history; those wines inspire us, and the idea of a collaboration had been in the back of my mind for some time. When I met Jean-Valmy, I knew we’d found the right partner. We are incredibly honored to work with La Conseillante.”
It is not an overstatement to say that La Conseillante is one of France’s most esteemed wine domaines. With roots in 18th century Bordeaux when the merchant Catherine Conseillan acquired the vineyard and built a château in Pomerol, the estate was purchased in 1871 by the Nicolas family which has owned it ever since. Today, La Conseillante is overseen by 5th generation cousins, Jean-Valmy and Bertrand Nicolas, who preserve the incredible heritage of the domaine while pushing it to even greater heights of quality.
Our partnership with La Conseillante was enhanced by the fact that Benoit knew the winery’s Managing Director and Winemaker, Marielle Cazaux. They met in the early 2000s as both pursued enology degrees at the University of Bordeaux, and they kept in touch as their respective careers flourished. Naturally, Benoit is drawn to the wines of Bordeaux, especially the superlative Merlots of Pomerol. He had worked with fruit from St. Emilion early in his career and more recently in connection with his own wine project.
Benoit: “We’re always comparing Napa and Bordeaux, and I thought ‘what if we marry these wines?’ Merlot is king in Pomerol; it has a unique expression there due to different soils and climate. A blend could be the best of both worlds.”
Though our initial discussions centered on a 2021 vintage wine, the teams at Realm and La Conseillante decided to wait for the 2022 vintage. It was too soon, and neither team wanted to force anything. In July 2023, the La Conseillante team, including Jean-Valmy and Marielle, came to California with barrel samples of their 2022 vintage. Meeting with Scott and Benoit at Realm’s Houyi Estate on Pritchard Hill, the group held blending sessions with multiple lots from both producers over two days of intensive tasting. It was challenging, exciting and even a bit emotional; they knew if they couldn’t meet their own expectations for a wine unparalleled in quality and style, they would simply walk away. Fortunately, they didn’t have to.
The 2022 Ocean Crossing is 55% La Conseillante, 45% Realm Houyi. The 55% La Conseillante is 87% Merlot and 13% Cabernet Franc emanating from La Conseillante’s 29-acre vineyard, a site that sits on the clay and sandy/gravel soils of Pomerol. The Realm percentage is 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Cabernet Franc from Houyi, Realm’s 22-acre vineyard planted in the rocky, volcanic soils of Pritchard Hill. The wine was made with agreed-upon protocols by Benoit and Marielle and was blended in early 2024 and bottled at Realm’s Houyi winery in the summer of 2024.
Marielle: “Ocean Crossing is not French or American but somewhere in-between, a delicious wine that is powerful yet refined, with pure aromatics.”
Jean-Valmy agrees, asserting that he’s “crazy” about the wine he describes as combining silkiness, elegance and power, with exactly the balance the team sought. Scott describes the wine as compelling, unique and differentiated.
Scott: “You can’t tell if it’s Bordeaux or Napa. It’s neither and both. It’s a wine from somewhere and nowhere.”
But Ocean Crossing is more than a set of descriptors, percentages and winemaking facts. It is, as Jean-Valmy says, a representation of the values shared by Realm and La Conseillante. The search for exceptionalism. The drive to set a high bar and surpass it. A willingness to brook no compromises and walk away if the objective cannot be met. And a belief that the most satisfying and successful enterprises are built on relationships, friendship and mutual respect. The project has been a source of pride for both the Realm and La Conseillante teams.
Jean-Valmy: “Our relationship with Realm is fluid, natural, respectful and attentive. I love the idea that a handful of men and women can work with such confidence and professionalism. This is a crazy project, and it took courageous people to bring it to fruition.”
Realm and La Conseillante produced 100 cases of Ocean Crossing. The wine will be available exclusively at a new Estate Visit Series at Realm’s Houyi Estate on Pritchard Hill, beginning in April 2025. To learn more about Realm x La Conseillante, our Estate Visit series, click here.
