Winemaker Notes

Benoit Touquette is charming, charismatic, and unabashedly fun, pure fun. The magic of his personality comes through with his fun-loving label: Teeter-Totter. It is as thrilling and as memorable as cannonballing into a swimming pool as a rambunctious child or a carefree adult! The varietal variations from vintage to vintage are what keep it interesting and endlessly enchanting for all of us. Teeter-Totter is the type of wine that we whole-heartedly love to adore - it needs no explanation for its flirtatious nature, its effortless grace and balance shines from the moment you pop the cork until the very last drop, and best of all, it’s ready to drink NOW! Benoit is a mastermind winemaker who has been awarded innumerous 100-point scores from Robert Parker for the wines he has produced for Realm, in addition to other brands we cherish and champion with pride: Jack Quinn, Kata and Fait-Main. He was Andy Erickson's right-hand man a moon or two ago, and the protégé of the world's top consulting winemaker: Michel Rolland. So, let’s be crystal clear, he is a ‘Cabernet Genius’ and his Teeter-Totter is no exception. We sing the praises of this wine all year long, and when the new vintage comes around, it is our joy to shout its arrival from the rooftops announcing it to Benoit's diehard fans.
Teeter Totter is a creamy, juicy and 100% drool-worthy wine. Red fruit and bright blueberry notes at first glance that evolve into darker tones of spices, chocolate, and black fruit. The palate is as soft as velvet and as refreshing as it gets – the perfect red for right this second. Each year Benoit’s blend varies in his "effort to capture all the incredible diversity that Napa Valley has to offer with different varietals, terroir, elevation, and exposure.” The fruit, however, is always sourced from multiple premium vineyards that Benoit works with regularly in Calistoga, Rutherford, Yountville, and Saint Helena when crafting his Cabernet knockouts for Jack Quinn, Realm, Kata and Fait-Main. This year’s blend comprises 85% Cabernet Sauvignon from Rutherford, 5% Charbono, 5% Petite Sirah, and 5% Zinfandel, all from Calistoga. Once again, a brilliant and cohesive equation in the bottle! The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon jumps out of the glass with notes of cassis, berries, floral tones, and a serious dash of spice. Ripe, polished tannins offer a rich and full-bodied palate experience, while the fresh acidity sustains fantastic length on the finish. It is the GO-TO glass of beautifully juicy, chewy, structured RED.

Blend : 85% Cabernet Sauvignon from Rutherford, 5% Charbono from Calistoga
5% Petite Sirah from Calistoga, 5% Zinfandel from Calistoga