REVIEWS
Vintages: 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003
2010 Vintages
 2010 Arriviste Napa Valley Rosé |
RecommendedWine Spectator, Rosés from Around the World |
RecommendedStephen Tanzer's Annual Report on Pink Wines |
89 Points (Very good)"This truly Rose colored wine opens with a fragrant strawberry bouquet. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, well balanced, and very smooth. The flavor profile of this wine is a mild mineral infused gentle strawberry with a touch of pomegranate and black cherry. The finish is very dry and rather refreshing." |
"Just had the best Rosé I have had from California... Maybe ever... Like find it... Wow!" |
2009 Vintages
 2009 Arise |
94 Points"Editors' Choice - A glorious wine. Based on Merlot, with nearly equal parts of the two Cabernets, it's softly smooth and delicious right now. Totally bone dry, yet rich and sweet in cherries, berries, chocolate and cedar, it satisfies on every level..." |
93 points"Very much reminiscent of fine claret in structure but charged with lots of well-ripened Napa Valley fruit...it will age without risk for as long as a decade or more." |
Very Good+ - 91 Points"This opaque and very dark ruby colored blend opens with a fragrant blackberry bouquet with a hint of black raspberry. On the palate, this wine is full bodied, balanced, dense and juicy. It does develop nicely with some aeration. The flavor profile is plum and black currant blend with notes of blueberry and oak..." |
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2008 Vintages
 2008 Illustration |
90 Points"I like the wet earth and fruit character on the nose and palate of this wine. It's full and supple with soft tannins and a long fresh finish..." |
90 Points"Possesses a dark ruby/purple color as well as big, sweet aromas of mocha, coffee bean, black cherries and spice box..." |
93 Points— Wine Enthusiast |
93 points"A beautiful wine in the mouth, precise and pure entry with sculpted, mouth-coating flavors of blackberry, dark cherry and a bit of bittersweet java..." |
 2008 Paramour |
92 Points"Very ripe fruit on the nose, mostly cherries. Some mocha and spice undertones..." |
91 Points"The wine is impressively rich and sexy..." |
91 Points"Cellar Selection - Exuberantly rich in cherries and blackberries, with a huge, sweet and smoky coating of oak. The tannis are thick and dusty and flashy..." |
92 points"Shows a seamless palate entry with well-defined black currant, pure red and blue plum..." |
 2008 Contrarian |
91 Points"This is a little jammy on the nose with lots of currants. Spicy at the front of the palate with ripe fruit and chocolate undertones..." |
90 points"The nose is a soft chiffon of red cherry, blackberry that come together with excellent focus..." |
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2008 Arise |
92 Points"Supple, intense and energetic, with lovely rose petal lift and restrained sweetness to its seamless red fruit flavors. This essentially gentle, Right-Bank-style wine finishes with suave tannins and noteworthy aromatic persistence. A sentimental favorite in my recent tastings." |
93 Points"This beautiful wine exudes dark-fruited aromas, with a leafy note no doubt from the Cab Franc, in a rich layered, supple wine that be drunk now with great satisfaction. Or set it aside for additional aging that will only enhance an already delicious brew." |
Very Good - 93 Points"This dark ruby colored red blend from Blackbird is quite the crowd pleaser. It opens with a plum like bouquet with hints of blackberry..." |
91 Points"The 2008 Arise reveals a sweeter, chocolate/cocoa scent intermixed with abundant notes of black currants, cherries and subtle herbs. With silky tannins and a fleshy, sexy, opulent personality, the wine lingers in the mouth." |
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92 Points"The three varietals are beautifully fit in this deep and very complex presentation. Long on ripe cherries, cassis, sweet oak and briary spice, the wine is at once both big and quite well-proportioned..." |
95 Points"The medium to full bodied palate shows layers of dark fruit, with elegant balance, velvety texture, and a nice generous finish." |
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2008 Arriviste |
Very Good - 89 Points"This truly Rose colored wine opens with a fragrant strawberry bouquet. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, well balanced, and very smooth. The flavor profile of this wine is a mild mineral infused gentle strawberry with a touch of pomegranate and black cherry. The finish is very dry and rather refreshing." |
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2007 Vintages
2007 Illustration |
94 Points"A deeper, more-layered and altogether richer look at Merlot than most, this compelling wine is long on sweet oak and rife with classic varietal black cherry fruit." |
97 Points"A spectacular wine that gets better and better with every sip. It's dramatic from the get-go, with rich, fine tannins framing extraordinarily good flavors of blackberries, black currents, anise, dark chocolate and cedar." |
92 Points"The 2007s ratchet up things. Composed of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2007 Illustration reveals sweeter fruit, more opulence and flamboyance, and plenty of spice, wood smoke, black currant, plum, and licorice notes." |
91 points"On the palate, it has a combination of tannins and grip which is elegantly balanced by dark berry fruit and cedar. This is certainly a wine that will be enjoyable for the next 15-20 years." |
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Between 9 and 9.5/10 points"Medium garnet in the glass, this wine has a nose of tobacco, black cherry, and wet wood, with an aspect over time that is almost dusty.. Cost: $90. Where to buy?" |
92 points"Aromas: Subtle herb hints with cherry, graphite and salt |
91 points— Jamessuckling.com, 2007 California Cabernet Report |
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2007 Paramour |
91 Points"Nose offers cherry and plum fruit aromas complicated by minerals and licorice and lifted by a floral nuance that shows evidence of the cab franc." |
91 Points"Aaron Pott bases this blend on merlot grown at the Blackbird Vineyard (50 percent); the balance is cabernet franc (45) from the Crocker & Starr Vineyard in St. Helena and cabernet sauvignon." |
95 Points"It's softly rich and polished in tannins, with accessible blackberry, cassis and oak flavors.." |
93+ Points"A sensational effort, the 2007 Paramour reveals the most saturated purple color of any of these wines. A blend of 50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, it possesses abundant notes of graphite, ink, spicy oak, creme de cassis, plums, and licorice." |
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93 points"Some of the best Merlot-based wines out of the Napa Valley for this fantastic vintage." "There are explosive aromas of dark fruit on the nose including blueberry, loganberry, and cassis, along with undertones of dark chocolate and cedar." |
93 points"This dark ruby red blend is fascinating. It opens with an attractive blueberry bouquet. On the palate, this wine is medium to full bodied very well balanced, super silky, and elegant." |
Between 9 and 9.5/10 points"Medium garnet in the glass, this wine has a rich nose of cherry, black tea and light floral aromas. In the mouth it is smooth with lightly velvety tannins and joyous rich cherry and plum" fruit. |
90 points"Aromas: Lavender, cherry |
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93 points— Jamessuckling.com, 2007 California Cabernet Report |
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2007 Contrarian |
91 Points"Saturated, bright red-ruby. Wild aromas of plum, dark cherry, leather and meat; distinctly Old World in character..." |
93 Points"Shows a molten core of blackberries, crème de cassis, cocoa and cider, with a mineral undertow." |
94 Points"Another noteworthy offering is the 2007 Contrarian, a blend of 46% Cabernet Franc, 34% Merlot, and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. This dense 2007 offers loads of licorice, black currant liqueur, camphor, charcoal, plum sauce, and spicy yet subtle oak in a complete, voluminous, full-bodied style." |
90 points"This dark ruby colored wine opens with a mild blackberry and black raspberry bouquet. On the palate, this wine is full bodied, balanced, and very smooth." |
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90 pts"Tannins and structure abound, and while concentrated and powerful on the palate, this wine also contains bright and rich berry fruit..." |
9.5/10 points"Dark garnet in color, this wine smells of cocoa powder, cherry, and that light hint of green vegetable that suggests the Cabernet that plays a more dominant role in this wine." |
91 points"Aromas: Earthy loam, clove, salt and leather |
93 points— Jamessuckling.com, 2007 California Cabernet Report |
2007 Arise |
90 Points"Sweet and creamy but with a firm spine of acidity framing the redcurrant flavor and giving the middle palate a juicy character. Finishes with attractive building sweetness..." |
93 Points"This Bordeaux blend has terrific a structure, with a molten core of ripe, sweetly complex blackberries and black currents." |
92 Points"The dense ruby/purple-tinged 2007 Arise (75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon) exhibits a mossy, forest floor, Burgundian-like component, medium to full body, outstanding balance, purity, and texture..." |
91 points"Concentrated black currant and espresso aromas open to sleek yet complex blackberry, cedar and sage flavors that slowly build power and tannins on the finish." |
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90 points"On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, balanced, and fruit forward. The flavor profile is a blend of juicy blackberry and dusty black cherry with notes of integrated old oak." |
9/10 points"Dark garnet in the glass, this wine has a nose of dark black cherry, tobacco and wet earth aromas. In the mouth it is velvety and nicely balanced." |
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2006 Vintages
2006 Illustration |
91 Points"The 2006 Illustration, a blend of 86% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, offers sweet, smoky, cola, black currant, coffee, new saddle leather, cocoa, spice box, and tobacco characteristics as well as a lush, round, heady mouthfeel." |
93 points"Aromas: Black cherry, herb, graphite and quince |
90 points"Plenty of sweet black-cherry fruit and shows a nice flash of Merlot roundness..." |
94 points"This luxurious red is a treat now but definitely something to enjoy for at least the next 10-15 years." |
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4/5 stars"Supple and full in style, with evident richness, fine balance, and a very long finish..." |
9.5/10 points"In the mouth it is gorgeously smooth with bright cherry cola, chocolate, and juicy bing cherry flavors that dance on a lively bed of acidity. Velvety tannins sneak around the edges with a hint of sweetness and then pirouette slowly in the back of the throat for minutes. Fantastic." |
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2006 Paramour |
93 points"Aromas: Forward cherry and nougat with hints of berry and graphite |
90 points"Dense and complex, with a touch of velvet to smooth it out. Aromas of black currant and espresso lead to layered cherry, blueberry and cedar flavors." |
94 points"The 20 months in French oak, 83% of which are new, contribute in part to the beautiful structure and silky tannins that fill the mouth and that lingering hint of pepper in the finish leaves one always wanting a little bit more." |
5/5 stars"Exceptional, fleshy, full, and long; a generously flavored wine..." |
2006 Contrarian |
92 Points"The brilliant 2006 Contrarian (38% Cabernet Franc, 34% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon) reveals plum, licorice, and black currant fruit intertwined with a mocha, coffee, berry character that recalls a fine Right Bank wine from Bordeaux." |
92 points"Aromas: Rich polished cherry and camphor — Doug Wilder, The Purely Domestic Wine Blog October 2, 2009 |
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2006 Arise |
91 Points"The 2006 Arise (100% Merlot) possesses the most chocolate, cocoa, and charcoal notes along with lots of berry fruit, silky tannins, a lovely, medium to full-bodied, lush texture, and irresistible charm and appeal. Enjoy it over the next decade." |
93 points"Perfectly ripe cherries and shows layers of rich oak, sweet loam and hints of cola throughout its considerable length. Its integral spine of fine-grained tannins guarantee that it will grow over four to six years..." |
91 points"Dense and racy, with blackberry and spicy espresso aromas that lead to complex, layered currant, mocha and toasty sage flavors. Tannins firm up the finish. Merlot. Drink now through 2013." |
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2006 Proprietary Red |
90 points"Shows lovely structure and finesse, offering currant and green olive aromas and appealing plum, sage and toasty vanilla notes that linger on the long finish. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2014." |
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2005 Vintages
2005 Paramour |
98 pointsAroma: Ruby Fruit, Cocoa, Black Plum - 15/15 "Paramour is the latest release from Blackbird Vineyards. The gravel and clay vineyard was purchased by proprietor Michael Polenske in 2003...Winemaker Sarah Gott is formerly of Joseph Phelps Vineyards." |
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2005 Proprietary Red |
90 points"Aromas of plum and roasted sage lead to intense, youthful black cherry, cracked pepper and licorice flavors, finishing with rich, loamy tannins. Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon." |
Robert Parker Rating: 91 points"The 2005 Proprietary Red Wine is a blend of 96% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, all from the Oak Knoll sector of Napa. With terrific fruit, medium to full body, supple tannin, and well-integrated acidity and alcohol, it should be drunk over the next 8-10 years." |
Vinfolio Rating: 94 points"The wine shows a nose of vibrant cassis, orange skins, dark cherry, blueberry, lavender, chocolate, licorice and slate aromas. The palate breaks in with hints of meaty olive shading seductive kirsch and black plum flavors. Bold and smooth on the finish. Continues to evolve over 80 hours." |
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2004 Vintages
2004 Proprietary Red |
92 points"Aromas: evolved nose, showing that it is entering maturity |
Four Stars + (out of Five)"Fleshy and full bodied, this is a fine Merlot, tasting of plum, black cherry, blueberry, and toast, with a smooth, long, lightly tannic finish. Pomerol-like, in the best sense. Unfined, unfiltered. 5% CS. 1,100 cases." |
97 pointsAroma: Dark Black Cherry, Dark Chocolate, Mocha - 14/15 "The wine is a powerful, rich, massive and extracted version of plebian Merlot styles and it is truly destined to become a true cult classic." |
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93 PointsBorn to Fly... The new owner of Blackbird Vineyards is Michael Polenske, who gave up an illustrious career in finance (for example, he was at one time President and Chief Executive Officer of Chase Manhattan Bank & Trust Co., N.A., heading up the private banking business in the Western U.S.) to pursue his dream of making wine. The winery brands itself an 'artisanal producer of Pomerol-inspired wines. The 2004 Blackbird Vineyards wine is 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon but it is labeled as a proprietary wine rather than as a varietal Merlot. Although I consider the word 'elegant' to be over-used to the point of being almost meaningless, I must admit that this is a supremely elegant Merlot wine. The 2004 Blackbird Vineyards wine has enough fruity character to be impressive if you drink it now, but its firm structure and its concentration suggest that it will evolve beautifully for many years, most likely becoming rounder as its tannins integrate completely. For collectors, it is a wine worth collecting." |
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2003 Vintages
2003 Merlot |
"$70 Every wine tells a story. Michael Polenske's Blackbird Vineyard tells a story you've probably heard before. The grapes grown on the property have been sold to Behrens & Hitchcock, Lail, Shafer, Pride and Robert Foley Vineyards in the past, as well as to Mia Klein's private label, Selene, with a Blackbird Vineyard designated label. Sarah Gott shines as Polenske's winemaker of choice. She left Joseph Phelps and Quintessa to make a splash in a few smaller ponds. (She also makes the following wine). It is with wines like this that we never question why we are in this business." |
Sommscore: 95AROMA dark cherry, slate, mineral, licorice 14 "Heady aromas of dark cherry, a slate/lead minerality and a hint of anise introduce this brooding monster. Medium-bodied, the palate exhibits a great texture of medium tannins, with notes of red licorice, fennel and red cherry. Definitely not a cocktail wine, this Merlot blossomed with food, revealing its complexity and richness. While the wine opened up in the glass, five to ten years in the cellar will reward you with an exemplary drink." |
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98 points"There's rare, and then there's really rare... The stunning debut of Blackbird Vineyards" "Beginning in 1999, Mia Klein, owner and winemaker of Selene Winery introduced a vineyard designate Merlot from Blackbird Vineyards, south of Yountville. This bottling quickly gained wide acclaim among the trade and I noted the 1999 vintage (95 points) as my recommendation over the much heralded 2001 Paloma Merlot (Wine Spectator's Wine of the Year in 2003). I very quietly sold dozens of cases of Selene's Blackbird to my clients who wanted to know what I was so excited about. It wasn't long until the mere mention of Blackbird stopped people in their tracks. It was the best Merlot nobody had ever heard of. In 2003, the vineyard changed hands. While most of the fruit that year went to Shafer, Behrens & Hitchcock, Viader, and Lail, new owner Michael Polenske and winemaker Sarah Gott carved out a miniscule amount of fruit to begin his legacy. This wine not only follows in the footsteps of the string of the superb Blackbird Vineyards Merlot made by Klein, it sets a new standard unsurprisingly from the same source. An important note here is that as great as the Selene Blackbird was, it only contained 55% of Blackbird fruit. The 2003 is sourced 100% from the vineyard. Michael and I tasted his 2003 Blackbird last Friday at my office in St. Helena, and I was left with an extremely solid impression of 94 + points. When finished with our meeting, I put the cork back in the bottle and left it on my desk to revisit Monday. The evolution left me speechless..." |
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