REVIEWS
Vintages: 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003
2012 Vintages
 2012 Arriviste Napa Valley Rosé |
5/5 Stars - Exceptional"Intensely fruity and lightly herbal in character, this is a dry, rich rosé with a smooth palate impression and a long. Full finish, tasting of raspberry, strawberry and herbs" |
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2011 Vintages
2011 Arriviste Napa Valley Rosé |
 91 Points"Offers a splendid combination of breadth and delicacy for California pink wine...This rich but very subtle rose should be particularly useful at the dinner table."
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Wine of the WeekThe Arriviste (is) the only California wine in the portfolio that hits our Wine of the Week $40 and below price target...The dinner Rosé...or a pairing for fresh oysters."
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2010 Vintages
2010 Arriviste Napa Valley Rosé |
RecommendedRosés 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!" |
 2010 Arise |
90+ Points"Sexy aromas of black raspberry and flowers. Densely packed with kirsch and licorice flavors with herb notes. Finishes with terrific energy and sneaky length." |
4 stars- Excellent"Complex in flavor and full bodied, this is an excellent blend. It is medium rich, balanced, long, mildly tannic, and oaky on the finish. It tastes of cassis, toast, tobacco, herbs, and spicy oak." |
90 Points"This is one of the richer, finer wines out of Napa meant for drinking now. With smooth tannins and a soft mouth-feel, it shows sweet-tasting cherry jam, cassis and toasty oak flavors." |
91 Points"On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, balanced, smooth, and has a very nice mouthfeel...this wine would pair well with short ribs or beef stew." |
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92 Points"(The wine) delivers a very structured palate impression of earth and black cherry and nice grip to the tannins. It gets pretty exotic on the finish. Drink 2012-2018." |
91 Points"Blackbird's blended Merlot comes through again, and like its predecessors, it offers a potent combination of depth, richness and spot-on claret focus..." |
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 2010 Illustration |
5/5 Stars - Exceptional"Fleshy and complex, this is a luscious, full-bodied blend with excellent jam, mint and spicy oak." |
93 Points"Lush on entry, then a wave of black cherry, raspberry and truffle washes over the palate and echoes on the long finish. Very seductive wine. Pomerol lookalike." |
94 Points - Cellar SelectionFull review coming in August, 2013 |
93 Points"A beautiful nose of blackberry and currant. Once again, the palate shows solid structure with a precise impression of black currant, licorice and fine tannins." |
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 2010 Paramour |
5/5 Stars - Exceptional"Superb Cabernet Franc blend! Beautifully balanced, medium rich, complex in character and very long on the palate." |
92+ Points"Brooding aromas of black fruits, dark chocolate, with a hint of violet...This very rich wine opened beautifully in the glass...The broad, serious tannins saturate the entire palate." |
94 Points - Cellar SelectionFull review coming in August, 2013 |
91 Points"More than just complex, this dramatic wine runs from the darker influences of concentrated black cherries and toasty tobacco leaf..." |
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93 Points"Beguilingly supple, with open, briary black fruit elements in the nose. The palate delivers an intense black currant, tannin and berry profile with a nice bit of licorice on the finish." | |
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 2010 Contrarian |
4+/5 Stars - Excellent"A fine blend: supple in texture, ripely flavored, and well balanced; a wine with rich, complex character, and a long, lightly tannic finish" |
93+ Points"Notes of black cherry and cassis. A youthfully medicinal quality harmonious acidity. Intensely flavored and very long, finishing with serious fine-grained tannins and outstanding grip." |
94 Points - Cellar SelectionFull review coming in August, 2013 |
92 Points"Deep, dense and impressively concentrated, this generously filled wine shows layer upon layer of rich, well-ripened dark fruit. [It] will age famously for ten years or more." |
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93 Points"Shows off ripe and smooth black fruit in the nose with an impression of focused tannins. The texture and tannins are well-formed and should give this wine a long life." | |
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2009 Vintages
2009 Arise |
4 stars"Round and full-bodied, this is a stylish, medium-rich blend that is well balanced. Excellent." |
90 Points"Bright, chewy and dry on the palate...This wine shows a lovely restrained sweetness and finishes with good shape and length." |
95 Points"The beautifully structured 2009 shows excellent concentration and density, with layers of red and black fruits, fine tannins and a long, spicy finish." |
91 Points"Smooth, sweet toasted oak and lovely, lush texture; generous and balanced with depth and good length." |
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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..." |
2009 Illustration |
4 stars"Full bodied and intensely flavored, this is a supple, concentrated wine...Can be aged. Excellent." |
92 Points"This is a big, rich, vibrant wine, fruity enough to drink now...deliciously forward in cherry, currant, herb and new oak flavors. The wine shows a brisk acidity that makes it elegant and refined." |
93 Points"Sexy, vibrant aromas of black cherry, dark raspberry, cassis, chocolate and licorice...Blackbird, whose wines are made by the talented Aaron Pott, describes itself as 'an artisanal producer of Pomerol-inspired wines' and this beauty could be exhibit A."
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94 Points (Excellent)"This opaque and pitch black colored finesse wine will certainly be a crowd pleaser. This is a very food friendly wine that would pair well with steak." |
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92 Points"Blueberry and black currant in the nose, it shows a somewhat youthfully angular palate with polished black fruits in the core." |
92 Points"Delivers a wealth of very deep, perfectly focused black cherry fruit with lovely oak as a backup...a solid, extremely well-balanced, impressively layered and eminently age-worthy wine..." |
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2009 Paramour |
5 stars"Paramour is luscious and complex; an exceptional wine, with intense fruitiness, layers of oak complexity, and a firm, long finish. Delicious." |
92 Points"...Very polished and complex...Marked by black cherry, red currant and cedar flavors, and finishes totally dry." |
92+ Points"Smooth and fine-grained but youthfully backward...with flavors of black cherry, coffee, and spices. Perhaps the longest of the set of 2009s...This very well balanced wine blossomed beautifully in the glass..." |
95 Points (Excellent)"I just loved this wine! It will not be around too long. Everyone will want a second glass." |
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92 Points"Elderberry, currant and lavender in the nose with ripe, mouth-coating chocolate, black fruits and solid tannins, it shows beautiful structure." |
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2009 Contrarian |
4+ stars"Rich and complex in style; a firm, well balanced wine with evident oak character and blackberry-cassis fruitiness." |
93 Points"Just beautiful to drink now...the wine's flavors are simply delicious, offering waves of cherries, blueberries, plums and currants. Plenty of new oak adds toasty vanilla. (Pair) this wine with rich foods, such as lamb." |
92+ Points"Crushed blackberry, licorice and violet on the nose and palate. This very rich, long wine comes across as much more vibrant...Impressive potential here." |
93 Points (Very good +)"The flavor profile is a tasty black currant and boysenberry blend with notes of oak and anise. I also detected hints of blueberry and espresso. The finish is dry and its moderate fine tannins are sticky and linger for quite some time." |
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93 Points"Shows a dark, brooding nose of black fruits, chocolate and coffee leading to a palate of intensely extracted black fruit lavished in fine-grained tannins." |
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2008 Vintages
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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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 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..." |
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..." |
90 Points"Possesses a dark ruby/purple color as well as big, sweet aromas of mocha, coffee bean, black cherries and spice box..." |
2008 Paramour |
92 Points"Very ripe fruit on the nose, mostly cherries. Some mocha and spice undertones..." |
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..." |
91 Points"The wine is impressively rich and sexy..." |
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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2007 Vintages
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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2007 Illustration |
91 Points— Jamessuckling.com, 2007 California Cabernet Report |
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." |
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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." |
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 |
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2007 Paramour |
93 Points— Jamessuckling.com, 2007 California Cabernet Report |
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." |
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." |
95 Points"It's softly rich and polished in tannins, with accessible blackberry, cassis and oak flavors.." |
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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." |
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. |
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90 Points"Aromas: Lavender, cherry |
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2007 Contrarian |
93 Points— Jamessuckling.com, 2007 California Cabernet Report |
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." |
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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." |
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 |
2006 Vintages
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 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, purely domestic wine report October 2, 2009 |
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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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