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Blackbird Vineyards Arise Proprietary Napa Valley Merlot Blend 2014
Blackbird Vineyards is one of Napa's hottest boutique producers. The "Arise" Proprietary Red is a blend of 42% Merlot 38% Cabernet Sauvignon 20% Cabernet Franc, fashioned after the famous Pomerol wines of Bordeaux. Get it while its still available! 94 Points "Editors' Choice" Wine Enthusiast: "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..." - Best of Year Buying Guide The Blackbird Arise welcomes you with complex aromatics of cherry, plum, bacon, tobacco, and subtle mint. Aged in French Oak barrels for 19 months, the well-integrated palate presents enticing flavors of cedar, earth, and toffee within multiple layers of rich, black fruits. Elegantly balanced with supple tannins, the mouthfeel is velvety and leads to a fine cocoa finish. Drinking well upon release, Arise will age beautifully with time in the cellar. Winemaker Sarah Gott fashions this delicious red from Napa Valley's Oak Knoll District. Dark ruby red in color, this blend of predominately Merlot offers aromas of ripe plum, mocha, and violets that carry over beautifully onto the palate. Concentrated black fruit flavors give way to dense, yet integrated tannins. The wine's finish reveals a noticeable acidity and depth to allow for longevity.
Ratings on Delectable
Jonathan Wall 
Benefitted greatly by a 3 to 4 hour decant. Rich dark berries and tannins came together. Drank as a "conversation wine"... no food... and it was delicious alone.
Benefitted greatly by a 3 to 4 hour decant. Rich dark berries and tannins came together. Drank as a "conversation wine"... no food... and it was delicious alone.
9.3
Lee Pitofsky
Rich and very impressively balanced. Notes of black cherries, blackberry, cassis and cedar
Rich and very impressively balanced. Notes of black cherries, blackberry, cassis and cedar
9.4
Kevin Ortzman
A Right Bank style Bordeaux. Ripe blueberries, black current and wet cedar on the nose. Long finish of licorice, fig and tobacco.
A Right Bank style Bordeaux. Ripe blueberries, black current and wet cedar on the nose. Long finish of licorice, fig and tobacco.
9.0
Steve Cunneen
Very nice. Lush, smooth & rich. Cherries, blackberries, blueberries. Cedar and a bit of spice. A little heavy to be sure but well made. Bordeaux with a California soul.
Very nice. Lush, smooth & rich. Cherries, blackberries, blueberries. Cedar and a bit of spice. A little heavy to be sure but well made. Bordeaux with a California soul.
9.2
Rich Roberts
Fairly dry with a short finish, hints of blackberry in an otherwise subtle fruit profile, reasonably balanced but not on the repurchase list
Fairly dry with a short finish, hints of blackberry in an otherwise subtle fruit profile, reasonably balanced but not on the repurchase list
8.7
Scot Walker
Berries and cedar in the nose. Raspberries, anise and herbs in the palate. Long finish, high tannins, so decanting softens it. Excellent with a Cabernet-cracker pepper finished filet. Kudos to John Cain at Annie Gunn’s for recommending the wine
Berries and cedar in the nose. Raspberries, anise and herbs in the palate. Long finish, high tannins, so decanting softens it. Excellent with a Cabernet-cracker pepper finished filet. Kudos to John Cain at Annie Gunn’s for recommending the wine
8.9
Andy Hall
A nice mild bodied blend with roughly a third each of merlot, cab sauv and cab franc. Black and red fruit notes throughout with nice structure provided by the cabs.
A nice mild bodied blend with roughly a third each of merlot, cab sauv and cab franc. Black and red fruit notes throughout with nice structure provided by the cabs.
9.1
Dan Michael
Solid bottle of Napa Red Blend, dark and a bit jammy, black fruit aromas and flavors, a touch high in alcohol but blew off pretty quickly. Not overly oaked which was a pleasant surprise. Overall, enjoyable with our steaks tonight.
Solid bottle of Napa Red Blend, dark and a bit jammy, black fruit aromas and flavors, a touch high in alcohol but blew off pretty quickly. Not overly oaked which was a pleasant surprise. Overall, enjoyable with our steaks tonight.
9.0
KA
Complex merlot dominated blend.
Complex merlot dominated blend.
9.1
Reed Boehringer
luscious dark fruits, silky tannins. lovely blend.
luscious dark fruits, silky tannins. lovely blend.
9.4
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