Dark ruby red in colour. Still holding on to the colour. Notes of black currant, and dark chocolate, but starting to show some of that cedar and menthol of a aged bordeaux. Still drinking well, and I am sure will drink well for next 5 years at least.
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Dark ruby red in colour. Notes of black currant, liquorice, and black chocolate. Dry, med body, med acidity, elegant tannins. Med finish. Drinking very well right now. Not sure it will get any better. I would drink up now.
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Dark crimson hue. Nose of licorice, blueberry, blackberry, slight oak. Super wine-- great from the first to last drop. Nicely balanced, aged with perfection, medium bodied, full of flavor, bursts off the tongue, blueberry pie, sweet, fruit bomb, terrific! BBV Proprietary Red Wine-- delicious.
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At Blackbird today, nose of licorice, blackberry, black cherry, and mocha, same on the palate, blend of 86% Merlot, 11% Cabernet franc, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon, not quite the 2005 but still a winner, big body, sweet, rich fruit on the mid palate, at it's best if decanted for an hour, easily last 8 years, very tasty, medium/long finish.
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This wine must breathe or decanted to allow the full character evolve. It was tight when I sampled it right out of the bottle. After it sat a couple of hours essence of mocha, mint, cherries and toast appeared. Nice layers of raisins, chocolate, toffee and tobacco. Very soft tannins and well balanced acidity. Ready to drink now.
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A beautifully-aged right-bank blend that should be drunk now. Dark crimson in color; medium in body; nose of charcoal and blackberry. Rich and integrated tastes of plum, dried cherry, gravel, and cedar, with a plush finish. 14.4% alcohol. I was skeptical that this would age well, but it did: this is layered, full, and complex. Blend of 86% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon.
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great bottle of wine - had it along side of the Blackbird Paramour, similarly well-balanced wine - slow-o for two hours, then a decant after dinner - slightly more tart than the Paramour but both are wonderful.
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Double-aerated into decanter and back into bottle. Still a HUGE bruiser of a wine. Plenty of black fruit, earth, cola, and coffee to go around. Started settling down around hour 2, but was almost gone by then.
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California versus France at Claudio's (Claudio's House, Chappaqua, NY): Well integrated but tight with a velvet texture. Strong green bell pepper on the nose but otherwise not giving much. Seemed a bit thin once it passed the mid-palette resulting in a medium finish. I suspect this is closed and would be interested to retest in a few years. This did not receive any first or second place votes.
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A nice balance of the firm, savory Cab Franc flavors with the unmistakable fruitcake of Merlot. Very good wine, but perhaps lacking a "sizzle" that makes it outstanding. Ready now.
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Gorgeous garnet color and lovely nose. Aerated, decanted, and let sit for about 1.5 hours. Drank beautifully--a nice fulll mouth with a fabulous backbone and well-balanced tannins. A little earth, a little fruit--just the perfect balance for me!! Simply delightful.
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A clear intense garnet in colour wine. Black fruit and chocolate on the nose. Black Fruit, vanilla, and plum on palate. Smooth tannins, and nice acidity.
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Splash decanted and re-bottled after 15 minutes of air time. Much better than the previous bottle i tried. Not sure if this due to bottle variation or the lengthy decant i gave the last bottle. Nice dark cherry and mocha on the nose. In the mouth this is medium bodied, smooth and nicely balanced with notes of dark cherry, plum and chocolate. Finish was a little short with minimal tannin. Very nice Merlot but i find it hard to justify the $80 price tag. There are equally good Merlots available for a lot less. I hope Blackbird's Contrarian and Paramour blends represent a step up from this.
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Big Steaks and Big Reds (Arlington, VA): tasted blind, first of the tasting. it got better with air for sure. popped three hours before, no decanting although in retrospect it shoulda been. bright purple color. the nose was tight, but i got serious melted cherries, currants, red licorice and cedar. the palate is dense, mouthcoating, but i found the mouthfeel to be gorgeous. lots of candied plums, dark chocolate and oak. the heat was a bit much on the finish. big now. i'd cellar this for 10 years without question. guess: napa blend.
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This proved to be a huge disappointment after all of the hype surrounding this wine. Gave it a 4 hour decant on the assumption it was a little too young right now. The wine simply never opened up and drank like a $10 Merlot. Nice dark cherry on the nose and palate. Smooth and medium bodied but one dimensional with a fairly short finish. I am hoping this was an 'off' bottle and I intend to try another fairly soon, probably with a shorter decant.
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Enjoyed this bottle very much. Silky mouthfeel and extremely elegant. Hands down, the best Merlot I've had up to date, although, I must say, my Merlot experience is limited. This is my fourth bottle of Blackbird and I have yet to be disappointed.
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Sideways was a great movie, but it's a shame whay it did for merlot appreciation. The Blackbird Illustration is gorgeous. Sweet dark berry, chocolate and spices with a silky mouthfeel. Mmmmmm. The powdery tanins help to deliver a beautiful finish. It should continue to age well foryears. It went especially well with beef. One bottle left, which we should hold for a few years. And you may alreaqdy know this, but if not -- try some excellent Cali (or Washington) merlot.
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Poured from the bottle. Fruit forward, with nice nose. Well rounded tannins, with smokey silk and a long finish. Good wine with food, especially red meat. Will improve with another couple of years.
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Big wine -- lots of tannins but not monstrous. Good fruit and is nicely balanced. Let the tannins integrate for a few years. Would not open another one until 2012 at least.
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Infanticide. Maybe because its Merlot dominated I thought I could drink it so young. Well, we finished the bottle, but it was too early. Has to be by a year or two. Shows lovely structure, good long finish and may possibly be the great American Merlot we have been waiting for.
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10/15/2021 - rexmerlot wrote: 91 Points
Dark ruby red in colour. Still holding on to the colour. Notes of black currant, and dark chocolate, but starting to show some of that cedar and menthol of a aged bordeaux. Still drinking well, and I am sure will drink well for next 5 years at least.
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5/16/2021 - Snag One Likes this wine:
I waited too long to enjoy this bottle and it was past its prime. Due to my error, I will not put a low score into the data set for this vintage.
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3/14/2020 - TexasBob Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark garnet color. Blueberry juice and red raspberries on the nose. Similar tasting notes on a silky body. Pleasant.
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12/30/2019 - rexmerlot wrote: 92 Points
Dark ruby red in colour. Notes of black currant, liquorice, and black chocolate. Dry, med body, med acidity, elegant tannins. Med finish. Drinking very well right now. Not sure it will get any better. I would drink up now.
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9/9/2018 - cos65 Likes this wine:
From 375 purchased on release
Served blind.
Obviously 10 yo Napa Cab family,
but very plummy ripe, but mature fruit.
Lovely now and seemingly holding quite well.
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5/4/2018 - AEROSMITH wrote: 93 Points
excellent wine
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5/7/2017 - williamswhine Likes this wine: 95 Points
Dark crimson hue. Nose of licorice, blueberry, blackberry, slight oak. Super wine-- great from the first to last drop. Nicely balanced, aged with perfection, medium bodied, full of flavor, bursts off the tongue, blueberry pie, sweet, fruit bomb, terrific! BBV Proprietary Red Wine-- delicious.
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12/16/2016 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 92 Points
At Blackbird today, nose of licorice, blackberry, black cherry, and mocha, same on the palate, blend of 86% Merlot, 11% Cabernet franc, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon, not quite the 2005 but still a winner, big body, sweet, rich fruit on the mid palate, at it's best if decanted for an hour, easily last 8 years, very tasty, medium/long finish.
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11/17/2016 - Snag One Likes this wine: 92 Points
This wine must breathe or decanted to allow the full character evolve. It was tight when I sampled it right out of the bottle. After it sat a couple of hours essence of mocha, mint, cherries and toast appeared. Nice layers of raisins, chocolate, toffee and tobacco. Very soft tannins and well balanced acidity. Ready to drink now.
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3/6/2016 - msuwine Likes this wine: 94 Points
A beautifully-aged right-bank blend that should be drunk now. Dark crimson in color; medium in body; nose of charcoal and blackberry. Rich and integrated tastes of plum, dried cherry, gravel, and cedar, with a plush finish. 14.4% alcohol. I was skeptical that this would age well, but it did: this is layered, full, and complex. Blend of 86% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon.
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3/23/2013 - AngryPrez Likes this wine: 91 Points
great bottle of wine - had it along side of the Blackbird Paramour, similarly well-balanced wine - slow-o for two hours, then a decant after dinner - slightly more tart than the Paramour but both are wonderful.
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11/7/2012 - spretzer wrote: 92 Points
Aerated and let sit for an hour, enjoyed for election night. Big BIG wine, but by hour two it was silky smooth and delicious
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10/8/2012 - RPerro wrote: 94 Points
Double-aerated into decanter and back into bottle. Still a HUGE bruiser of a wine. Plenty of black fruit, earth, cola, and coffee to go around. Started settling down around hour 2, but was almost gone by then.
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9/28/2012 - overhill wrote: 89 Points
California versus France at Claudio's (Claudio's House, Chappaqua, NY): Well integrated but tight with a velvet texture. Strong green bell pepper on the nose but otherwise not giving much. Seemed a bit thin once it passed the mid-palette resulting in a medium finish. I suspect this is closed and would be interested to retest in a few years. This did not receive any first or second place votes.
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3/6/2011 - sdatl Likes this wine: 91 Points
A nice balance of the firm, savory Cab Franc flavors with the unmistakable fruitcake of Merlot. Very good wine, but perhaps lacking a "sizzle" that makes it outstanding. Ready now.
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1/11/2011 - RJ8CDI wrote: 90 Points
Sweet and ripe. Vanilla and black fruits on the nose. A good modern wine.
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11/27/2010 - spretzer wrote: 93 Points
Gorgeous garnet color and lovely nose. Aerated, decanted, and let sit for about 1.5 hours. Drank beautifully--a nice fulll mouth with a fabulous backbone and well-balanced tannins. A little earth, a little fruit--just the perfect balance for me!! Simply delightful.
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11/5/2010 - rexmerlot wrote: 91 Points
A clear intense garnet in colour wine. Black fruit and chocolate on the nose. Black Fruit, vanilla, and plum on palate. Smooth tannins, and nice acidity.
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7/17/2010 - Yamadori wrote: 88 Points
Splash decanted and re-bottled after 15 minutes of air time. Much better than the previous bottle i tried. Not sure if this due to bottle variation or the lengthy decant i gave the last bottle. Nice dark cherry and mocha on the nose. In the mouth this is medium bodied, smooth and nicely balanced with notes of dark cherry, plum and chocolate. Finish was a little short with minimal tannin. Very nice Merlot but i find it hard to justify the $80 price tag. There are equally good Merlots available for a lot less. I hope Blackbird's Contrarian and Paramour blends represent a step up from this.
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7/8/2010 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 91 Points
Big Steaks and Big Reds (Arlington, VA): tasted blind, first of the tasting. it got better with air for sure. popped three hours before, no decanting although in retrospect it shoulda been. bright purple color. the nose was tight, but i got serious melted cherries, currants, red licorice and cedar. the palate is dense, mouthcoating, but i found the mouthfeel to be gorgeous. lots of candied plums, dark chocolate and oak. the heat was a bit much on the finish. big now. i'd cellar this for 10 years without question. guess: napa blend.
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7/4/2010 - Yamadori wrote:
This proved to be a huge disappointment after all of the hype surrounding this wine. Gave it a 4 hour decant on the assumption it was a little too young right now. The wine simply never opened up and drank like a $10 Merlot. Nice dark cherry on the nose and palate. Smooth and medium bodied but one dimensional with a fairly short finish. I am hoping this was an 'off' bottle and I intend to try another fairly soon, probably with a shorter decant.
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7/3/2010 - Tiborones wrote:
Enjoyed this bottle very much. Silky mouthfeel and extremely elegant. Hands down, the best Merlot I've had up to date, although, I must say, my Merlot experience is limited. This is my fourth bottle of Blackbird and I have yet to be disappointed.
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6/13/2010 - ajaffee wrote: 93 Points
Sideways was a great movie, but it's a shame whay it did for merlot appreciation. The Blackbird Illustration is gorgeous. Sweet dark berry, chocolate and spices with a silky mouthfeel. Mmmmmm. The powdery tanins help to deliver a beautiful finish. It should continue to age well foryears. It went especially well with beef. One bottle left, which we should hold for a few years. And you may alreaqdy know this, but if not -- try some excellent Cali (or Washington) merlot.
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5/12/2010 - qualjohn wrote: 92 Points
Poured from the bottle. Fruit forward, with nice nose. Well rounded tannins, with smokey silk and a long finish. Good wine with food, especially red meat. Will improve with another couple of years.
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10/29/2009 - Weston3220 wrote: 93 Points
Taste Napa Valley [Vancouver, Canada] (Fairmont Hotel, Waterfront): Loved this wine, My Notes from the tasting were as followed "Beautiful" "Sexy" "Feminie" "Bright". Excellent Fruit, With Tobacco and Earth just Awesome
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9/14/2009 - cns wrote: 92 Points
Big wine -- lots of tannins but not monstrous. Good fruit and is nicely balanced. Let the tannins integrate for a few years. Would not open another one until 2012 at least.
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4/23/2009 - Niagara wrote: 92 Points
Just a really solidly crafted wine; a California wine for French wine enthusiasts.
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1/1/2009 - Niagara wrote: 92 Points
Delicious with sesame-crusted, seared yellowfin tuna and rice. Plenty of fruit but serious structure as well -- nothing superficial about this wine.
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12/1/2008 - jaylew1 wrote: 92 Points
Infanticide. Maybe because its Merlot dominated I thought I could drink it so young. Well, we finished the bottle, but it was too early. Has to be by a year or two. Shows lovely structure, good long finish and may possibly be the great American Merlot we have been waiting for.
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