April 21, 2013 - Excellent. A bit woodsy when initially pured, then quickly opened, balanced, and sung like a bird. Love this wine.
May 28, 2012 - Consistently delicious. Hint of smoke, blackberries, smooth, light finish. Drinking very well now.
October 29, 2011 - no notes, but notice it's on sale for $30.99 as a tasting special which is well below community pricing average.
August 6, 2010 - Coming into its own, but still too early ... try 2012. But with lots of air, this wine is very nicely balanced. Also a good compromise between new world and old world style and just up my alley.
February 13, 2010 - Corked!
January 10, 2010 - Still too early ... wait until 2012. But it's coming along nicely. We opened it, decanted for a few hours and then just corked it up, put it back in the cellar and tried over the next two days ... it mellowed out and was enjoyable. This will be a very nice wine starting in 3-5 years.
January 1, 2010 - Cherry, cedar on the nose with a long finish, very, very good.
December 22, 2009 - Not sure I found the cola mentioned on WS (although it is an intriguing aroma for a red wine) but the cherry and cassis are definitely there, with a nice complex nose that I could spend a lot more time exploring. For the taste, I found the plum and raspberries, but it also had a strong strain of overripe fruit - more like a very dark and ripe cherry, than a bing cherry - and some huckleberry. The finish is long and lingering, with a strong mid-palate to get it going. This is a beautifully balanced Merlot and would be a nice pairing for a leaner steak like a Filet Mignon, a hearty pasta dish or even a pizza.
The Arise is 100% Merlot, which is fitting as Merlot is the centerpiece of all Blackbird's proprietary red blends and Merlot in French actually means "Little Blackbird." The vineyard is located in the Oak Knoll district of Napa Valley and started out as a walnut orchard until 1999 when the orchard was completely re-planted with Merlot vines. Originally, they sold most of their grapes to other wineries and then started to make their own with the 2003 vintage. Turned out to be a great idea...
November 18, 2009 - black cherry, cola, pomegranate - intense, lovely wine, perfect touch of oak, perfect finish.
October 29, 2009 - Taste Napa Valley [Vancouver, Canada] (Fairmont Hotel, Waterfront): Pretty Nose, Soft Good Tannins, Approachable Soft Fruit.