Very good. Forest floor, blackberry. Well integrated tannins. Coat your tongue for minutes! This has at least another 5 years. I did pnp and found it spot on. Definitely a rebuy.
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Two hour decant. Nearly opaque magenta ruby color. Plum, rose petal, black currant, fennel, North Carolina barbecue sauce and mushroom on the aged nose. Super smooth palate, with velvety acidity. Firm, full, medium intensity tannins on the longish finish.
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This is an outstanding wine i've aged in my celler. From the time i visited yountville and visited their tasting, i've received annual allotments of this and the other 2 that make up the special vintages- this one is good and will get even better i'm certain, due to the heavy tannins (not overpowering). Enjoying this with special japanese a5 wagyu picked up at our local butcher in ATL. Since we're stuck at home during coronapocolypse, will enjoy amazing meals and wines at home... opened up the wine and decanted a solid 1.5 hours, but took the taster sip and wow! black berry pop- i think black raspberry specifically, smell of earth and cedars like a giant forest in japan, very long finish- can't wait for the 3-4 phases of this wine--yumster. What a long finish, i still am tasting at the back of my pallet... like a deep berry wrapper. I love the layering and complexity of these wines.
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93: Smooth with a subtle tartness. Low acid and tannins. Restrained fruit that allows you to taste the depth of the winemaker's skill rather that hitting you over the head with berries. The subtlety of the 17% Merlot balances the tannins of the 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, with the remaining 18% Cabernet Franc adding a lovely pepperiness that fills out the experience of the other two varietals. Contrarian, indeed. I drank this at a party, and now I wish I had a couple of bottles in my cellar. Is this really a $130 wine? Maybe. It's probably better for my bank account that I'll have to visit the winery to make that decision.
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This is a lovely wine. Elegant and sophisticated. Not a fruit bomb but it still satisfied my high end Cali Cab itch. I popped and poured and really enjoyed it. It got better in the glass and I strongly suspect this will get much better with age. I have a few more bottles, a couple of which I will hold for an extended period.
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well-balanced; Grgich Hills styled wine; nice balance of brick/cedar as well as tart fruit; super smooth but a little less complex than I would have thought for the price point
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Tasted Blackbird today, blend of 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32$ Cabernet Franc, 32% Merlot, nose of red and black fruit, red and black currants, subdued nose, same on the palate, better on the palate, medium/big body, slight fruit forward, needs 4 yeas to peak, needs more time in the cellar than the Illustrator and Paramour, score probably higher at that time, nice mocha on the medium finish.
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Deep purplish color and clear. Moderate aromas of aged oak and blackberries. Dry with a medium body. Crisp acidity with medium tannins. Moderate flavors of blackberry, fruit salad and a taste of lemon. Good.
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36/32/32 Cabernet/Cab Franc/Merlot. Medium nose shows dark fruit layers, spice, mocha, herbs. Palate is immediately huge, lots of dark fruit layers, obviously pedigreed high end wine, black plum, blackberry, dark chocolate, but also pretty tight, medium plus tannins come early, long finish. Right now it needs time.
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This is a really good blend, almost equally between Cab Sav, Cab Franc and Merlot. The Merlot appears to soften the nose and pallet, but there is a great finish to this one
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7/16/2023 - mrmikemtr Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very good. Forest floor, blackberry. Well integrated tannins. Coat your tongue for minutes! This has at least another 5 years. I did pnp and found it spot on. Definitely a rebuy.
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4/22/2021 - Bobcat 31 Likes this wine: 90 Points
smooth taste solid choice
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7/10/2020 - AGELVIS Likes this wine: 94 Points
Two hour decant. Nearly opaque magenta ruby color. Plum, rose petal, black currant, fennel, North Carolina barbecue sauce and mushroom on the aged nose. Super smooth palate, with velvety acidity. Firm, full, medium intensity tannins on the longish finish.
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3/15/2020 - pitcrewstrategist Likes this wine: 91 Points
This is an outstanding wine i've aged in my celler. From the time i visited yountville and visited their tasting, i've received annual allotments of this and the other 2 that make up the special vintages- this one is good and will get even better i'm certain, due to the heavy tannins (not overpowering). Enjoying this with special japanese a5 wagyu picked up at our local butcher in ATL. Since we're stuck at home during coronapocolypse, will enjoy amazing meals and wines at home... opened up the wine and decanted a solid 1.5 hours, but took the taster sip and wow! black berry pop- i think black raspberry specifically, smell of earth and cedars like a giant forest in japan, very long finish- can't wait for the 3-4 phases of this wine--yumster. What a long finish, i still am tasting at the back of my pallet... like a deep berry wrapper. I love the layering and complexity of these wines.
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12/9/2018 - ellars Likes this wine: 93 Points
93: Smooth with a subtle tartness. Low acid and tannins. Restrained fruit that allows you to taste the depth of the winemaker's skill rather that hitting you over the head with berries. The subtlety of the 17% Merlot balances the tannins of the 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, with the remaining 18% Cabernet Franc adding a lovely pepperiness that fills out the experience of the other two varietals. Contrarian, indeed. I drank this at a party, and now I wish I had a couple of bottles in my cellar. Is this really a $130 wine? Maybe. It's probably better for my bank account that I'll have to visit the winery to make that decision.
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10/12/2018 - Lmr_chi Likes this wine: 91 Points
Fruit forward. Medium dryness - paramour is better. Good but not $130 at this point.
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4/6/2018 - jkvedar Likes this wine: 93 Points
Great Bordeaux blend, favoring cab sauv. Cedar and black raspberry on the nose. Well-balanced with good acidity on the palate. Pleasant, long finish.
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12/17/2017 - lorenkreiss Likes this wine: 96 Points
This is a lovely wine. Elegant and sophisticated. Not a fruit bomb but it still satisfied my high end Cali Cab itch. I popped and poured and really enjoyed it. It got better in the glass and I strongly suspect this will get much better with age. I have a few more bottles, a couple of which I will hold for an extended period.
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9/5/2017 - Iceman611 wrote: 92 Points
Excellent quality wine. I think it will improve with a few years.
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8/26/2017 - Mark V Likes this wine: 90 Points
Great blend with a smooth finish. Like the Paramour better since I'm more of a CF fruit lover, but still great nevertheless
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4/29/2017 - richshoes Likes this wine: 94 Points
well-balanced; Grgich Hills styled wine; nice balance of brick/cedar as well as tart fruit; super smooth but a little less complex than I would have thought for the price point
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12/16/2016 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 88 Points
Tasted Blackbird today, blend of 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32$ Cabernet Franc, 32% Merlot, nose of red and black fruit, red and black currants, subdued nose, same on the palate, better on the palate, medium/big body, slight fruit forward, needs 4 yeas to peak, needs more time in the cellar than the Illustrator and Paramour, score probably higher at that time, nice mocha on the medium finish.
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9/17/2016 - ColluraJ Likes this wine: 84 Points
Deep purplish color and clear. Moderate aromas of aged oak and blackberries. Dry with a medium body. Crisp acidity with medium tannins. Moderate flavors of blackberry, fruit salad and a taste of lemon. Good.
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9/7/2016 - GTFreek wrote:
36/32/32 Cabernet/Cab Franc/Merlot. Medium nose shows dark fruit layers, spice, mocha, herbs. Palate is immediately huge, lots of dark fruit layers, obviously pedigreed high end wine, black plum, blackberry, dark chocolate, but also pretty tight, medium plus tannins come early, long finish. Right now it needs time.
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8/27/2016 - Mark V wrote: 91 Points
This is a really good blend, almost equally between Cab Sav, Cab Franc and Merlot. The Merlot appears to soften the nose and pallet, but there is a great finish to this one
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5/5/2016 - englishman's claret wrote: 92 Points
Red and black currants, a little herbal. Lifted graphite notes. A bit hot though.
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