Blackbird Vineyards Contrarian Napa Valley Proprietary Red 2010
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Wine Enthusiast
So soft and dense in richness, this is easy to enjoy now. But you really want to restrain that impulse and give it some time in the cellar. Blended from roughly equal parts of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, it’s dry and tannic, but with a molten core of blackberries, cherries, blueberries, anise and sweet new oak. Very fine, very elaborate and complex. Give it 5–6 years, at least. This wine could still be unfolding in 2020.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Cabernet Franc and 20% Merlot, the 2010 Proprietary Red Contrarian is a beauty of purity, symmetry, harmony and pure Napa fruit. Abundant notes of blue and black fruits, sweet tannin, and enough acidity for delineation and freshness result in a stunningly impressive wine to drink over the next 10-12 years.
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Wine Spectator
A graceful, elegant mix of black cherry, plum, mineral and loamy earth, ending with a subtle but persistent finish and lingering flavors. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot.
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Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.