Winemaker Notes
Harvested, vinified, and aged with an identical commitment to quality as Blackbird's principal wines, this classic Napa blend comprised of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon expresses luscious flavors that can only come from exceptional fruit.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
I loved the nose on the 2019 Arise Proprietary Red, and it's loaded with red and black fruits, darker herbs, chocolate, and peppery nuances. Slightly fresher than the 2018, it's medium to full-bodied, has a great texture, ripe tannins, and shines for its elegance and balance.
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James Suckling
Blueberry, blackcurrant and dark-mushroom aromas follow through to a medium body with fine tannins and a juicy, savory finish. Tangy orange rind at the end. 36% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot, 21% cabernet franc, 8% syrah and 5% petit verdot.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2019 Arise Proprietary Red is a seductive, svelte blend of 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Franc, 8% Syrah and 5% Petit Verdot. Full-bodied but nicely supple and polished, it delivers notes of blueberries, cherries, dark chocolate and mocha, then caps those off with a long, velvety finish. Maybe it could use a bit more muscle and concentration, but there's no denying its upfront appeal and elegance. In the context of Napa, it's even reasonably priced.
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.