Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A firm and juicy wine with blackberry, hints of new wood and cedar. Full-bodied, velvety and rich. Long finish. A blend of 54% cabernet franc, 23% cabernet sauvignon, and 23% merlot. Drink or hold.
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Connoisseurs' Guide
54% Cabernet Franc; 23% Cabernet Sauvignon; 23% Merlot. Moderately intense and fairly complex with deep, dark cherry fruit joined by elements of graphite, fresh earth and a sweetening note of rich oak, Blackbird’s Contrarion is at once structured and sturdy, but it does not err to extreme toughness and teases with a fine sense of central succulence. It is a serious, cellar-worthy wine whose best lies some years down the line, and it demands five-to-eight years of patient restraint.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2012 Proprietary Red Contrarian (an equal part blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc) is slightly more structured. Its dense ruby/purple color is followed by notes of blackcurrants, licorice, lead pencil shavings, vanillin and spice. Made in a fuller-bodied, more structured and masculine style, it should drink well 2016-2028. Rating:91+
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Wine Spectator
Marked by a rustic mix of dusty herb and cedar notes, this features a firm core of dark berry, savory and loamy flavors, but the fruit pushes through on the finish. Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Drink now through 2027.
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.