Blackbird Vineyards Contrarian Napa Valley Proprietary Red 2013 Front Bottle Shot
Blackbird Vineyards Contrarian Napa Valley Proprietary Red 2013 Front Bottle Shot Blackbird Vineyards Contrarian Napa Valley Proprietary Red 2013 Front Label

Winemaker Notes

Commanding and expressive with savory notes of black cherry, truffle, pepper, and bay, Contrarian is the most powerful of the Blackbird trio. Black currant, toffee, sweet herbs, and espresso are framed by well-structured, bold tannins that crescendo with lush fruit into a long finish. While the wine is gratifying now, Contrarian will age gloriously with time in the cellar.

Professional Ratings

  • 91
    A proprietary blend of 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Cabernet Franc and 32% Merlot, Contrarian is coolly stylized, shining in acidity with highlights of dried herb, cedar and clove. The oak is there but not ridiculously so.
Blackbird Vineyards

Blackbird Vineyards

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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.

HNYBLBCON13C_2013 Item# 163671