Winemaker Notes
Blend: 84% Cabernet Franc, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Another terrific example of Blackbird is the 2014 Proprietary Red Paramour, a fabulous blend of 84% Cabernet Franc, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Merlot. The Cabernet Franc comes from the Stagecoach Vineyard. Consultant Aaron Pott said he thinks they have a magical spot for it on that large eastern Napa Valley mountain site. This is terrific stuff from the super-intense fragrance of white flowers and forest floor to the blueberry, black raspberry and graphite notes. The wine hits the palate with dazzling fruit intensity, loads of glycerin, a round, juicy, succulent mouthfeel, a layered personality and a long, supple finish. Drink it now or over the next 15+ years.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
One of the finest Cabernet Franc-based wines I have tasted, the handsome and ultra-rich 2014 Blackbird Vineyards Paramour—comprised of 84% Cabernet Franc, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 7% Merlot—displays tremendous richness on the palate. The wine's black fruit, savory herbs, and smooth textures pair it well with a rosemary-infused leg of lamb. (Tasted: September 1, 2017, San Francisco, CA)
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.