April 8, 2014 – Wine: 2008 Blackbird Arise

My wine buddy was the first to suggest I try the wines from Blackbird.  Since they have no tasting room, we headed to Ma(i)sonry in Yountville to enjoy a flight of their 2006 vintage.  I was suitably impressed to want to acquire several bottles of the 2007 vintage and later a few bottles of the 2008.  Since the 2008’s seem to be coming around sooner than the 2007’s, I decided to open this half-bottle of Blackbird’s Arise red blend, featuring Merlot, Cabernet  Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc.  I found this wine to be big and expressive.  The palette was nicely balanced with flavors of blackberry, cranberry, incense, minerals, and a note of lime on the finish.