Blackbird Vineyards 'Arise' Proprietary Red Blend 2022

A polished Napa red with dark fruit, graphite, and dried herbs, built on a Right Bank Bordeaux framework.

Quick Facts

• Region: Napa Valley, California
• Variety: Cabernet Franc and Merlot-led blend with Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot [exact 2022 percentages confirm vs. label]
• Style: Right Bank-inspired Napa blend, polished and structured
• Best For: dinner parties, gifting for Bordeaux-style red fans, grilled meats, cellaring through 2033–2035
• ABV: 14.1%
• Vintage: 2022

Winemaking

Blackbird Vineyards is guided by a philosophy of crafting approachable yet serious Napa Valley blends that balance power with elegance. The team focuses on selecting fruit from premium vineyard sources and employing thoughtful winemaking that lets the quality of the grapes shine through without excessive manipulation.

Tasting Notes

Arise opens with enticing aromas of dark berries and plum, layered with subtle oak and spice notes that draw you in. On the palate, the wine reveals a generous richness—blackberry and plum take center stage, accompanied by whispers of chocolate that add depth without dominating. The structure is impressively refined, with tannins that feel polished rather than aggressive, and the finish stretches long and gracefully, lingering with dark fruit and oak complexity that suggests years of cellar potential ahead.

Producer

Blackbird Vineyards operates as a boutique producer in Napa Valley, committed to producing compelling proprietary blends that showcase the region's diverse terroir. The winery emphasizes quality over volume, working with carefully selected vineyard parcels to achieve the balance and complexity that defines their portfolio.

Terroir

Napa Valley's renowned patchwork of microclimates and soil types allows winemakers to blend fruit from multiple vineyard sites, each contributing distinct character to the final wine. The valley's warm days and cool nights—moderated by marine influence—create ideal ripening conditions for Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and other Bordeaux varieties, enabling the development of ripe fruit flavor alongside structured tannins.

Food Pairings

Try this wine alongside a pan-seared duck breast with cherry gastrique—the wine's dark fruit and refined tannins are a natural match for the bird's richness. It's equally at home with a casual grilled ribeye topped with herb butter, or a more composed braised short rib with root vegetables and red wine reduction.