Blackbird Vineyards 'Arise' Proprietary Red Blend 2023

In Short

A full-bodied Napa blend of dark berries, plum, and cocoa with silky tannins and mineral depth.

Why We Stock It

Blackbird's Arise is a serious proprietary blend that sits comfortably at the Napa price point without the pretension. The wine has the structure and complexity to age gracefully over the next eight years, making it worth buying in quantity for a wine drinker who wants bottles to open now and later.

Tasting Profile

The wine opens with layered dark fruit and mineral notes, delivering complexity without heaviness.

Winemaking

The blend is aged in oak, which frames rather than dominates the wine, allowing the fruit and mineral character to remain the focus. Time on the wine softens the tannins into the silky texture that defines the palate.

Serving & Pairing

Serve between 62 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit. The wine benefits from 30 minutes of decanting to open up its layers. Pair it with grilled lamb chops or a beef rib eye, where the cocoa notes and structured tannins complement the meat's richness. It is equally at home with braised short ribs and a red wine reduction.

The Estate

Blackbird Vineyards is a Napa Valley producer focused on Right Bank Bordeaux inspired blends that reflect the valley's best fruit sources. The winery emphasizes quality over volume, working with established vineyards to craft wines with aging potential.

Terroir

Napa Valley's long growing season and moderate temperatures create ideal ripening conditions for the dark fruit-forward character in Arise. The valley's diverse soils, ranging from volcanic to alluvial deposits, contribute the mineral undertones that frame the wine's body.

VarIETALS

90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc