At Blackbird Vineyards, you won’t find flashy marketing, or extravagant tasting experiences. Its winemakers, Kyle Mizuno and Aaron Pott, have just one focus: exceptional, terroir-driven wines. From triple-sorting grapes to calibrating barrel toasting, they are meticulous about their craft. We had the opportunity to review the Blackbird Vineyards wine portfolio. Here’s a closer look.
Bordeaux Right Bank Meets Napa
Unlike most of Napa, Cabernet Sauvignon is not king at Blackbird Vineyards. The Oak Knoll-based winery has a similar terroir to Bordeaux’ right bank. As a result, Mizuno and Pott create Bordeaux right bank-style blends of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Their wines bear the elegance and restraint of Bordeaux, but with the lush, concentrated fruit of Napa Valley.
Mizuno and Pott pride themselves on rigorous attention to detail, from grape to glass. Most of their wines are sourced from organic and sustainable vineyards. They also source their oak barrels from some of the most renowned French coopers, including Bossuet, Taransaud, and Sylvain.
The Wines
We tasted the Blackbird Vineyards Illustration, Contrarian, Paramour, Arise Red Blend, and Arriviste Rosé. We found all of their wines to be highly aromatic, ageworthy, and structured. None had the overextracted or jammy flavors that are sometimes found in Californian red wines. Each is an example of how terroir-driven Napa Valley wines should taste.
Comparing each wine side by side was like a sensory journey through Bordeaux varietals. The Paramour highlights Cabernet Franc’s floral and herbaceous nature. The Illustration showcases the lush fruit of Merlot. And the Contrarian demonstrates the strength and energy of Cabernet Sauvignon.
We photographed each wine above a light board to showcase its hue. As can be expected, the Paramour is the lightest of the red wines, due to its high levels of Cabernet Franc. The Contrarian is the has a faintly purple tinge, due to its Cabernet Sauvignon.
Tasting Notes: Blackbird Vineyards
Blackbird Vineyards Illustration
(Merlot-dominant) – $130/bottle
This is the wine upon which Blackbird Vineyards built its reputation. The Illustration is lush and concentrated. It has abundant dark fruit aromatics, due to its Merlot content. Black plum, black cherry, and blackberry unfold into layers of violet, spice, and warm earth. Oak aging gives the wine a faint caramel/brown sugar note. The finish ripples with velvety, dark chocolate tannins. This is an approachable wine, so I could drink it alone or with food.
Blackbird Vineyards Paramour
(Cabernet Franc-dominant) – $130/bottle
The Paramour is a beautiful expression of Cabernet Franc’s floral and herbal nature. Its romantic bouquet of rose petal, wild strawberry, cherry, and sweet spice entices the nose. On the palate, it has hints of umami and black tea tannins. It also has the most vibrant acidity of all the Blackbird Vineyards red wines. Because of its medium body and savory acidity, the Paramour makes a versatile food wine. It has me thinking of Peking duck or grilled sausages with herbs.
Blackbird Vineyards Contrarian
(Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant) – $130/bottle
This powerful, Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend is built for cellaring. Its firm, structured tannins and concentrated fruit will age well over the next decade. The Contrarian exudes intense aromatics of black plum, floral, black pepper, earth, and toasty vanilla. Since it has strong tannins, decant this wine if you are drinking it now. Enjoy it with steak or grilled meats.
Blackbird Vineyards Arise Red Blend
$55/bottle
The Arise is not your jammy, juicy Californian red blend. It deftly walks the line between rich, dense fruit and dry, Bordeaux-style acidity. It contains 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Franc, 8% Syrah, and 5% Petit Verdot. With a quick decant or aeration, its inky, full-bodied tannins soften to a velvety texture. Fresh blackberry, black cherry, and blueberry compote are backed by vanilla, baking spices, and herbs. The Arise is supple but dry, with dark chocolatey tannins on the finish. This is a wine we want to have on hand for steak or burger nights.
The Final Sip
Blackbird Vineyards represents the best of Napa Valley’s terroir. Its wines are expressive without being overripe; rich without being “fruity”. Those looking for a wine to cellar will enjoy the Contrarian. On the flip side, those seeking an approachable wine to drink soon will enjoy the Illustration, Paramour, or Arriviste.
All Blackbird Vineyards wines are all available for purchase online at BlackbirdVineyards.com. To reserve a tasting at their Napa location, email concierge@blackbirdvineyards.com.
Mizuno and Pott’s winemaking continues to evolve along with their vineyards. In 2019, John and Julia Hinshaw purchased Blackbird Vineyards. As a result, newer vintages will include Cabernet Sauvignon from the Hinshaw’s Greeg Mountain vineyard. We look forward to seeing what’s in store.