2022 Blackbird 'Arise' Red Blend

47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Cabernet Franc, 22% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot.  Sourced from vineyards in Oak Knoll, Oakville, Yountville, and Rutherford. Fermented in stainless steel with native yeast and frequent early pump-overs. Aged 21 months in 50% new French oak. 14.2% alcohol. 1,925 cases made. This comes from superstar winemaker Aaron Pott, who has worked at Newton, Beringer and Château La Tour Figeac. 

94 points, Decanter Magazine. "Blackbird Vineyards was acquired by John and Julia Henshaw in 2018, with Aaron Pott at the helm of winemaking since 2006. This blend includes a splash of 2% Petit Verdot. Arise, considered the second wine of Blackbird, leaps out of the glass with vibrant red cherry and mulberry fruit, accented by brown spices, loamy earth, and notes of a deep redwood forest grove and bay laurel. The wine is sourced from excellent sites that offer high-altitude or cool-climate influences, adding freshness and complexity. Notably, the name "Merlot" stems from the Occitan word for Blackbird, referencing the grape's origins south of the Loire River. Fermented in stainless steel with native yeast and frequent early pump-overs, the wine is then aged for 20 months in approximately 30% new French oak. This beautifully expressive wine delivers elegance, structure, and layered depth.""