Blackbird Vineyards
Blackmail Merlot
Napa Valley, California, USA
It's time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.
Deep Inky in color with a very short purple rim. Not showing age at all.
Strong fruity nose with blackberries, black plums, black currants, light cedar, figs, stewed cherries, licorice, spices, light earth, tobacco leaf, herbs, chocolates and black pepper.
Full bodied and elegant with medium acidity.
Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, light vanilla, tobacco, chocolates, peppercorn, earth, herbs, spices, pencil lead, licorice and diet cola.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.
This is a great Napa Merlot with a touch of right bank Bordeaux. Nicely balanced with a soft mouthfeel.
Elegant and fruity. Spicy and interesting. Rich and tangy.
Good right out of the bottle, and better after 2 hours of airtime.
Good by itself as a sipping wine. Delicious stuff.
14.1% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$100.
It's time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.
Deep Inky in color with a very short purple rim. Not showing age at all.
Strong fruity nose with blackberries, black plums, black currants, light cedar, figs, stewed cherries, licorice, spices, light earth, tobacco leaf, herbs, chocolates and black pepper.
Full bodied and elegant with medium acidity.
Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, light vanilla, tobacco, chocolates, peppercorn, earth, herbs, spices, pencil lead, licorice and diet cola.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.
This is a great Napa Merlot with a touch of right bank Bordeaux. Nicely balanced with a soft mouthfeel.
Elegant and fruity. Spicy and interesting. Rich and tangy.
Good right out of the bottle, and better after 2 hours of airtime.
Good by itself as a sipping wine. Delicious stuff.
14.1% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$100.
It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Here's a gorgeous one.
Inky in color with a short reddish rim.
Full bodied with medium acidity.
Dry and fruity on the palate, smooth and elegant.
Showing black plums, cooked cherries, oak, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, earth and peppercorn.
Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.
This 7 year old Merlot from Napa Valley is drinking beautifully now. Tangy and rich. Interesting and extracted.
Good right out of the bottle, and better with some airtime.
This 2016 was a great vintage in Napa, and it is definitely showing it.
I've had the 2014 vintage (which was a great vintage too) a few times before, and loved it just as much.
Peaking now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 years.
Thank you Scott for sharing this with me.
Good by itself as a sipping wine, and will pair nicely with BBQ Meats.
14.1% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$100.
It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Here's a gorgeous one.
Inky in color with a short reddish rim.
Full bodied with medium acidity.
Dry and fruity on the palate, smooth and elegant.
Showing black plums, cooked cherries, oak, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, earth and peppercorn.
Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.
This 7 year old Merlot from Napa Valley is drinking beautifully now. Tangy and rich. Interesting and extracted.
Good right out of the bottle, and better with some airtime.
This 2016 was a great vintage in Napa, and it is definitely showing it.
I've had the 2014 vintage (which was a great vintage too) a few times before, and loved it just as much.
Peaking now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 years.
Thank you Scott for sharing this with me.
Good by itself as a sipping wine, and will pair nicely with BBQ Meats.
14.1% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$100.
It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.
Inky in color with a short reddish rim.
Fruity nose of blackberries, sweet plums, cooked cherries, oak, vanilla, licorice, cloves, herbs, spices, dark chocolates, coffee and peppercorn.
Full bodied and smooth with medium acidity.
Dry and very fruity on the palate with blackberries, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, earth, vanilla, spices, espresso, chocolates, tobacco, peppercorn and light vegetables.
Long finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.
This is a delicious Merlot from Napa Valley. Rich and extracted.
Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel. Fruit forward and spicy, with nice complexity.
Easy drinking right out of the bottle, and much better with airtime. Delicious once it opens up. Needs 3 hours to open up properly, so be patient.
This 8 year old is a powerful wine, that still has a few more years in it.
Aged for 21 months in French oak barrels (50% new). A tiny production of only 4 barrels.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$100.
It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.
Inky in color with a short reddish rim.
Fruity nose of blackberries, sweet plums, cooked cherries, oak, vanilla, licorice, cloves, herbs, spices, dark chocolates, coffee and peppercorn.
Full bodied and smooth with medium acidity.
Dry and very fruity on the palate with blackberries, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, earth, vanilla, spices, espresso, chocolates, tobacco, peppercorn and light vegetables.
Long finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.
This is a delicious Merlot from Napa Valley. Rich and extracted.
Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel. Fruit forward and spicy, with nice complexity.
Easy drinking right out of the bottle, and much better with airtime. Delicious once it opens up. Needs 3 hours to open up properly, so be patient.
This 8 year old is a powerful wine, that still has a few more years in it.
Aged for 21 months in French oak barrels (50% new). A tiny production of only 4 barrels.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$100.
It's time for a delicious Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.
Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.
Beautiful nose of blueberries, black plums, currants, cedar, earth, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco, herbs and peppercorn.
Full bodied, smooth and elegant, with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate with blackberries, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, vanilla, spices, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, earth and black pepper.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and cherries.
This is a delicious Merlot from Napa Valley. Really elegant at this point. Tasty and easy drinking. Rich and fruit forward.
Good right out of the bottle, and better after two hours in the decanter.
Showing nice complexity with a great mouth feel. A great sipping wine.
Thank you Scott for sharing this with me.
This 8 year old is peaking now and will continue to drink nicely in the next few years.
Well-balanced and easy drinking, and paired nicely with food as well. I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.
Aged in 50% new French oak barrels for 21 months. A small production of only 4 barrels.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$100.
It's time for a delicious Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.
Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.
Beautiful nose of blueberries, black plums, currants, cedar, earth, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco, herbs and peppercorn.
Full bodied, smooth and elegant, with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate with blackberries, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, vanilla, spices, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, earth and black pepper.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and cherries.
This is a delicious Merlot from Napa Valley. Really elegant at this point. Tasty and easy drinking. Rich and fruit forward.
Good right out of the bottle, and better after two hours in the decanter.
Showing nice complexity with a great mouth feel. A great sipping wine.
Thank you Scott for sharing this with me.
This 8 year old is peaking now and will continue to drink nicely in the next few years.
Well-balanced and easy drinking, and paired nicely with food as well. I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.
Aged in 50% new French oak barrels for 21 months. A small production of only 4 barrels.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$100.
Red currant, overly ripe blueberry. Fantastic palate but a bit one dimensional.
Red currant, overly ripe blueberry. Fantastic palate but a bit one dimensional.
Jan 4th, 2020
