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2010 Blackbird Vineyards Arise Meritage

We tried this nice little meritage on a whim.  It was very, very good.  Extremely dark, almost black in color, it’s not too tannic and not overly oaked.  We had it at Guard and Grace in Denver with a bone-in ribeye and it paired very well with the beef.

What is a meritage?

From Wikipedia: “Meritage is a brand for red and white Bordeaux-style wines without infringing on the Bordeaux (France) region’s legally protected designation of origin. Winemakers must license the Meritage trademark from its owner, the California-based Meritage Alliance. Member wineries are found principally in the United States, though increasingly elsewhere.”

Tasting Notes: From the Blackbird Vineyards website:

“The 2010 Blackbird Vineyards Arise exudes perfumes of cherry, blackberry, tobacco, and vanilla. Upon entry, the soft mouth- feel reveals flavors of black cherry, truffle, and subtle black olive which unfold into a succulent finish. The 2010 Napa Valley grape growing season presented fickle weather conditions due to the relatively cool spring coupled with unexpected heat spikes in late summer. The outcome was a lower-yielding harvest that produced supple wines with European-style texture and great complexity.”

Origin:  United States, California, Napa Valley, Oak Knoll District

Blend is: 61% Merlot – 20% Cabernet Sauvignon – 19% Cabernet Franc 

Aged: 21 months in French Oak barrels – 50% new, 50% seasoned 3.78

Drinks best: 2012 – 2022

Price: $50 or less.

Video from the Winemaker: 

Available from the vineyard direct or search Wine-Searcher.

Last modified: April 18, 2014

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