2014 Blackbird Paramour
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A blend of 84% Cabernet Franc, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 7% Merlot, the 2014 Paramour is a seriously impressive bottle of wine from winemaker Aaron Pott. Blackcurrants, chocolate, lots of earthy minerality and loamy soil notes give way to a ripe, polished, plump Cabernet Franc that has solid balance and texture. A blend of 84% Cabernet Franc, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 7% Merlot that spent 21 months in 75% new French oak, give it 3-4 years of bottle age and enjoy over the following 15-20 years. These terrific 2014s are made by Aaron Pott.
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Robert Parker
Jeb Dunnuck
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The 2014 Paramour is one of the more tightly wound wines in this range. Sweet herbs, mocha, tobacco and cedar open up first. Beams of firm, youthful tannin give the wine its sense of proportion. Long and nicely delineated, the 2014 is going to need a few years to come into its own, but it is quite pretty, even today.
Another terrific example of Blackbird is the 2014 Proprietary Red Paramour, a fabulous blend of 84% Cabernet Franc, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Merlot. The Cabernet Franc comes from the Stagecoach Vineyard. Consultant Aaron Pott said he thinks they have a magical spot for it on that large eastern Napa Valley mountain site. This is terrific stuff from the super-intense fragrance of white flowers and forest floor to the blueberry, black raspberry and graphite notes. The wine hits the palate with dazzling fruit intensity, loads of glycerin, a round, juicy, succulent mouthfeel, a layered personality and a long, supple finish. Drink it now or over the next 15+ years.