98pts Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
We don’t have anything in mind about what the final blend will be each year,” winemaker Andy Erickson said about this Blacktail blend. “We want to create something that is unique to the place this year.” The 2018 Blacktail Proprietary Red Blend MMXIII is composed of 27% Cabernet Franc, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Malbec, 23% Petite Sirah and 4% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple in color, it bursts with flamboyant blue fruits, plum preserves and black cherry compote notes, with hints of rose oil, Indian spices, camphor and pencil lead plus a waft of truffles. The intense, full-bodied palate delivers wonderfully ripe, rounded tannins with beautiful poise, leading to a long floral finish. Amazing wine!
94pts Jeb Dunnuck
More of a red blend, the 2018 Proprietary Blend Blacktail is 27% Cabernet Franc, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Malbec, 23% Petite Sirah, and 4% Petit Verdot. It has a similar purple hue to go with lively notes of red, black, and blue fruits intermixed with plenty of leafy herbs, earth, violets, and spice-like aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied and elegant on the palate, with a lively texture, it carries plenty of richness yet also has a notable spine of tannins and acidity. Short-term cellaring is the name of the game here, but it’s definitely more accessible than the Cabernet Sauvignon.
Winemaker Notes
A blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Petite Sirah, and Petit Verdot, the wine is as complex and alluring as it sounds. Floral notes, herbs and spices, and scents of gravel and earth are seamlessly integrated with dark, ripe fruit aromas and flavors. Aged for 20 months in barrel, the wine is structured but accessible, and the combination of fruit, tannin, and acid is mouthwatering. The many layers in the glass will draw you in and keep you coming back for more.
Winemaker : Andy Erickson
Blend : 27% Cabernet Franc, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Malbec, 23% Petite Sirah, and 4% Petit Verdot