2011 Blackbird Illustration
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Tasting notes
(75% merlot, 15% cabernet franc and 10% cabernet sauvignon; aged in 75% new French oak): Bright medium-deep red. Musky aromas of redcurrant, licorice and dark chocolate, plus a hint of herbs. Supple but nicely firm, with good inner-mouth tension to the flavors of plum, exotic spices and bitter chocolate. Contains a significantly higher percentage of merlot than the 2010 version, but the finish nonetheless shows very good structure and calls for a couple years of aging. All of these 2011 red wines spent 21 months in barrel prior to bottling.
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Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Blackbird's Merlot-based 2011 Illustration is a juicy and expressive red. Cloves, dark red cherries, plums, menthol and licorice all blossom in a textured, inviting wine that is all about depth and resonance. The soft contours of Merlot inform the generous finish.
The 2011 Proprietary Red Illustration is a blend of 3/4 Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. It reveals slightly herbal coffee notes along with black cherry and black currant fruit. Cutting a deeper, broader swath across the palate than the Arise, it is relatively successful in this difficult vintage. Because of its faster evolutionary track, it should be consumed during its first 4-5 years of life. 2011 was, of course, a much more challenging vintage, and these cuvees have slightly lower alcohols than in 2010. Tel. (707) 252-4444