2022 Blackbird Vineyards Arise Napa

(94 Points) Blackbird Vineyards was acquired by John and Julia Henshaw in 2018, with Aaron Pott at the helm of winemaking since 2006. This blend includes a splash of 2% Petit Verdot. Arise, considered the “second wine” of Blackbird, leaps out of the glass with vibrant red cherry and mulberry fruit, accented by brown spices, loamy earth, and notes of a deep redwood forest grove and bay laurel. The wine is sourced from excellent sites that offer high-altitude or cool-climate influences, adding freshness and complexity. Notably, the name "Merlot" stems from the Occitan word for Blackbird, referencing the grape's origins south of the Loire River. Fermented in stainless steel with native yeast and frequent early pumpovers, the wine is then aged for 20 months in approximately 30% new French oak. This beautifully expressive wine delivers elegance, structure, and layered depth.  Decanter