2011 Blackbird Vineyards “Paramour"Purchased by Michael Polenske in 2003, Blackbird Vineyards (a former walnut orchard first planted with 5, 717 Merlot vines in 1997) is now an ultra premium label in its own right. Fittingly, the word 'Merlot' is French patois for 'little blackbird.' An early harbinger of Blackbird's potential arose when Mia Klein of Dalla Valle fame created a Blackbird Vineyard designate for her highly acclaimed 1999 Selene Merlot (no less than 95% of the fruit in the

allows the Syrah grapes to develop rich fruit flavors while retaining balanced acidity

a grape that thrives in this steep

After the second fermentation

and came to completion in the past few years

Pair with spicy Moroccan food

who leads the property now

Similar to the 2012 vintage

It is nature's agent in your wine glass

since its founding

Only after aging on the lees for at least 2 years will this Franciacorta express all its richness and identity

with reserve wines

echoing the flavors of its native region