2007 Blackbird "Illustration" Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend

97 points and one of the Wine Enthusiast's Top 100 Wines of 2010:" A spectacular wine that gets better and better with every sip. It’s dramatic from the get-go, with rich, fine tannins framing extraordinarily good flavors of blackberries, black currants, anise, dark chocolate and cedar. Superb structure, great length and finish, with perfect acidity. A joy to drink. Now 2016. " (2/1/2010) 94 points and two stars from the Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine: "A deeper, more-layered and altogether richer look at Merlot than most, this compelling wine is long on sweet oak and rife with classic varietal black cherry fruit. It tempers its very real sense of power with plenty of polish, and it is wonderfully well-balanced with more than enough fruity extract to buffer its ample young tannins. It is a serious wine that is meant for the cellar, and it deserves a wait of five years or more before finding its way to the table." (Nov. 2010) 92 points Robert Parker -"The 2007s ratchet up things. Composed of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2007 Illustration reveals sweeter fruit, more opulence and flamboyance, and plenty of spice, wood smoke, black currant, plum, and licorice notes. Already drinking beautifully, this complex 2007 should continue to evolve and provide gracious, satisfying drinking for at least 12-15 years."(12/09)