Reviews & Ratings

2017 Blackbird Vineyards Red Blends or Varietals "Illustration"

Winery: Blackbird Vineyards

Vintage: 2017

Wine Name/Vineyard: "Illustration"

Wine Category: Red Blends or Varietals

Grape blend: 49% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon & 23% Cabernet Franc

Bottle size: 750 ml

Region: Napa Valley

State or country: CA

Price: $135

Cases produced: 420

KWG Score: 91.7 (based on 4 reviews)

Ken's Wine Rating: Very Good+ (93)

Review date: January 19, 2021

Wine Review: This deep purple colored blend from Blackbird is impressive. It opens with a blackberry and red currant bouquet with notes of ripe black cherry. We also detected hints of blueberry, lilac, and graphite. On the palate, this wine is full bodied with slightly elevated medium acidity. It is round and nicely coats your mouth. The flavor profile is a tasty black cherry and mild mineral blend with notes of loam, Good n' Plenty, and red plum. We also detected hints of blueberry, boysenberry, and espresso mixed in. It is very complex. The finish is dry and its moderate chewy tannins are nicely sustained. The Panel would pair this red blend with porterhouse steak or braised short ribs with garlic mashed potatoes. Enjoy – KWGTP

Winemaker Notes: Illustration is the most decadent of the Blackbird wines, rich and aromatic with plum, iris, violet, red currant, milk chocolate, and caramel. The velvety palate imparts you with abundant flavors of cherry, plum, coffee, and cocoa. The luxurious finish is long and bright with soft tannins.

Buy it: Use 1000 Corks to find stores that sell Blackbird 2017 Illustration.