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Yesterday, I wrote about a relatively new place (opened in October 2008) in Yountville, Napa Valley, called Ma(i)sonry, a place self-described as "Pairing artisan wines with exquisite art and furnishings in a historic setting." If you want to know more about Ma(i)sonry, you can check out my post here.

But, for this current post, I'll re-focus on the reason we ended up at Ma(i)sonry in the first place - the Blackbird Vineyard wines. Over the course of two posts, I will be reviewing five wines from Blackberry Vineyards - the 2007 Arriviste and the 2006 vintage of Arise, Contrarian, Paramour and Illustration Proprietary Red blends.

To start, the 2007 Arriviste Napa Valley Proprietary Rose Wine.

Blackbird has this to say about the wine: "Vibrant pink in color, this rosé style wine features a harmonious blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc varietals. The 2007 vintage reveals an aromatic nose of spice, grapefruit, strawberry and cherry. On the crisp palate, citrus and red fruit flavors meld together with a focused minerality to produce a wine of great clarity and depth. Bright acidity frames the wine's fresh, lingering fruit finish."

I have to admit I'm not a huge fan of Rose. Not even sure why, just always felt a little too fruity and light to drink regularly. But, the Arriviste is one of the better I've tried. It was refreshing, nicely balanced and had a very rich coloring. Overall, a good Rose. My favorite Rose is the Bandol Rose Domaine Tempier, which is hard to beat, but, overall, I would buy the Arriviste again, particularly to have on hand for those of my guests who do like Rose.

On to the 2006 Arise Napa Valley Proprietary Red Wine.

Blackbird has this to say: "Saturated with rich, vibrant color, the generous nose exudes tantalizing aromas of Bing cherry, cassis and cola. Upon entry, profuse flavors of raspberries, plum and baking spices intertwine with fine-grained tannins to create a supple, chewy middle palate. The complex range of flavors in this expansive wine are heightened by its smooth, velvety texture and its long, lingering finish."

Not sure I found the cola they mentioned (although it is an intriguing aroma for a red wine) but the cherry and cassis are definitely there, with a nice complex nose that I could spend a lot more time exploring. For the taste, I found the plum and raspberries, but it also had a strong strain of overripe fruit - more like a very dark and ripe cherry, than a bing cherry - and some huckleberry. The finish is long and lingering, with a strong mid-palate to get it going. This is a beautifully balanced Merlot and would be a nice pairing for a leaner steak like a Filet Mignon, a hearty pasta dish or even a pizza.

The Arise is 100% Merlot, which is fitting as Merlot is the centerpiece of all Blackbird's proprietary red blends and Merlot in French actually means "Little Blackbird." The vineyard is located in the Oak Knoll district of Napa Valley and started out as a walnut orchard until 1999 when the orchard was completely re-planted with Merlot vines. Originally, they sold most of their grapes to other wineries and then started to make their own with the 2003 vintage. Turned out to be a great idea...

What you should do: I'm a big fan of all the Blackbird wines and I always pick up a few bottles when I can find them. They're not easy to find, though, so, if you're in Napa, I would suggest going to Ma(i)sonry for the Blackbird wine flight to taste all their wines. If you're not in California, the Arriviste and the Arise are the two lowest-priced Blackbird wines at $24 and $50 and are a nice introduction to their line - if you have the the budget, buy a bottle of each. You should be able to find other Rose's and Merlot's that compete in a lower price range, but, I think these wines are made to satisfy and you won't be disappointed.

My rating on the Arriviste: 88
My rating on the Arise: 90