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Blankiet Estate Red Blend Rive Droite Paradise Hills Vineyard 2023 750ml
SALE
Sample image only.Please see Item description for product Information. When ordering, the item shipped will match the product listing if there are any discrepancies. Do not order solely on the label if you feel it does not match product description.
SKU 1026733
$274.94Original price was: $274.94.$259.94Current price is: $259.94./bottle
6 in stock
Availability: There are 6 bottles available for Rapid Shipment or in-store pick up at our location in Ballston Lake, N.Y.
This ‘Rive Droite’ Merlot is drop-dead gorgeous. It impresses with a beautifully layered bouquet of fresh ripe blackberries, black cherries, and cassis, accented by notes of pencil shavings, tobacco, and a touch of savory fresh sage. On the palate, it reveals a medium to full body with remarkable structure, finesse and elegance, showcasing an exceptional level of purity and freshness that elevates each sip. The fruit is vibrant yet refined, framed by polished tannins and a sleek texture. The finish is long and seamless, lingering with echoes of juicy blackberries, graphite and a delicate hint of espresso, leaving a lasting impression of sophistication and balance. Drink 2025 – 2050 – International Wine Report.
Of all the New World wine countries, perhaps the one which has demonstrated the most flair for producing high quality wines - using a combination of traditional and forward-thinking contemporary methods - has been the United States of America. For the past couple of centuries, the United States has set about transforming much of its suitable land into vast vineyards, capable of supporting a wide variety of world-class grape varietals which thrive on both the Atlantic and the Pacific coastlines. Of course, we immediately think of sun-drenched California in regards to American wines, with its enormous vineyards responsible for the New World's finest examples of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot based wines, but many other states have taken to viticulture in a big way, with impressive results. Oregon, Washington State and New York have all developed sophisticated and technologically advanced wine cultures of their own, and the output of U.S wineries is increasing each year as more and more people are converted to their produce.
Region
California
California as a wine producing region has grown in size and importance considerably over the past couple of centuries, and today is the proud producer of more than ninety percent of the United States' wines. Indeed, if California was a country, it would be the fourth largest producer of wine in the world, with a vast range of vineyards covering almost half a million acres. The secret to California's success as a wine region has a lot to do with the high quality of its soils, and the fact that it has an extensive Pacific coastline which perfectly tempers the blazing sunshine it experiences all year round. The winds coming off the ocean cool the vines, and the natural valleys and mountainsides which make up most of the state's wine regions make for ideal areas in which to cultivate a variety of high quality grapes.
Appellation
Napa Valley
When it comes to New World wines, and especially wines from the United States of America, Napa Valley is something of a standard bearer. Over its relatively short history, it has managed to transform itself from being a fairly insignificant region, to becoming one of the most important and highly regarding wine locations on earth. With an ideal climate for viticulture, blazing sunshine and a low level of rainfall, this valley is shielded on many sides by mountain ranges which help it maintain a consistent level of heat, light and moisture throughout the year. Today, Napa Valley is a home of innovation and quality, with dozens of grape varietals thriving in the fertile soils. However, the main varietals grown there have always been Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Zinfandel, and the wines they produce are constantly lauded by critics and competitions across the globe.
Winery Notes
This ‘Rive Droite’ Merlot is drop-dead gorgeous. It impresses with a beautifully layered bouquet of fresh ripe blackberries, black cherries, and cassis, accented by notes of pencil shavings, tobacco, and a touch of savory fresh sage. On the palate, it reveals a medium to full body with remarkable structure, finesse and elegance, showcasing an exceptional level of purity and freshness that elevates each sip. The fruit is vibrant yet refined, framed by polished tannins and a sleek texture. The finish is long and seamless, lingering with echoes of juicy blackberries, graphite and a delicate hint of espresso, leaving a lasting impression of sophistication and balance. Drink 2025 – 2050 - International Wine Report.
WA98pts
Wine Advocate
Composed almost entirely of Merlot (96.9%, plus 3.1% Cabernet Franc), Blankiet's 2023 Rive Droite Paradise Hills Vineyard is a stunning example of this finicky variety. Mixed red and black cherries join with dusty earth on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is round and plush yet somehow also fresh and structured—the sort of oxymoronic juxtaposition that marks so many of the world's best wines. Long and softly tannic, it finishes with great suppleness and elegance.
VM98pts
Vinous Media
The 2023 Rive Droite Paradise Hills Vineyard is fabulous. Brisk and finely cut, the 2023 impresses with its energy and exceptional balance. Crushed flowers, cedar, pipe tobacco, menthol and dried herbs all soar out of the glass. Beams of supporting tannin give this svelte, classy Merlot-based red its vertical build. I especially admire the energy and tension here. This is an especially fine Rive Droite. Give it a few years to soften.
JD96pts
Jeb Dunnuck
A Right Bank Pomerol-inspired blend based on 97% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc and aged 18 months in 80% new French oak, the 2023 Merlot Rive Droite is sourced entirely from Blankiet's Paradise Hills Vineyard Estate in Yountville from vines planted in 1999. Ripe black cherries, savory flowers, underbrush, and spicy nuances all emerge from the glass, and it's medium to full-bodied, has a layered, seamless mouthfeel, plenty of ripe yet certainly present tannins, beautiful overall balance, and a great finish. Give this spicy, complex, nuanced Merlot 3-4 years if you can, and enjoy over the following 15. Drink 2027-2039.
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