2006 Blackbird Vineyards "Illustration" Proprietary Red Wine

Touted in Vanity Fair, Robb Report's 'Best of 2008' and Travel + Leisure GOLF, Blackbird Vineyard's merlot-dominated wines may be the key to elevating the often overlooked grape to a higher perception among red wine lovers. The vineyard placed in the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley demonstrates this elevation particularly well through "Illustration", a proprietary red wine which is a blend of 86% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon. This great wine has been characterized with cocoa powder and cherries on the nose and tasting of bright cherry cola, chocolate and juicy bing cherries...mmm...sounds delicious! A little piece of wine trivia for you too -- did you know that merlot in French Patois translates to little blackbird? I sure didn't. ($90)

[via Vinography]