Review by Robert M. Parker Jr.
Rating: (99)
Blankiet again hit a home run with his 2013 Rive Droite, which is 92% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc. There are only 300 cases of this, but it is another Petrus lookalike in Napa Valley (which is interesting, given that the next door vineyard is the Moueix-owned Dominus). Offering deep, dense, chocolaty notes with mocha, toffee, black cherry liqueur and even darker berry fruit, this is a wine of phenomenal intensity, with multi- dimensional mouthfeel and a finish of close to a minute. It is as close to perfection as a wine can get, and may eventually hit that three-digit score with another 1-2 years of bottle age. If you can find it, don’t miss it! It should drink well for 25-30+ years. It is hard to believe that Claude Blankiet’s first vintage was 1999. Of course, this is a fabulous vineyard that also looks marvelous from the famous Route 29. This is pure Yountville AVA on the eastern slopes of the Mayacamas Mountains, just above the valley floor vineyard of Christian Moueix’s Dominus. Blankiet’s blends are made by Denis Malbec, who also works not too far away as the consultant for Kapcsandy. These wines often need time in bottle to show their character, and I thought the 2012s performed even better than they did from barrel. The 2013s look incredible as well. These may be Blankiet’s two greatest vintages to date, even eclipsing the 2001s and 2002s.
Drink 2016 – 2046
