Drink 2013 – 2033
The 2012 Rive Droite Paradise Hills Vineyard is composed of 92.2% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc. Production was almost twice as high in 2012 (380 cases) than it was in 2009. Terrific stuff, it displays stunning aromas of coffee beans, smoky barbecued meats, and sweet kirsch, mulberries and blac k currants, a sensational, unctuously textured mouthfeel, full body and a stunning finish of nearly 50 seconds. This sexy, full throttle, exuberant, All – American Merlot came in at 14.8% natural alcohol. It should age effortlessly for 20+ years. The Blankie t Estate owned by Claude and Katherine Blankiet is beautifully situated on the lower hillsides of the Mayacamas Mountains, just behind the large Napanook estate of Dominus. An enviable group of talented people have provided assistance here, beginning with David Abreu, Helen Turley and John Wetlaufer, followed by Michel Rolland, Martha Mc Cl ellan, and more recently Denis Malbec. Production remains between 1,800 and 2,500 cases with nearly half of that devoted to their second wine, the Prince of Hearts. The ot her cuvees include the Proprietary Red (Cabernet Sauvignon – dominated) and the Rive Droite (a Pomerol / St. – Emilion look – a – like wine), and in 2012, they added a tiny, 100% Cabernet Sauvignon cuvee called Mythicus. I could be wrong, but it seems to me these wines, which performed very well, and are among the finest of the so – called “cult” wines of Napa Valley, remain under – the – radar. Perhaps that is due to the small production. The 2009s are all stunning. In the challenging 2011 vintage, the Blankiets along w ith their winemaker Denis Malbec have fashioned very good examples, although they are much lighter and less concentrated and authoritative than the top vintages. The 2012s are among the finest wines Blankiet has yet made.
The 2011 Proprietary Red Paradise Hills Vineyard (81.1% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16.5% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot) exhibits a deep ruby/purple color along with sweet aromas of black currants, licorice, tobacco leaf and dusty, loamy soil notes. Medium-bodied and rich, it should drink well early on and last for 10-12 years. The Blankiet Estate owned by Claude and Katherine Blankiet is beautifully situated on the lower hillsides of the Mayacamas Mountains, just behind the large Napanook estate of Dominus. An enviable group of talented people have provided assistance here, beginning with David Abreu, Helen Turley and John Wetlaufer, followed by Michel Rolland, Martha McClellan, and more recently Denis Malbec. Production remains between 1,800 and 2,500 cases with nearly half of that devoted to their second wine, the Prince of Hearts. The other cuvees include the Proprietary Red (Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated) and the Rive Droite (a Pomerol / St.-Emilion look-a-like wine), and in 2012, they added a tiny, 100% Cabernet Sauvignon cuvee called Mythicus. I could be wrong, but it seems to me these wines, which performed very well, and are among the finest of the so-called “cult” wines of Napa Valley, remain under-the-radar. Perhaps that is due to the small production. The 2009s are all stunning. In the challenging 2011 vintage, the Blankiets along with their winemaker Denis Malbec have fashioned very good examples, although they are much lighter and less concentrated and authoritative than the top vintages. The 2012s are among the finest wines Blankiet has yet made.
Drink 2013 – 2025
The 2010 Rive Droite Paradise Hills Vineyard (89.4% Merlot, 10.4% Cabernet Franc and a dollop of Petit Verdot) is a 300 – case blend that tips the scale at 14.8% alcohol. Unlike most California Merlots that are sort of wishy – washy, lacking any real core, strength or structure, the Rive Droite is a robust, pe dal – to – the – metal, earthy, meaty, super – concentrated Merlot with lots of structure and minerality. Notes of chocolate, grilled meats, roasted herbs, and espresso beans are all present in this dense, thick, unctuously textured yet compelling wine that should hit its stride in 4 – 5 years, and last for 25 – 30. The Blankiet Estate owned by Claude and Katherine Blankiet is beautifully situated on the lower hillsides of the Mayacamas Mountains, just behind the large Napanook estate of Dominus. An enviable group of t alented people have provided assistance here, beginning with David Abreu, Helen Turley and John Wetlaufer, follow ed by Michel Rolland, Martha McCl ellan, and more recently Denis Malbec. Production remains between 1,800 and 2,500 cases with nearly half of th at devoted to their second wine, the Prince of Hearts. The other cuvees include the Proprietary Red (Cabernet Sauvignon – dominated) and the Rive Droite (a Pomerol / St. – Emilion look – a – like wine), and in 2012, they added a tiny, 100% Cabernet Sauvignon cuvee called Mythicus. I could be wrong, but it seems to me these wines, which performed very well, and are among the finest of the so – called “cult” wines of Napa Valley, remain under – the – radar. Perhaps that is due to the small production. The 2009s are all stu nning. In the challenging 2011 vintage, the Blankiets along with their winemaker Denis Malbec have fashioned very good examples, although they are much lighter and less concentrated and authoritative than the top vintages. The 2012s are among the finest wi nes Blankiet has yet made.
Yountville, Napa Valley, United States
Drinking window: 2016 – 2026
Savory herbs, menthol, licorice, plums and new leather lead to dark red and black fruit in the 2011 Blankiet Estate Proprietary Red Paradise Hills Vineyard. Another impeccable, gracious wine, Blankiet’s 2011 Proprietary Red Paradise Hills Vineyard impresse s for its creaminess and volume. Hints of orange peel, rose petals and savory herbs add further dimensions of expression. This dark, brooding wine needs time to settle down, but it starts coming together nicely with time in the glass, so a few more years i n bottle will help tremendously. The 2011 is 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and drops of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.
— Antonio Galloni, November 2013
Grapes Variety: 81% Cabern et Sauvignon/17% Merlot/Cabernet Franc/Petit Verdot
The 2010 Prince of Hearts Paradise Hills Vineyard is 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest mostly Merlot blended with small amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. It offers up scents of unsmoked cigar tobacco, underbrush, forest floor, black currants, cherries, plums and Asian spice. With soft tannins, it is meant to be consumed over the next decade. The Blankiet Estate owned by Claude and Katherine Blankiet is beautifully situated on the lower hillsides of the Mayacamas Mountains, just behind the large Napanook estate of Dominus. An enviable g roup of talented people have provided assistance here, beginning with David Abreu, Helen Turley and John Wetlaufer, follow ed by Michel Rolland, Martha McCl ellan, and more recently Denis Malbec. Production remains between 1,800 and 2,500 cases with nearly h alf of that devoted to their second wine, the Prince of Hearts. The other cuvees include the Proprietary Red (Cabernet Sauvignon – dominated) and the Rive Droite (a Pomerol / St. – Emilion look – a – like wine), and in 2012, they added a tiny, 100% Cabernet Sauvig non cuvee called Mythicus. I could be wrong, but it seems to me these wines, which performed very well, and are among the finest of the so – called “cult” wines of Napa Valley, remain under – the – radar. Perhaps that is due to the small production. The 2009s ar e all stunning. In the challenging 2011 vintage, the Blankiets along with their winemaker Denis Malbec have fashioned very good examples, although they are much lighter and less concentrated and authoritative than the top vintages. The 2012s are among the finest wines Blankiet has yet made.
Yountville, Napa Valley, United States
Drinking window: 2013 – 2021
The Merlot – based 2011 Rive Droite Paradise Hills Vineyard is one of the silkiest, most polished wines readers will find in this vintage. A sweet, intensely floral, Pinot – inflected bouquet melds into small red berries, flowers, mint, licorice and spices. Th e style is medium – bodied and supremely graceful, with layers of fruit that flesh out beautifully in the glass. Violets, lavender and rose petals linger on the sublime, layered finish. The 2011 has really come together nicely since I last tasted it this pas t s pring. The blend is 92% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc.
— Antonio Galloni, November 2013
Grapes Variety: 92% Merlot/8% Cabernet Franc
Producer commentary
Claude and Katherine Blankiet spared no expense in making the best 2011s possible, and the results bear that out. Among the 2011s, I can’t ignore the entry – level Prince of Hearts, which is one of the best Napa Valley wines in its price range. Overall, the 2011s are delicate, perfumed and impeccably balanced. The 2012s are also fabulous Blankiet fans will note a new wine, the 100% Cabernet Sauvignon Mythicus, which may become a permanent addition. I also had a chance to taste a few 2013s from tank. The transformation that has taken place at Blankiet over the last few years under the direction of Denis and May – Britt Malbec is remarkable.
One of the finest Merlot-based wines in all of California, the 2009 Rive Droite Paradise Hills Vineyard is a blend of 79.8% Merlot, 11.8% Cabernet Franc and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon. Unfortunately, there are only 200 cases compared to 510 cases of the 2009 Proprietary Red. It finished at 15.2% alcohol, and reminded me of the pre-1975 vintages of Petrus. Robust and full-bodied with abundant notes of kirsch, mocha, mulberry and plum fruit intertwined with grilled meat and charcuterie, new saddle leather and fudge characteristics. This superb, opulent, voluptuously textured 2009 can be drunk now or cellared for 20-25 years. The Blankiet Estate owned by Claude and Katherine Blankiet is beautifully situated on the lower hillsides of the Mayacamas Mountains, just behind the large Napanook estate of Dominus. An enviable group of talented people have provided assistance here, beginning with David Abreu, Helen Turley and John Wetlaufer, followed by Michel Rolland, Martha McClellan, and more recently Denis Malbec. Production remains between 1,800 and 2,500 cases with nearly half of that devoted to their second wine, the Prince of Hearts. The other cuvees include the Proprietary Red (Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated) and the Rive Droite (a Pomerol / St.-Emilion look-a-like wine), and in 2012, they added a tiny, 100% Cabernet Sauvignon cuvee called Mythicus. I could be wrong, but it seems to me these wines, which performed very well, and are among the finest of the so-called “cult” wines of Napa Valley, remain under-the-radar. Perhaps that is due to the small production. The 2009s are all stunning. In the challenging 2011 vintage, the Blankiets along with their winemaker Denis Malbec have fashioned very good examples, although they are much lighter and less concentrated and authoritative than the top vintages. The 2012s are among the finest wines Blankiet has yet made
Blankiet Estate 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Mythicus
Paradise Hills Vineyard
Yountville, Napa Valley, United States
Drinking window: 2018 – 2032
The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Mythicus is the darkest, richest and most powerful of these four wines. Smoke, plum, spice, violets, new leather and a host of mineral-inflected notes grace the palate in a beautifully textured, vibrant Cabernet Sauvignon endowed with magnificent palate presence and depth. Striking and delineated throughout, the 2012 will drink well for another 20 years or so. The exotic, soaring finish is utterly irresistible.
Antonio Galloni. Tasting date October 2014
Grapes Variety: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Blankiet has come a long way over the last few years. Increased focus on the dual flagships Rive Droite and Proprietary Red fueled by Claude and Katherine Blankiet’s relentless pursuit of excellence has resulted in more severe selection, lower production and higher overall quality.
One of the secondary results of that is a marked increase in quality of Blankiet’s second wine, Prince of Hearts, which is now one of the very best values in Napa Valley. More recently, the Blankiets have introduced a pure Cabernet Sauvignon, Mythicus. Every visit to Blankiet Estate is proof of the total obsession to detail that is the rule here. The 2012s are radiant and expressive, which is the style of the year, but I was also quite surprised by just how finessed the 2013s are now given that so many wines in this vintage are so structured and tannic. These are magnificent wines from the Blankiets and the husband and wife winemaking team of Denis and May-Britt Malbec.
From New Releases from Napa Valley: 2012 and 2013, Part I (Dec 2014) by Antonio Galloni
Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, there are only 220 cases of the 2012 Mythicus Paradise Hills Vineyard, unquestionably a great wine. Dense ruby/purple-colored with a more structured, backward, bigger style than the Proprietary Red, it possesses terrific focus and purity, abundant power and density as well as lots of licorice-infused blackcurrant and blackberry fruit intermixed with hints of coffee and loamy soil undertones. This beauty should drink well for 20-25 years. This fabulous small estate tucked in the foothills of the Mayacamas Mountains, behind the Dominus Napanook estate in Yountville, continues to turn out a bevy of brilliant wines from proprietors Claude and Katherine Blankiet. As I wrote last year, they have had an amazing group of top wine consultants on their payroll, including viticulturist David Abreu, Helen Turley and John Wetlaufer, Michael Rolland, Martha McClellan, and currently, Denis Malbec. The owners’ only goal is to make world-class wines, and their tiny production of under 2,500 cases is mindboggling for the major effort they are making. In any event, it’s about quality, not quantity. The 2012s are beautifully forward, open-knit, ripe wines, and the 2013s look equally fleshy and beautiful, and perhaps, as a vintage, less backward than many 2013s may prove to be elsewhere.
The serious 2012 Proprietary Red Paradise Hills Vineyard is composed of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot and dollops of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. This wine tips the scales at 14.4% alcohol, not all that high in such a ripe year. Aromas of barbecue smoke, graphite, blackberries and crème de cassis are followed by a wine with silky tannins and a long, opulent, full-bodied finish. This terrific 2012 is surprisingly drinkable at an early age for a Blankiet wine. Enjoy it over the next 15-20 years. This fabulous small estate tucked in the foothills of the Mayacamas Mountains, behind the Dominus Napanook estate in Yountville, continues to turn out a bevy of brilliant wines from proprietors Claude and Katherine Blankiet.
As I wrote last year, they have had an amazing group of top wine consultants on their payroll, including viticulturist David Abreu, Helen Turley and John Wetlaufer, Michael Rolland, Martha McClellan, and currently, Denis Malbec. The owners’ only goal is to make world-class wines, and their tiny production of under 2,500 cases is mindboggling for the major effort they are making. In any event, it’s about quality, not quantity. The 2012s are beautifully forward, open-knit, ripe wines, and the 2013s look equally fleshy and beautiful, and perhaps, as a vintage, less backward than many 2013s may prove to be elsewhere.
Paradise Hills Vineyard
Yountville, Napa Valley, United States
Drinking window: 2017 – 2032
Antonio Galloni. Tasting date: October 2014
Blankiet’s 2012 Proprietary Red Paradise Hills Vineyard races across the palate with super-expressive red fruit, smoke, licorice, spices and menthol. Here, too, it is the wine’s textural silkiness and overall polish that stand out above all else. This radiant, striking Cabernet Sauvignon-based red will drink well to age twenty, perhaps beyond.
Antonio Galloni. Tasting date: October 2014
Blankiet has come a long way over the last few years. Increased focus on the dual flagships Rive Droite and Proprietary Red fueled by Claude and Katherine Blankiet’s relentless pursuit of excellence has resulted in more severe selection, lower production and higher overall quality. One of the secondary results of that is a marked increase in quality of Blankiet’s second wine, Prince of Hearts, which is now one of the very best values in Napa Valley. More recently, the Blankiets have introduced a pure Cabernet Sauvignon, Mythicus. Every visit to Blankiet Estate is proof of the total obsession to detail that is the rule here. The 2012s are radiant and expressive, which is the style of the year, but I was also quite surprised by just how finessed the 2013s are now given that so many wines in this vintage are so structured and tannic. These are magnificent wines from the Blankiets and the husband and wife winemaking team of Denis and May-Britt Malbec.
From New Releases from Napa Valley: 2012 and 2013, Part I (Dec 2014) by Antonio Galloni
The sexy, sensual 2012 Rive Droite Paradise Hills Vineyard, a 400-case blend of 92% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc, exhibits a dense ruby/purple color, lush, chocolaty, mocha, coffee bean, black cherry and blackcurrant notes, and a fleshy, plump, full-bodied style. This delicious 2012 can be enjoyed over the next 10-15 years. This fabulous small estate tucked in the foothills of the Mayacamas Mountains, behind the Dominus Napanook estate in Yountville, continues to turn out a bevy of brilliant wines from proprietors Claude and Katherine Blankiet. As I wrote last year, they have had an amazing group of top wine consultants on their payroll, including viticulturist David Abreu, Helen Turley and John Wetlaufer, Michael Rolland, Martha McClellan, and currently, Denis Malbec. The owners’ only goal is to make world-class wines, and their tiny production of under 2,500 cases is mindboggling for the major effort they are making. In any event, it’s about quality, not quantity. The 2012s are beautifully forward, open-knit, ripe wines, and the 2013s look equally fleshy and beautiful, and perhaps, as a vintage, less backward than many 2013s may prove to be elsewhere.
A blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, the outstanding 2012 Prince of Hearts Paradise Hills Vineyard is soft, plump and juicy with notes of candied caramel, blackcurrants, sweet kirsch, new saddle leather and licorice. This beautiful second wine should drink well for 10-15 years. This fabulous small estate tucked in the foothills of the Mayacamas Mountains, behind the Dominus Napanook estate in Yountville, continues to turn out a bevy of brilliant wines from proprietors Claude and Katherine Blankiet. As I wrote last year, they have had an amazing group of top wine consultants on their payroll, including viticulturist David Abreu, Helen Turley and John Wetlaufer, Michael Rolland, Martha McClellan, and currently, Denis Malbec. The owners’ only goal is to make world-class wines, and their tiny production of under 2,500 cases is mindboggling for the major effort they are making. In any event, it’s about quality, not quantity. The 2012s are beautifully forward, open-knit, ripe wines, and the 2013s look equally fleshy and beautiful, and perhaps, as a vintage, less backward than many 2013s may prove to be elsewhere.
Blankiet Estate 2012 Prince of Hearts
Paradise Hills Vineyard
Yountville, Napa Valley, United States
Drinking window: 2015 – 2027
The 2012 Prince of Hearts Paradise Hills Vineyard is fabulous, as it has been the last few years. Racy and perfumed, the 2012 impresses for its balance, class and overall symmetry. Sweet floral and spiced notes add lift on the finish. Best of all, Prince of Hearts remains one of the very finest values in handmade, artisan Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2012 is simply exquisite.
Antonio Galloni, December 2014
Grapes Variety: 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot
Blankiet has come a long way over the last few years. Increased focus on the dual flagships Rive Droite and Proprietary Red fueled by Claude and Katherine Blankiet’s relentless pursuit of excellence has resulted in more severe selection, lower production and higher overall quality. One of the secondary results of that is a marked increase in quality of Blankiet’s second wine, Prince of Hearts, which is now one of the very best values in Napa Valley. More recently, the Blankiets have introduced a pure Cabernet Sauvignon, Mythicus. Every visit to Blankiet Estate is proof of the total obsession to detail that is the rule here. The 2012s are radiant and expressive, which is the style of the year, but I was also quite surprised by just how finessed the 2013s are now given that so many wines in this vintage are so structured and tannic. These are magnificent wines from the Blankiets and the husband and wife winemaking team of Denis and May-Britt Malbec.
