fbpx

Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar Review of 2008 Proprietary Red, Paradise Hills Vineyard

Blankiet Estate Proprietary Red

Review by Stephen Tanzer

Rating: (94+)


(82.5% cabernet sauvignon, 16% merlot, 1% petit verdot and 0.5% cabernet franc): Good medium ruby. Knockout nose combines dark berries, licorice, violet, minerals and bitter chocolate. Juicy, minerally and suave in the mouth, with terrific grip and aromatic perfume to the flavors of blackberry, cassis and violet. This wine has a tight spine to support extended aging. Here’s a classic version of a wine with the verve and floral lift to hide its 15.2% alcohol. Liqueur-like aromas of kirsch, licorice pastille and spice cake. Dense, sweet, seamless and deep, with a slightly exotic ripeness for the year but no impression of heaviness. Nicely integrated acidity frames the intense flavors of blackberry, cassis, plum syrup, earth and licorice. For all its ripeness, this medium-bodied wine finishes with excellent grip and lift-not to mention extremely fine-grained tannins.

View review as PDF

Go To Top