One of the six “Napa Valley Super-seconds” according to Robert M. Parker and Antonio Galloni. A Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc from barrels not culled for the flagship cuvées.
Review
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International Wine Report
Review by Joe D’Angelo
Rating: (95)
VIEWThe 2021 ‘Prince of Hearts’ is another outstanding wine from Blankiet and the most accessible wine in the lineup. Composed mainly of Cabernet Sauvignon (47%) and Merlot (40%), along with Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot finishing off the blend. It is a simply gorgeous wine laced with inviting aromas of ripe dark currants and dark plums woven together with florals, graphite, and hints of sweet exotic spices, all taking shape in the glass. This is full-bodied and velvety on the palate, with a lovely finessed texture and nicely integrated tannins. It displays excellent overall balance, with layers of sweetly ripened dark fruits and sweet spice flavors that flow effortlessly through the seamless finish. This is a fantastic wine from Blankiet to approach upon release, but it should also offer a drinking window that spans well beyond a decade.
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Jeb Dunnuck Report (Dec. 2023)
Review by Jeb Dunnuck
Rating: (96+)
VIEWThe 2021 Prince of Hearts Red is a more diverse blend and includes 47.4% of Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and the rest Petit Verdot. Ripe black cherries, currants, tobacco, spring flowers, and a beautiful sense of damp earth and minerality, define the aromatics. (it reminds me of a great Saint-Emilion), and this beauty hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a pure, layered, focused mouthfeel, and a great finish. There is nothing over the top or out of place, and it shows the classic, focused, structured style of this great vintage beautifully. Hide bottles for 4 – 5 years if you can and enjoy over the following two decades. It is a gorgeous wine from this team.
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Vinous
Review by Antonio Galloni
Rating: (94)
VIEWBLANKIET ESTATE Prince of Hearts Red Wine 2021
Paradise Hills Vineyard, Yountville, CaliforniaThe 2021 Prince of Hearts is such a classy wine. Dark cherry, leather, licorice, spice and mocha are nicely amplified in a wine that has so much to offer. All the elements are so well balanced in this deep, layered Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot-based blend. This is so impressive. The 2021 has the forward fruit to be quite approachable, but also a good deal of supporting structure. It’s a pretty big step up from prior releases.
Blankiet was one of the highlights of my time in Napa Valley this fall. The 2021s are simply mind-blowing. Proprietors Katherine and Claude Blankiet richly deserve all the acclaim they will surely receive for these wines. The Blankiets have put in the time and money to realize their ambition of producing world-class wines. Along the way, they have made the mistakes that are typical of all new ventures but have always done what was needed to address those issues.
Winemaker Graeme MacDonald found a finely tuned machine when he took over for Denis and May-Britt Malbec and had the skill to make the necessary adjustments to reach the next level without drastically changing the wines. Yields were down about 15% in 2021. MacDonald gave the wines 40-50 days on the skins, which worked well.
I tasted the 2021s twice, once at the winery and a second time at home in New York, just to make sure I had not been overly seduced by the magic of Napa Valley during the fall. The wines were nothing short of thrilling on both occasions. This is the vintage that places Blankiet squarely among the most elite wineries in Napa Valley. Bravo!
From The 2021 Napa Valley Cabernets, Part One (Dec 2023) by Antonio Galloni
