2009 Blankiet Estate Paradise Hills Vineyard Rive Droite, Napa Valley, USA

Press
Rated 98 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
"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. (RP)."

Rated 96 points Vinous
"Blankiet's 2009 Rive Droite Paradise Hills Vineyard is another rich, bombastic wine. There is plenty of depth in the glass as layers of dark fruit, tobacco, smoke, plums and cloves flesh out over time. Here, too, the French oak is a bit overpowering. The 2009 Rive Droite is outstanding, but in time it will be viewed as a transitional wine in the estate's history. (AG)"

Rated 95 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar
"Good bright ruby-red. Perfumed nose offers currant, cherry, cocoa powder, brown spices and rose petal. Concentrated, broad and perfumed, with lovely inner-mouth energy and lift. The slow-building, impressively long finish features serious structure and extremely suave tannins that are a bit more refined than those of the young 2010. A beautiful California Merlot."