Le Sommelier Mixed Case: Blankiet 2016

Wine Type:
Style of Wine:	Big & Bold
Country of Origin:	USA
Wine Region:	California
Appellation:	Napa Valley
Grape Varietal:	Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Various
Bottle Format:	750mL
Case Size:	6 bottles
$2,533.56 Per Case ($422.26/btl) Add to Cart

Tasting Notes

This mixed case contains three bottles of each wine

Blankiet Rive Droite Paradise Hills Vineyard 2016.

From their organically farmed Paradise Hills Vineyard Estate, this is a blend of 95.5% Merlot and 4.5% Cabernet Franc. It aged 19 months in French oak.

“The 2016 ‘Rive Droite’ is made from predominately Merlot with a touch of Cabernet Franc and it is a total beauty that exudes striking class and refinement. It instantly begins to impress with its stunning aromatics of red and dark currants which are woven together with fresh spring florals, spices, licorice, herbs and tobacco to form the gorgeous perfumed nose. On the palate this is all about sheer elegance and structure, as the beautifully pure ripe dark fruits are wound tightly with beautifully polished tannins. It goes on to display incredible precision and balance with gorgeous underlying acidity adding a lovely sense of freshness as it leads up to the incredibly long finish. The 2016 will require some significant cellaring before it hits its stride, but that being said, it is one of the finest and most sophisticated Merlots being made in all of Napa, and it possesses all the characteristics to age gracefully for decades to come.” - 100 points, J. D’Angelo, International Wine Report, May 2019.

Blankiet Proprietary Red Paradise Hills Vineyard 2016.

From their organically farmed Paradise Hills Vineyard Estate, this is a blend of 88.0% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6.5% Merlot, 4.0% Cabernet Franc, 1.5% Petit Verdot. It aged 19 months in French oak.

“The 2016 Proprietary Red Paradise Hills Vineyard is magnificent. Deep and expressive on the palate, the 2016 possesses tremendous intensity but delivered in an understated voice. Dark cherry, plum, mocha, new leather and spice develop with time, but it is the wine's total sense of poise that once again is truly impressive. All the elements are simply in the right place. The 2016 is a total stunner, but the best is yet to come.” - 98 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous, December 2018.

Critical Praise

Owners Claude and Katherine Blankiet spent many years searching for a specific hillside vineyard on the western side of Napa Valley. Finally, in 1996 they purchased 50 acres of land that previously was part of Domain Chandon’s holdings but was never planted. This is prime vineyard land; perhaps it is surprising that it was never developed as such considering it sits directly west of Dominus Estate and one of the Napa Valley’s most historic vineyard sites, Napanook Vineyard. The Blankiets brought in Helen Turley and David Abreu to help them develop the property and named the vineyards Paradise Hills. Claude calls his vineyard “a puzzle of microclimates” and terroir. It is a remarkable property where 100 points Cabernet Sauvignon are produced next to 100 points Merlot wines.