2019 Blackbird Vineyards Paramour Red Wine Napa Valley 750 ml

There aren’t many wines in Napa Valley that can go toe to toe with the greatest of Pomerol and Saint-Émilion—but this is one of them. It’s a 20-year skyscraper of a wine, and it thoroughly impressed us.

“This is full-bodied and rich yet seemingly weightless, despite being concentrated, long and velvety. This is just lovely stuff.”

That 97-point review from Wine Advocate sounds like it could have been written about a wine like the 2019 Château Angélus in Saint-Émilion, which sells for $400.

But it’s not. The ‘19 Angélus scored 96 points, and the 97-pointer is Blackbird Vineyards’ 2019 Paramour.

Blackbird is THE Cab Franc and Merlot powerhouse in Napa, thanks to Aaron Pott, who was already making great wine in Saint-Émilion in the 1990s. He returned to Napa in 1998 and is at the top of his game today. In the terrific 2019 vintage, he had an absolute Murderer’s Row of vineyards to work with, including Hudson, Stagecoach, and Rutherford’s Star Vineyard.

Advocate singled out the 2019 Paramour, calling it “the pick of the litter,” and “one reason why Napa Cabernet Franc prices are what they are.” It outscored collector-worthy bottles from Caladan ($250+) and Impensata ($350+), and Pott himself called it “the best of Blackbird.” It’s a wine crafted to make a statement, and it succeeds brilliantly. 

It always amazes us how Napa Valley’s “Left Bank” Cabernet Sauvignons that score 97 and up can fetch $300–$500+, whereas this gorgeous, category-leading blend of 63% Cabernet Franc, 23% Merlot, and 14% Cabernet Sauvignon goes for around half that. This is the very best of Napa’s “Right Bank,” and it’s going to soar for 20 years or more.