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Blackbird

Blackbird Vineyards is a small Napa Valley winery founded in 2003 by Michael Polenske on a single 10-acre estate vineyard in Oak Knoll District, producing Bordeaux-variety blends inspired by the Right Bank of Bordeaux — Merlot-dominant rather than Cabernet-focused. The estate sits at the cooler southern end of the valley, where marine influence from San Pablo Bay allows longer hang time and finer tannin development. Contrarian, the estate's benchmark wine, averages $197 across 14 auction lots and has scored 94-97 points from critics including Antonio Galloni at Vinous. Illustration averages $142 across 20 lots; Paramour averages $64 across 19 lots. At auction, 140 lots have traded at an average of $99, ranging from $21 to $610. The $610 ceiling captures large-format Contrarian in exceptional vintages. Arise, a Cabernet Franc-focused wine, completes the portfolio. Blackbird's Right Bank positioning distinguishes it from the Cabernet-dominated majority of Napa producers.

Contrarian, the estate's Merlot-dominant blend, averages $197 at auction and has scored 94-97 points from Vinous's Antonio Galloni in strong vintages; top auction results reach $610.

The 10-acre Oak Knoll District estate sits at Napa's cooler southern end, where San Pablo Bay marine influence produces more structured, finer-tannin Merlot than warmer valley floor sites.

140 auction lots average $99 per bottle, placing Blackbird in the collectible mid-tier of Napa Bordeaux-variety specialists — above everyday Napa Cab but below trophy cult wines.

Arise (Cabernet Franc-focused) and Contrarian (Merlot-dominant) directly reference Right Bank Bordeaux archetypes — unusual positioning in a valley dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon-led blends.

Auction Lots

140

Avg Price / Bottle

$99

Top Vintage

2010

Price Range

$21 – $610

In the Glass

Right Bank-inspired Napa Valley Merlot blends: ripe plum, dark cherry, graphite, dark chocolate, and violet from the Merlot-dominant core; Cabernet Franc in Arise adds green herbs, tobacco, and red currant lift. Oak Knoll's cool influence preserves freshness and structural acidity. The style emphasizes silky texture and aromatic complexity over the brute concentration associated with Napa's warmer hillside Cabs. Wines age gracefully for 15+ years.

Portfolio

Wine	Colour	Avg Price	Lots Sold	Top Vintage
Illustration	Red	$142	20	2007
Paramour	Red	$64	19	2010
Contrarian	Red	$197	14	2009
Arise	Red	$53	10	2007

Blackbird is based in the California wine region.

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