Red Blend "Meritage" Black Stallion Estate, Napa Valley, CA, 2023

Blend (2023)

According to the winery:

• 60% Cabernet Sauvignon
• 17% Merlot
• 13% Malbec
• 5% Petit Verdot
• 5% Cabernet Franc

Alcohol: 14.5%

Winery tasting notes

The winery describes aromas of:

• Cassis
• Sandalwood
• Clove

with flavors of:

• Ripe blackberry
• Dark cherry
• Maple syrup

Broad, layered tannins and an elegant finish.

Overall critical consensus

• Wine Enthusiast (90) views it as an excellent value-driven Napa Bordeaux blend that's generous, approachable, and ready to drink.
• James Suckling (94) is considerably more enthusiastic, praising its structure, complexity, and aging potential.

Drinking window

Based on its structure and reviews:

• Drink: now through 2033
• Peak: approximately 2028–2032, after a few years of bottle age to integrate the oak and tannins.

At its suggested retail price of about $38–40, the 94-point James Suckling score makes it a notably strong value among Napa Valley Meritage blends.

Winemaker Notes