GOLD MEDAL WINE CLUB’S Volume 22 Number 23

Select, Ultra Premium, Collectable Wines from California’s Best Winemakers At an early age, Michael Polenske realized his Chateau Las Tour Figeac, both highly respected future would one day involve wine or the wine business. entities in the St. Emilion sector of Bordeaux. More The owner of the newest star of Napa Valley’s jeweled recently, Aaron Pott has been named the top honor of crown called Blackbird says he started being 2012 Winemaker of the Year by Food & Wine magazine. interested in wines during his college days at the Production levels at Blackbird Vineyards have University of California, Chico. grown significantly and around 5,500 cases will be “In fact,” Polenske recently recalled, “I took released this year. It is significant to note that Napa about the same number of finance and wine courses Valley’s current relatively soft business climate while in school. Something about wine intrigued hasn’t affected its newest star. me and I needed to know more about it.” “We have been fortunate to always be behind Polenske’s business career involved a number the demand curve,” Polenske added. “Even though of varied businesses centering on his financial we have expanded rapidly, there has always been expertise. He has owned a variety of restaurants, art more of a demand. My planning is that we will galleries and private clubs among others. Polenske continue to grow as long as the consumer demand had thrived on the concept that he brought a is there.” flair for combining individual talents into a Polenske also admits that the style of successful team to many of these investments. Blackbird Vineyards’ wines hasn’t hurt their Fast forward to 2003, and Michael chances. He said it was always his intention Polenske is searching throughout Napa to produce wines that mirrored the “right Valley for a house with a pool that is bank style of Bordeaux” that features located on a hill. mostly and as its “What I eventually found was a main . These wines are unusually house without a hill surrounded by an rich in flavor with acidic balance and are incredible planted in Merlot,” perfectly attuned to the whims of an Polenske continued. “Yes, it did have a international palate. Michael Polenske pool, but the vineyard was already considered all these aspects when designing producing fruit that was being used in his first Blackbird Vineyards release. world class wines. I did some real due An inspiring wine label was another diligence on the vineyard and felt it could factor in the winery’s instant success. become even better with the right kind of “I interviewed a number of creative resources at its disposal. It’s not often that designers for the project,” Polenske again you come upon a piece of land that has recalled. “I stopped when I found David such a great pedigree.” Hughes. He was a local and that was one The rest, it is easy to say, is history. of my requirements. I wanted someone Blackbird Vineyards (Merlot actually means who understood wine culture and really little blackbird in French patois) became a cared. He had already designed Thomas reality and its first release of only 100 cases Keller’s French Laundry logo and Bouchon (using grapes that weren’t already sold to Bakery menus and was also the creator of existing wineries) was awarded a 98 score by Robert Redford’s logo for the Sundance a top industry periodical. That was in 2005, Film Festival. His work jumped out at me and the accolades haven’t stopped for the and what he did for Blackbird Vineyards rocket-propelled winery. speaks for itself.” Michael Polenske modestly credits Michael Polenske has two additional his “team” for the new winery’s success. His Napa Valley projects that work hand in winemaker, Aaron Pott brings a world-class hand with Blackbird Vineyards. He owns the resume to the proverbial table. Pott began his career in newly created Ma(i)sonry Napa Valley (Yountville)and Napa Valley with Newton Vineyard and later moved his the I. Wolk Gallery (St. Helena) that offer upper scale winemaking talents abroad. In , Pott settled in art, antiques and design to visitors and locals alike, all Bordeaux as a veteran of the Bordeaux winemaking in the company of great local wines such as Blackbird scene and holds the distinction of being the only Vineyards. American winemaker to hold the winemaker title at a Although less than a half decade old, Blackbird premiere grand cru level Bordeaux property. Among Vineyards must be regarded as a celebrity winery due to Pott’s duty stations were Chateau Troplong Mondot and its instant success.

The road to great wine begins at your door. add a plus! bottle asting Notes TT 94 POINTS + Plus! wines are all highly-rated, very small production wines with EDITOR’S CHOICE to availabilityyour too nextlimited for allwine regular club delivery! members to receive. -Wine Enthusiast Only Plus! Program participants receive these rare gems! 93 POINTS The Plus! Program automatically adds on a special wine to -Connoisseurs’ Guide each regular scheduled wine delivery, or as often as you like! Don’t miss out on another shipment! Blackbird Vineyards’ 2009 ‘Arise’ Proprietary Join the Plus! Program today! Red Wine captures the charming essense of $35-$45 each delivery Napa Valley’s unique terrior, produced from This month’s Platinum Series featured Plus! wine: the Blackbird Estate Vineyard in Napa’s Occidental Road Cellars 2007 Syrah Knoll District. Crafted with a serious 93 POINTS + EDITOR’S CHOICE commitment to quality and excellence, - Wine Enthusiast every of this Bordeaux-inspired blend Just 200 Cases Produced! is hand-tuned to express the Blackbird Learn more at: www.GoldMedalWineClub.com/plus or Call 1-800-266-8888 Vineyard’s grapes’ luscious flavor profile – but we must say the 2009 vintage is especially remarkable. Look at those lofty scores! The 2009 Arise reveals beautiful aromas of cherry, blackberry, fig and cedar with a chewy mid-palate of enticing plum, red fruit, and spice flavors. Wine Enthusiast calls it “A glorious wine. Based on Merlot, with nearly equal parts of the two Cabernets, it’s softly smooth and delicious right now. Dear Platinum Series Members, Totally bone dry, yet rich and sweet in It is our pleasure to offer you this 2009 Blackbird Vineyards cherries, berries, chocolate and cedar, it satisfies “Arise” Napa Valley Red Wine. Aaron Pott, our winemaker, has on every level.” Aged 21 months in oak. crafted this Merlot and Cabernet Franc influenced bottling since 53% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Frac, its first vintage in 2006. Since then, this wine has gained quite a 22% . Enjoy now following with our clients around the world. until 2019. We created the Arise wine as an aspirational offering in our portfolio of red wines. The name Arise is directly inspired form a lyric from the song Blackbird, which was recorded in 1968 as part of The White Album. The Arise wine label personifies this eorders aspiration with a graphical interpretation of the five bars of the musical sheet and the first notes to the song being represented here. The one bird flying off the bars of the sheet is well on its R Winery Direct: $50.00 /bottle journey to join the remainder of the flock at our principal wines R tier – which represents our Illustration, Paramour and Contrarian Gold Medal Wine Club Member Price: Napa Valley red wines. $42.00 /bottle We look forward to welcoming you in the near future to Ma(i)sonry Napa Valley in Yountville – where we taste the entire Save 16% plus rewards Blackbird portfolio of wines. In the meantime, make sure you Now you also get instant Membership Rewards! hum a few tunes of this now legendary song, which offered the foundation for one of our clients’ favorite red wines. Combine Any Wine from Any Series in your shopping cart and get these additional savings... Thank you, Rewards 6+ 12+ Bottles Bottles Paul Leary 2 Bottle Members -$10 -$30 President, Blackbird Vienyards 4 Bottle Members -$15 -$45 www.GoldMedalWineClub.com 1-800-266-8888 *Membership Rewards apply to regularly-priced wines only. 2 bottle min, per wine, per order. Shipping and tax (if applicable) not included in above prices. Call for details.

PLATINUM SERIES IS PRESENTED BY GOLD MEDAL WINE CLUB, SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA 1-800-266-8888