2023 Prince of Hearts Red
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Tasting notes
More Merlot-dominated and sourced entirely from their Paradise Hills Vineyard Estate in Yountville from vines dating back to 1996, the 2023 Prince Of Hearts is based on 52% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot and aged 18 months in equal parts new and second-fill French oak barrels. Deep purple-hued, it's a rocking effort offering black cherries, graphite, sappy flowers, leather, and a kiss of scorched earth. Medium to full-bodied, it has a pure, layered mouthfeel, the tannins of the vintage, and a great finish. Beautifully done, this pure, graceful, impeccably balanced beauty will have 15-20 years of prime drinking. Drink 2027-2043.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2023 Prince of Hearts is all class. Aromatic and light on its feet, with striking purity of fruit, the 2023 is immediately alluring right out of the gate. Cool blue/purplish fruit, lavender, spice and dried herbs all take shape with a bit of time in the glass. Best of all, Prince of Hearts is a fabulous value in the world of high-end Napa Valley wines. The 2015 I tasted for an upcoming report has aged beautifully, especially for what is a second wine in this range.
What amounts to the property's second wine, Blankiet's 2023 Prince of Hearts Red Wine is a blend of 52.2% Merlot, 35.3% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7.9% Cabernet Franc and 4.6% Petit Verdot. It's aromatically complex, its base of ripe cherries complemented by floral notes, plus whiffs of bay leaves, black olives and tobacco. In the mouth, this medium- to full-bodied wine is silky and expansive, its finish lined by softly dusty tannins. With production amounting to 1,216 cases, consumers should realistically be able to locate a few bottles of this perennial top value.