Dear Friends of Arietta,
Awake from your January hibernation! For the next seven days we open the door of the Arietta Wine Library to you. This year’s Library offering features six vintage verticals of Arietta H Block and Arietta Variation One in original wooden cases, a three vintage vertical of Arietta Cabernet Sauvignon in magnum also in original wooden case, and a “behind the scenes” offering of Arietta Quartet and White Keys in our rare 500ml format. One final treat for collectors who appreciate aged White Bordeaux style wines: magnums of Arietta White Wine “On The White Keys” Extended Aging 2006, of which only 24 cases were produced. The Arietta library offer is first come first served; quantities as you may imagine are very limited. For special requests, additional information, or appointments to taste, please contact Vanessa at vanessa@ariettawine.com
And thank you, Mother Nature, for the rain in Napa. It finally arrived; seven inches in the last three days.
Happy Winter,
Fritz and Caren Hatton, Proprietors
Vanessa Conlin, Director of Sales and Administration
Andy Erickson and Morgan Maureze, Winemakers
Arietta H Block Vertical of Vintages 2004-2009 in Wooden Box
2004 Arietta H Block
Arietta Red Wine H Block Hudson Vineyards is the Bordeaux Right Bank styled blend of co-fermented Cabernet Franc and Merlot which was the inspiration for Arietta’s creation. Of the 2004 vintage, critic Stephen Tanzer noted "Bright ruby-red. Perfumed aromas of black raspberry, smoked meat, dark chocolate and brown sugar. Superconcentrated, sweet and spicy, with a captivating sugar/acid balance. The violet and cassis flavors are complemented by deep, nuanced soil tones. A compellingly sweet, silky blend with outstanding breadth and opulence. Finishes with building, ripe tannins and great persistence." Production: 350 cases
2005 Arietta H Block
A sensational wine, the product of the greatest vintage for Cabernet Franc in Arietta’s ten-year history. This year’s blend of 80% Cabernet Franc and 20% Merlot harks back to the other “high Franc” vintage for Arietta, the superb 1997. One hundred percent co-fermented, the Arietta H Block Hudson Vineyards 2005 displays great balance, tactility, and persistence. Critic Stephen Tanzer notes "Bright ruby. Cassis, licorice, and violet on the nose. Silky and noble on entry, then penetrating, intense, and sharply defined, offering an uncanny combination of opulence, power, and cut. Captivating violet and dark chocolate notes. Finishes with big, broad tannins, superb spine and building length." Production: 400 cases
2006 Arietta H Block
The majestic 2006 Arietta H Block reverts to its typical blend of 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Merlot. This proportion is the same as the highly successful 2002 Arietta H Block as well as H Block’s mentoring wine, Chateau Cheval Blanc, one of the two First Growths of the Bordeaux Right Bank. The Cabernet Franc and Merlot are co-fermented, and the wine is aged for twenty months in highest quality new French oak barrels. The dense character and relatively high pH of the 2006 Arietta H Block result from the very long 2006 growing season and an unhurried harvest. The tremendous stuffing and depth of the wine will promote development in the bottle for fifteen years, at least. Critic Stephen Tanzer notes: "Good deep ruby. Black raspberry, mocha and menthol on the nose. Sweet, creamy and densely packed, with rather wild flavors of raspberry, mocha, game and tobacco. Structured, backward wine with terrific length. The building tannins show full ripeness." Production: 450 cases
2007 Arietta H Block
Of the 2007 Arietta H Block, critic Robert Parker writes: "A prodigious wine, the 2007 Proprietary Red H Block Hudson Vineyard (a blend of 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot) boasts a deep purple color as well as a gorgeously sweet nose of lead pencil shavings intermixed with spring flowers, black raspberries, black currants, and incense. Deep and full-bodied with a stunning texture, sweet tannin, and superbly integrated acidity, alcohol, wood, and tannin, this 2007 should age effortlessly for 20+ years." Production: 450 cases
2008 Arietta H Block
The 2008 Arietta H Block is the first ever release of a 100% varietal Cabernet Franc made from the H Block on Lee Hudson’s Ranch on the Napa side of Carneros. The fabulous quality of the 2.3 acre H Block has been well recognized since it reached full production in 1990, and incredibly enough, this is the first time that its Cabernet Franc has ever been released unblended. For the Arietta Red Wine H Block Hudson Vineyards we normally prefer the additional layering and complexity provided by the addition of Merlot, but this time through all blending trials the “pure H” stood out as the most complete, complex, and well balanced wine. Welcome to the long overdue debut of the "pure H"! Its moment on stage will be brief; the Arietta H Block will return to its traditional Saint-Emilion style blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot in the 2009 vintage. Winemaker Andy Erickson comments: "the later-ripening Cabernet Franc benefited from a mild, relatively warm autumn, allowing the fruit to mature well into October. The resulting Cabernet Franc wine is incredibly pure, deep, and complex, with notes of roasted coffee, lavender, pencil lead, and ripe fruits. The wine’s depth, balance, and seductive texture are most impressive." Production: 230 cases
2009 Arietta H Block
A blend of 78% Cabernet Franc and 22% Merlot, the 2009 Arietta Red Wine H Block Hudson Vineyards exudes beautiful, enticing aromas of hardwoods, fresh blueberries, and late summer rain. Alluring from the outset, the wine continues to open with time in the glass. On the palate, it shows an incredible finesse and balance, the fresh berry character leading to added layers of toast, leather, and wildflowers. With all its freshness and grace, one can only imagine that the Arietta H Block 2009 will continue to improve for easily a decade or more. Production: 350 cases
Arietta Variation One Vertical of Vintages 2004-2009 in a Wooden Box
2004 Arietta Variation One
The 2004 Arietta Variation One, the innovative co-fermented blend of Merlot and Syrah from top blocks on the Hudson Ranch in Napa/Carneros, impresses us again as the richest and most exotic wine in the Arietta portfolio. Tanzer noted "Deep, bright ruby-red. Slightly reduced nose blossomed quickly to show black raspberry, dark cherry, mocha and chocolate. Lush and superripe on the palate, but saline and mineral elements as well as the wine’s strong acid/tannin spine give it great definition and grip. Firm tannins are buffered by the wine’s strong material." Production: 500 cases
2005 Arietta Variation One
The first ever "reverse blend" for Arietta Variation One, the 2005 is an entirely co-fermented blend of 70% Syrah and 30% Merlot, all from Arietta’s carefully selected blocks on the meticulously farmed Hudson Ranch in Napa/Carneros. The 2005 Arietta Variation One’s rich aromas of bacon fat, earth, smoke, violets, graphite, plums, and wild blackberries remind us of a top-class Hermitage. Tanzer notes: "Very ripe, Syrah-dominated aromas of black fruits, chocolate and meat. Lush, thick and sweet, with an opulence of texture leavened by the wine’s serious tannic clout. This compellingly deep, chewy wine offers outstanding potential." Production: 400 cases
2006 Arietta Variation One
The patience to leave Arietta’s Syrah on the vine until the end of October was a key factor in the creation of the richest and densest Arietta Red Wine Variation One ever produced. The Syrah from Arietta’s sixteen rows in the rockiest part of Hudson Block 4 was co-fermented with Merlot from Arietta’s Hudson N Block. Winemaker Andy Erickson raised the percentage of Merlot in the 2006 Variation One to 45%, providing a good dose of civility to the wildness of the Syrah. The Arietta Red Wine Variation One 2006 is a generous, complex and exciting wine, unique in its blend and flavor profile, and not to be missed. Critic Stephen Tanzer writes: "Wild aromas of mocha, graphite and game, with a complicating note of roasted nuts. Sweet, plush and seamless, but with excellent energy to the layered black fruit flavors. This comes across as remarkably vibrant for a wine with a pH of 3.9. Finishes with building but very fine tannins and excellent length." Production: 500 cases
2007 Arietta Variation One
The 2007 Variation One, Arietta’s distinctive and dynamic "marriage of opposites," is a co-fermented blend of 55% Syrah and 45% Merlot, from the finest rows on the Hudson Ranch. The 2007 tops the critics’ charts. Parker writes: "A sensational effort, the 2007 Variation One displays a vivid, super-fragrant perfume of bouquet garni, white chocolate, blackberries, plums, and subtle smoky oak. Full-bodied with silky tannins, a decadent opulence, and a sumptuous texture, this is a head-turning, full-bodied, expressive wine to enjoy over the next 15-20 years." Production: 500 cases
2008 Arietta Variation One
The 2008 Arietta Variation One is the ninth vintage for our innovative blend of Syrah and Merlot grown on the Hudson Ranch in Carneros. Like a unique and treasured color in an artist’s palette, Arietta Red Wine Variation One excites chefs and wine buffs who prize its distinctive flavor profile. The blend of the Arietta Red Wine Variation One 2008 is similar to recent years: 55% Syrah and 45% Merlot. Winemaker Andy Erickson notes: "The deep, dark, brooding character of the Syrah makes the first impression. Aromas of roasted meat, black cherries, and menthol follow through to the palate. The tannins are mouth-filling and chewy, while the intense fruit character helps to round out the wine and add length. The later ripening of the Syrah in 2008 did not allow us to co-ferment with the Merlot, production of which was dramatically reduced by spring frosts and rain during bloom. However, the small quantity of Merlot produced was dense, juicy, and fruit forward, and blends perfectly with the powerful, dark, mocha elements of the Syrah." Production: 300 cases
2009 Arietta Variation One
The 2009 Arietta Variation One is a dense, aromatic, singular wine produced by co-fermenting two very different varieties – Merlot and Syrah – grown on land uniquely suited to both. At once plump and solid, the wine shows the best of both varieties, with Merlot (48% in this vintage) providing a juicy fruit-forward package, buttressed by a rock-solid framework of Syrah (52%), with its smoky, mineral complexity and firm structure. The experience is a rare mingling of baked blackberries, anise, fresh bread, and campfire aromas. A balanced wine of considerable weight and density, the Arietta Variation One 2009 is built to last. Production: 300 cases
Arietta Cabernet Sauvignon Trio in Magnum Vintages 2005-2007 in a Wooden Box
2005 Arietta Cabernet Sauvignon
Our third Cabernet Sauvignon, produced from Howell Mountain fruit farmed with bonsai-like precision by celebrated viticulturist David Abreu. The 2005 Arietta Cabernet Sauvignon includes 16% Cabernet Franc and 8% Petit Verdot. Critic Stephen Tanzer notes: "Expressive nose melds currant, blackberry, licorice pastille and chocolatey oak, hinting at an almost medicinal character. Suave on entry, then sweet, thick and pliant on the middle palate, with superb concentration and richness supported by a powerful spine of ripe tannins. This boasts compelling sweetness and a texture of velvet without going over the top, thanks in large part to the natural freshness of the vintage." Production: 350 cases, 20 in magnum
2006 Arietta Cabernet Sauvignon
The 2006 Arietta Cabernet Sauvignon, is a blend of fruit from two of Napa’s most celebrated vineyards: Thorevilos (on the lower slopes of Howell Mountain) and Meteor (in Coombsville, just east of the town of Napa). Both of these sites feature well drained volcanic soils and relatively cool temperatures, and are managed by superstar viticulturists. A hint of Petit Verdot (4%) from the top of Howell Mountain adds density and complexity. The Arietta Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, beautiful at birth, should develop in bottle for ten to fifteen years at least. Production: 96 cases, 15 in magnum
2007 Arietta Cabernet Sauvignon
The core of the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon is Arietta’s block in the Meteor Vineyards in Coombsville. This small cool-climate viticultural area (about four square miles) just east of the town of Napa is the source of spectacularly good Bordeaux varietals, particularly Cabernet Sauvignon, which flourishes in the volcanic ash at the foot of Mount Saint George. Arietta winemaker Andy Erickson caps the Arietta block’s production at two and a half tons per acre in order to assure uniform ripeness and concentrated flavors at harvest. The beautiful harmonics of the Arietta Cabernet 2007 gain additional complexity and overtones through the addition of Cabernet Franc (17%) and Petit Verdot (3%). Critic Steve Tanzer notes: "Bright, saturated ruby. Vibrant aromas of black fruits and licorice. Densely packed and shapely, with good floral complexity and definition to the highly concentrated dark fruit and mineral flavors. A very young and gripping Cabernet with noble tannins and superb length." Production: 250 cases, 20 in magnum
2009 Arietta Quartet 500ml bottles
With this fourth vintage of Arietta Quartet we introduced a new primary vineyard source: three acres of closely spaced vines planted by viticulturist David Abreu in 2003. The vineyard, located in the relatively cool climate of Coombsville, was planted as if it had been designed for Arietta Quartet: just under two acres of Cabernet Sauvignon (Clones 4 and 337), a half-acre of Merlot and a quarter acre each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The fruit produces wine which is plush and classy without being heavy – ideal for Quartet, which is made to be approachable upon release. We spend many happy hours blending Arietta Quartet, which is composed of numerous small lots. The judicious addition of fruit from Arietta’s sources in Calistoga and Carneros adds depth, balance, and complexity. Ready to enjoy now, the Arietta Quartet 2009 should evolve beautifully in bottle for five to ten years. Production: 45 cases.
2010 Arietta "On The White Keys" 500ml bottles
Arietta’s unique white wine, "On the White Keys," is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. While this blend is typical of Grand Cru White Bordeaux, the Arietta "On the White Keys" also resembles the finest upriver Loires in its fresh and bracing presentation of Sauvignon Blanc. The goal of the winemaking is to marry a vibrant entry to a long and complex finish. The former is accomplished through the choice of unusually intense hillside Sauvignon Blanc from Sonoma Mountain, selective use of stainless steel barrels, partial blockage of malolactic fermentation, and bottling relatively young at nine months. The latter is accomplished through 100% barrel fermentation, the use of approximately 25% new French oak barrels, and the addition of Semillon from thirty-year-old vines in the Hyde Vineyard in Napa/Carneros. This year for the first time Sauvignon Blanc Musque clone from Carneros was included in the final blend. Production: 45 cases
2006 Arietta "On The White Keys" Extended Aging Magnum
Arietta "On The White Keys 2006 E.A.” (Extended Aging) comes from a single barrel (24 cases) of 2006 White Keys bottled in July 2008 entirely in magnum format. While the protocol for the production of Arietta On The White Keys is to bottle after nine months in barrel in order to capture the freshness of the Sauvignon Blanc, the Arietta On The White Keys “E.A.” was aged in barrel for twenty months–as long as Arietta’s red wines. The purpose is to compare the flavors and ageability of the Arietta On The White Keys “modern” style (the wine released to our mailing list and restaurants) to the traditional methods employed by top Grand Cru Bordeaux Chateau. The Arietta "On The White Keys E.A." displays a creaminess which coats a core of pear, lemon, honeysuckle, hazelnuts, and minerals, along with a touch of smoke from the extra year in oak. It is a grand and sophisticated wine, and should age in magnum for another several years—and possibly many more. Production: 24 cases
Like us on Facebook
info@ariettawine.com
telephone 707 963 5918
facsimile 707 963 5919
Arietta
P.O. Box 349
Oakville, CA 94562
ariettawine.com
I’ve been intrigued by the similarities of the process of wine and chocolate making/tasting – specifically the farm to bar producers. Chocolate has amazing complexities and each growing region has a unique terroir which expresses itself in the flavor profiles. Like fine wine, there are many attributes that affect the final product: the types of cacao beans, the percentage of cocoa solids, the region where the beans were grown, and the timing and manner of roasting and drying methods. Like grapes, the cacao pods are influenced by the terroir, and the acid, tannin and finish are described in vocabulary familiar to the wine lover. Everything from rain, sun, and soil conditions can greatly impact the rich and complex flavors of chocolate. So you can see how a winemaker or wine lover can be easily seduced into a chocolate affair.
Looking for the perfect wine country getaway for Valentine’s Day (or any other time for that matter!)? Our cozy farmhouse is available for the holiday. Curl up next to our fireplace with your sweetheart and enjoy a complimentary bottle of bubbles for Valentine’s Day. The farmhouse is centrally located in the Russian River Valley making it easy to get to any of your romantic destinations. Click 
