Arietta - Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 (750ml)
Price: $217.99
| Producer | Arietta |
| Country | United States |
| Region | California |
| Varietal | Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Sku | 205943 |
| Size | 750ml |
 |
Arietta Description
Arietta, an ultra-premium Napa winery specializing in limited production Bordeaux-style blends, is owned by wine specialist and auctioneer Fritz Hatton and Caren Frutig Hatton. One of America’s most celebrated winemakers, Andy Erickson, crafts the Arietta wines from carefully chosen blocks in the cooler climates of Napa Valley. The Arietta wine portfolio currently consists of five red wines — H Block Hudson Vineyards, Merlot Hudson Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon, Quartet, and Variation One — and one White Wine, On The White Keys.
The Hattons founded Arietta in 1996 in partnership with winemaker John Kongsgaard and his wife Maggy. The partnership was born of a shared passion for fine wine and classical music. The vinous inspiration for Arietta was an extraordinary 2.3 acre block of Cabernet Franc on the Hudson Ranch in Napa/Carneros. The fruit from this block of Cabernet Franc serves as the core of the Arietta Red Wine H Block Hudson Vineyards. The Arietta project grew with the selection of additional superb blocks of Merlot and Syrah on the Hudson Ranch, which made possible the addition of two wines to the Arietta portfolio: Arietta Red Wine Variation One, an innovative blend of Merlot and Syrah, and Arietta Merlot Hudson Vineyards, produced only in selected vintages.
Arietta Cabernet Sauvignon was first produced in the 2003 vintage. Since 2007 the core of the wine has been a 1.6 acre block of Clone 337 Cabernet Sauvignon in Coombsville, a small vale just east of the town of Napa. Planted by viticulturist Mike Wolf in 1999 and still under his management, the vineyard incorporating the Arietta Cabernet Sauvignon block is recognized as one of the finest, if not the finest site for this varietal in Coombsville. The soil is primarily volcanic, and the Arietta block has a southwestern exposure which is the most favored in this relatively cool climate. The grapes require longer than typical hang time (often until mid-October), and develop great depth of flavor without exceeding 25.5 brix. Depending on the vintage we occasionally add small amounts of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, or Merlot to the wine. Arietta Cabernet Sauvignon is raised in 75-80% new French oak for twenty months before bottling the second July after harvest.
Vinous: 95+ Points
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is packed with inky black fruit, grilled herbs, licorice, incense and scorched earth. This potent, explosive Cabernet is super-impressive. Even with all its natural intensity, the 2021 remains quite refined. All this needs is time to soften.
Wine Advocate: 94 Points
Sourced from the Meteor Vineyard in Coombsville and made under the watchful eye of Andy Erickson, Arietta's 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon starts with gentle herbal notes, adds masses of cassis and black cherries, then hints of vanilla and cedar. It's medium to full-bodied, concentrated yet silky, soft, smooth and elegant—not a huge blockbuster, but it's charming and harmonious, with a wash of softly dusty tannins on the finish.
