2020 Arietta ‘Quartet’ Napa Valley Meritage

WSI95+ Sublime intensity. An almost black colored wine greets the eye and the nose is a delightful quintessence of warm summer days, the ripe, sweet scent of blackberries and blueberries, mixed with hints of delicate vanilla. On the palate, a round, full-bodied expression that startles the senses, inviting, seductive, with a silky mouthfeel, and a powerful, imposing presence of deep dark fruit characteristics, ripe and balanced. Truly amazing fruit from Carneros! Andy Erickson is in his perfect element.
Notes by winemaker Andy Erickson: “The 2020 vintage produced wines that are bright and pure, with notes of raspberry, vanilla bean, and a surprising mix of pit fruits—apricot, plum, even white peach—wrapped in an envelope of cocoa powder and girded by a strong framework of tannin. The wine has excellent focus and an intense perfume, with all of the above fruits, licorice, and floral notes. A huge win for 2020.”
Blend: 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 48% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot
Fruit Sources: 9% Coombsville, 90% Carneros, 1% Oakville
Elevage: Aged 20 months in French oak barrels, 32% new