December 17, 2022 - Very broad flavor profile enjoyed by a group of 6
Good for at least 2 years
April 14, 2022 - Nice bottle, but couldn’t help but think it could be much more. Had a 2012 of this a few weeks ago, and that was in a much better place - more open, rounder edges, better balance of fruit and tannins. This just seems reticent. Not sure if it will open (if it hasn’t after nine years). Holding out hope for my remaining bottles.
January 29, 2022 - Dark ruby color. Hints of cherry, blackberry, and plum.
August 29, 2020 - Beautiful bottle of Old World/Old School Napa Valley Cabernet. Cherry, dark fruits, spice and integrated oak all play well here. There is still tannic grip on this medium weighted wine. I think it is in a good window now, but could see improvement over the next several years.
Day two, and the tannins have settled down. Continues to drink very well.
June 15, 2020 - Excellent wine with great balance of fruit, minerality and wood..
Noticeable oak on the nose followed by a nice blend of fruit
Herbs and minerality...more old world style than new...
September 15, 2019 - Nice aroma with cassis and some wet stone note...
Loads of blackberry, leather, spice, wrapped in still very firm drying tannins...think it needs a few more years but it’s got great potential.
Day 2...nose is more open and complex..now blackberry and ripe bing cherry and all previous flavors... still drying tannins...going to be stellar!
Think in time it’s 95/96...
January 11, 2019 - Maybe still a trifle too much oak/sweet, but in a lovely balanced place. Shows the vibrancy and depth of the year well.
December 27, 2016 - Dark fruit and graphite; nice balance; full bodied and an excellent wine for the money. I put this just below the 3 figure wines that Arietta offers; love them too, but this is wonderful stuff.
December 25, 2016 - Fantastic wine of insanely young. Primary fruit on the nose to go with cassis, wet asphault and a little bit of oak. Med/full bodied on the palate. Extremely well balanced but obviously young. Decanted for 5 hours and the tannins were still drying and biting on the finish. I think this starts entering drinking window in about 3-4 years and stays there a while. Excellent wine.
May 19, 2016 - Arietta Dinner w/Fritz Hatton (NY Vintners (21 Warren Street)): Really nice and approachable wine especially given how young it is. Blend of Cab Sauv, Cab Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot in that order of wine. Fritz called it the 'gateway drug' to Arietta in the <$100 price point. It's in balance now with the tannins forming a nice backbone, but not overshadowing the wine. Good mouthful. Standard nice Napa fruit, but not over the top.