PRIOR VINTAGES

Arietta Red Wine H Block Hudson Vineyards 2005. 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

Arietta Red Wine Variation One 2005. 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

Arietta Cabernet Sauvignon 2005. Our third Cabernet Sauvignon and the best to date, 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

Arietta Claret 2005. Arietta Claret is a blend of Bordeaux varietals sourced primarily from vineyards farmed on Howell Mountain by David Abreu. This year’s wine also includes Merlot from Arietta’s "N" Block on the Hudson Ranch in Napa/Carneros. The final blend is 68% Merlot, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 6% Petit Verdot. The 2005 Arietta Claret is remarkable for its decadent aromas of black fruits, mingled with notes of forest floor, sage, graphite, and baked bread. On the palate the wine brightens to include flavors of cherry and other red fruits, and sweet citrus. The beautiful sheen of the wine masks its considerable grip and intensity which, along with an incredibly long fruit-driven finish, indicate a long evolution in bottle for the Arietta Claret 2005. Production: 350 cases

Arietta White Wine "On The White Keys" 2006. The Arietta White Wine "On The White Keys" makes its second appearance in the 2006 vintage. Fermented in a combination of stainless steel, new oak, and one year old oak barrels, the 2006 White Keys marries rare hillside Sonoma Mountain Sauvignon Blanc to old vine Semillon from Napa/Carneros. The result is a complex wine that opens with mouthwatering vibrancy and expands with dramatic richness and sensual texture. Aromas of honeysuckle, lemon zest, kumquat, pear skin, and stones provide lift to the rich, oily texture and superconcentrated flavors of the wine. The blend of the 2006 Arietta White Wine "On The White Keys" is 85% Sauvignon Blanc and 15% Semillon. While giving great pleasure if consumed upon release (especially with aeration) Arietta "On The White Keys" will improve in bottle for one to three years at least. Production: 450 cases

Arietta Red Wine H Block Hudson Vineyards 2004. A record-setting heat wave in September with attendant dehydration reduced yields dramatically. In barrel and at bottling the Arietta H Block 2004 was beautifully perfumed and forward, with flavors of medium density and great persistence. The wine is now hibernating (as is often the case for Ariettas between two and four years after vintage date) so best to try after 2008. (400 cases)

Arietta Red Wine Variation One 2004. The densest of the Arietta 2004's, the Variation One, shy at birth, has awakened and fleshed out in the late spring of 2007, and for the moment is the showiest of the 2004 Arietta red wines. We still recommend holding the wine for consumption after 2008; if you cannot, we recommend extended aeration before serving. (500 cases)

Arietta Cabernet Sauvignon 2004. Superripe, intense, and high-toned, the Arietta Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 should be at its best after 2009. (80 cases)

Arietta Claret 2004. The first Arietta Claret, the 2004 is a blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, and 14% Petit Verdot from vineyards farmed by David Abreu at the top of Howell Mountain. The relatively high percentage of Petit Verdot gives the wine great depth and staying power. Best held until 2008 and beyond. (150 cases)

Arietta White Wine "On The White Keys" 2005. The first ever Arietta white wine is a white Bordeaux-styled blend of 65% Sauvignon Blanc and 35% Semillon. The Sauvignon Blanc is from selected rows of three blocks of a rare hillside planting of Sauvignon Blanc in the cool "Bennett Gap" area of Sonoma Mountain. The fruit from this site is remarkably minerally and intense. The Semillon is sourced from two tiny blocks of old vines reserved for Arietta by noted Napa/Carneros grower Larry Hyde, and contributes notes of honey and flowers, as well as richness and length to the wine. Arietta "On The White Keys" can be enjoyed upon release (best if placed in carafe or decanter for aeration prior to serving) and should age well in bottle for at least three years after the vintage. (350 cases)

Arietta Red Wine H Block Hudson Vineyards 2003. This wine demonstrates well the qualities that make the Arietta wines so distinctive: layering of flavors (complexity) and vibrancy (refreshing and well-integrated acidity). Noted wine critic Stephen Tanzer highlighted these qualities in his review of the Arietta Red Wine H Block Hudson 2003: "A 60/40 blend of cabernet franc and merlot. Ruby-red. Cool but ripe aromas of blackberry, blueberry, cassis and licorice. Wonderfully thick and dense but with superb life in the mouth. Compelling flavors of black fruits, with inner-palate floral lift. This is even lusher than the 2002. John Kongsgaard has figured out how to do something that too few California winemakers can do: make extraordinarily rich, layered wines that maintain vibrancy. A great showing today. 94-96 points." (450 cases)

Arietta Red Wine Variation One 2003. Arietta's source of Syrah in the Hudson Vineyards moved to a particularly desirable portion of Block 4 on the Hudson Henry Road Ranch. This block sits on an ancient creek bed, and is heavily riddled with cobblestones which limit vigor and accelerate drainage. The resulting fruit infuses Arietta Variation One with more intensity, opulence, and sheer juiciness than ever. Stephen Tanzer notes: "A 60/40 blend of merlot and syrah, co-fermented. Good saturated ruby-red. Nose offers a compelling combination of syrah and merlot perfume: black raspberry, minerals, licorice, flowers. Dense and thick, but with terrific flavor definition and lift and captivating notes of flowers and graphite. A powerfully structured wine that finishes with explosive fruits and minerals and great persistence…. One of those rare 1+1=3 wines, where the whole is more than the sum of the parts. Obviously, the blend works. 93-95 points." (450 cases)

Arietta Cabernet Sauvignon 2003. For Arietta's first ever Cabernet Sauvignon winemaker John Kongsgaard selected a small quantity of meticulously farmed Cabernet Sauvignon from spectacular vineyards on Howell Mountain farmed by one of Napa's most talented vineyard managers, David Abreu. Tanzer notes: "Good bright ruby. Knockout nose combines black cherry, blackberry, licorice and bitter chocolate. Wonderfully sweet and concentrated, with snappy fruit flavors and perfectly integrated acidity. Finishes with broad, dusty tannins. Will make a worthy new entry to the Arietta line-up. 92-94 points." (250 cases)

Arietta Red Wine H Block Hudson 2002. From a resoundingly successful Napa red wine vintage, this is the most critically acclaimed Arietta produced to date. Cabernet Franc (60%) from the Hudson H Block was co-fermented with Merlot (40%) from the Hudson N Block. The wine is brooding, seductively deep and rich, and beautifully shaped. It has yet to emerge from hibernation, and will have a long evolution—at least ten years. Best to wait a couple of years, at least, if you can. (500 cases)

Arietta Red Wine Variation One 2002. Incredibly deep and exotic, with sweet fruit, leather, and game beautifully knit together. The pick dates of our Merlot and Syrah were close enough for us to co-ferment most of this wine, adding an extra degree of harmony and complexity. Should evolve for five to ten years. If you cannot resist trying it now, we suggest you double decant the wine, recork the bottle, and drink the following day. (550 cases)

Arietta Merlot Hudson Vineyards 2002. The combination of a splendid vintage and slightly above average yields from the Hudson N Block allowed us to produce the first Arietta Merlot since 1999. This wine may turn out to be the biggest of the three Arietta 2002s. Unbelievably deep, creamy, and rich, with liqueur-like fruit and aromas of herbs, the Arietta Merlot Hudson Vineyards 2002 proves how classy and complex Merlot can be when this finicky varietal is planted in a suitable microclimate (which is rare). Given the tannins and massive size of the wine, you should hold the wine for at least two years, and enjoy over the next ten. (600 cases)

Arietta Red Wine H Block Hudson 2001. A high toned wine of great verve and pronounced aromatics, with an exciting, expansive finish, from a fine Napa vintage. This is the only time Merlot (60%) has exceeded Cabernet Franc (40%) in the blend. Best to hold a year or two; should evolve for at least five years and hold well thereafter. (650 cases)

Arietta Red Wine Variation One 2001. An exotic, opulent wine redolent of Asian spices, with great depth and length. Also high-toned and forward aromatically, but needs a bit more time to melt the tannins. More Syrah (40%) was added to the Merlot (60%) this year. Best one to five years from now and will hold well thereafter. (550 cases)

Arietta Red Wine H Block Hudson Vineyards 2000. The "H Block" designation was first added to the Arietta Red Wine label in this vintage, and honors the extraordinary, 2.3 acre Cabernet Franc block at the top of the Hudson Ranch in Napa/Carneros which forms the core of the wine. This is another miraculously rich and dramatically aromatic Arietta, and once again is a product of a relatively cool and late vintage. Critic Robert Parker gave the 2000 Arietta H Block the highest score of any Napa Red Wine in the 2000 vintage. The blend is 50% Cabernet Franc and 50% Merlot. This wine has harmonized beautifully in the bottle and is hard to resist, though should evolve for another five or ten years. (600 cases)

Arietta Red Wine Variation One 2000. The first vintage for this revolutionary blend of Merlot (70%) and Syrah (30%). Winemaker John Kongsgaard experimented with blending Merlot with Syrah beginning in the 1996 vintage, and liked the complexity gained by adding the wild, leathery, gamy, and floral qualities of Syrah to the luscious, more fruit-driven flavors of Merlot. Arietta Variation One has been a great success, and tasters have noted that the somewhat richer and grainier tannins of the Syrah make this wine particularly good with grilled meats and game. Bottle aging is needed to subdue the tannins provided by the Syrah. This has now happened to the 2000 Variation One, and the wine is well harmonized, approachable, and most appealing. Drink with aeration prior to serving, or await several years' further evolution. (500 cases)

Arietta Merlot 1999. A dense, rich wine of great power, with firm tannic support, still on the young side. The size of the Arietta Merlot crop in 1999 (1000 cases of this wine were produced) allowed us to broaden distribution to top restaurants in the U.S. As a result the experience of drinking Arietta Merlot 1999 has generated more calls from enthusiasts wishing to become Arietta subscribers than any other wine. Drink with prior aeration or decantation, but you can anticipate a long life ahead.

Arietta Red Wine 1999. The rarest of all Arietta Red Wines—only 350 cases were made, and all sold to the mailing list. This was due to the tiny, though intense crop of Cabernet Franc, and our decision to keep the blend 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Merlot. The wine is dense, creamy, and dramatically fragrant, with an amazingly naturalistic, ripe "organic fruit" character. Winemaker John Kongsgaard elected not to rack this wine immediately before bottling, and the wine should be decanted off the sediment before serving. Enjoy now with aeration, or save for further evolution. Not to be missed.

Arietta Merlot 1998. Co-owner Caren Hatton's favorite of all the Ariettas, and an absolute miracle wine—we would nominate it for wine of the 1998 vintage in Napa. Creamy, rich, dense, with aromas and flavors of sweet blueberries and buttermilk. Supple and rich tannins will support further aging. You can enjoy this wine now but best to aerate or double decant before serving. (400 cases)

Arietta Red Wine 1998. A blend of 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Merlot, with all grapes coming from the Hudson Ranch (as is the case for all Arietta wines produced between the 1997 and 2002 vintages.) Of all Ariettas this wine is the most approachable for present drinking, and a great crowd pleaser. It has plenty of power, with a rich, forward, and expansive character. How did we do it in the cool vintage of 1998? Continual thinning of crop until a very late pick (end of October) gave us uniform and very ripe fruit. A number of subscribers have called, asking for more of this wine. Our inability to honor these requests was due in part to our own enthusiastic consumption. For drinking now and over the next five years (plus?). (500 cases)

Arietta 1997. This was the "break-through" vintage for Arietta. 1997 was a fabulous vintage for Cabernet Franc in Napa, and we briefly considered making a 100% Cabernet Franc wine. In the end Merlot was added to provide additional body and suppleness on the palate. Final composition: 81% Cabernet Franc from the Hudson "H" Block, and 19% Merlot from the Hudson "N" Block. The wine's intensity and opulence belies its composition—try serving it blind to wine savvy friends! Arietta 1997 can be enjoyed now (we suggest decanting to provide aeration before serving), but continues to evolve and improve. (750 cases)

Arietta 1996. The debut wine for Arietta was a blend of two thirds Cabernet Franc from the Hudson H Block and one third Merlot. The wine exudes the charm of the 1996 vintage and displays forward aromatics and lively acidity. Of all the Ariettas the 1996 is closest to the wines of Bordeaux in weight and texture, and was very well received in a major blind tasting of First and Growth Bordeaux and cult California wines conducted in San Francisco just after release. It is readily identifiable as the only Arietta to include a hint of eucalyptus in the aromas. (290 cases)