Description
Produced entirely from fruit from the long-lived “I Block” on the Hudson ranch, the 2018 Arietta Merlot mirrors the character of the old vines that hold the fruit: muscular, deep, and at the same time balanced. The wine is alive with notes of black cherry, boysenberry, flint, and clove. Bottled unfiltered after aging in 50% new French oak, its tannins have a cocoa powder texture, and the intensity of the fruit lingers on the finish for nearly a minute.
Critical Acclaim
WE95
Wine Enthusiast
This is a deliciously memorable Merlot, youthful in tannin and oak, with an herbal, earthy elegance that remains lengthy on the palate. Dark chocolate, crushed rock and beautiful black fruit balance against each other and provide substance and great style.
Editor’s Choice
JD94
Jeb Dunnuck
Lots of ripe black cherries, redcurrants, green tobacco, and cedar emerge from the 2018 Merlot Hudson Vineyards. Medium to full-bodied and nicely concentrated, with a soft spine of acidity and great tannins, this beautiful, complex, classic Merlot has plenty of up-front appeal, yet it should also evolve gracefully for 10-15 years.
V94
Vinous
Arietta’s 2018 Merlot Hudson Vineyard shows the cool, savory style of Carneros. Dried herbs, licorice, menthol, gravel and spice lend striking aromatic complexity throughout. This is an especially savory, nuanced style. The 2018 is a fabulous wine that will challenge readers’ conceptions of what Napa Valley Merlot is all about. The Arietta wine emerges from the oldest vines Merlot vines at Hudson, planted in 1986.
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