Arietta Merlot Hudson Vineyards 2014
The source of the Arietta Merlot Hudson Vineyards 2014 is the I Block in the Hudson Vineyards in Napa/Carneros and is a rare expression of 100% Merlot from a singularly situated single block of 30-year old vines. Since our first bottling in 2011, the Hudson I Block has reminded us time and again how rich and magisterial Merlot can be when planted in the right microclimate.
Notes from Winemaker Andy Erickson: “The latest vintage of Arietta Merlot Hudson Vineyards shows, in its youth, an alluring balance and finesse, with subtle blue and black fruit notes married seamlessly with a supporting framework of French oak spice and well-constructed tannins. While somewhat guarded initially, with time the wine reveals a latent power and mid-palate concentration that will certainly develop with time in the glass, and with bottle age. The complexity delivered by these thirty-plus-year-old vines is remarkable, and this latest vintage is just another example of how good this variety can be when grown in the right terroir.”
Tasting from barrel, Antonio Galloni noted:
A deep, inky wine, the 2014 Merlot presents a super-intriguing mélange of dark fruit and savory notes, all with plenty of mineral underpinning. Graphite, smoke, sage and licorice are some of the signatures in a wine that has the depth and density to age. The Merlot could turn out to be a real overachiever.
Blend: 100% Merlot
Fruit Sources: 100% Hudson Vineyard, Carneros
Cooperage: Aged 22 months in French oak, 75% new
Production: 260 cases