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)