Winemaker Notes
The 2023 Arietta “On the White Keys” is already showing the depth and complexity they expect to see after a year or so in the bottle, along with a purity and brightness that make it irresistible. Notes of lime zest, grapefruit, and candied green apple are just a few of the aromas that jump from the glass. The wine is mouthwatering, expansive, and long, with a softness and polish on the palate. The green apple and lime flavors are accentuated by an every so slight note of vanilla bean and confectioner’s sugar coming from the French oak barrels in which the wine was aged. There is a harmonious energy—everything in proportion—and it is possible to see that the wine will continue to open and evolve with time in the bottle.
Blend: 59% Sauvignon Blanc, 22% Semillon, 19% Sauvignon Musque
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2023 On The White Keys is positively stunning. Soaring aromatics meld into a core of apricot, chamomile, marzipan, tangerine oil and a kiss of French oak. The 2023 deftly balances tension with fruit presence and richness, which places it among the very finest whites of this stellar vintage.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Showing utterly classic Bordeaux Blanc aromatics of ripe citrus, melon, minty herbs, and chalky minerality, the 2023 On The White Keys is based on 78% Sauvignon Blanc and 22% Semillon and aged in 25% new French oak with the balance in used French oak and stainless steel. It's medium-bodied with a fresh, focused, elegant mouthfeel, wonderfully integrated acidity, and a great finish.
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James Suckling
Vibrant and mineral with notes of green apple, sliced pear, passionfruit and flint. Medium-bodied with a focused acidity and rounded mouthfeel that is still quite tightly wound and closed. A well-constructed blend of 75% sauvignon blanc and 25% semillon.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
a blend of 78% Sauvignon Blanc and 22% Semillon. The Sauvignon Blanc is sourced from Larry Hyde in Carneros and the Farina Vineyard on Sonoma Mountain, while the Sémillon is from Hyde. Entirely fermented in barrel, there's a touch of fumé character on the nose—struck flint and smoky oak, which adds a welcome complexity to the pink grapefruit and fig-like fruit aromas. Medium to full-bodied, it's gently silky in feel across the mid-palate, then clean, crisp and mouthwatering on the extended finish.
Sometimes light and crisp, other times rich and creamy, Bordeaux White Blends typically consist of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. Often, a small amount of Muscadelle or Sauvignon Gris is included for added intrigue. Popularized in Bordeaux, the blend is often mimicked throughout the New World. Somm Secret—Sauternes and Barsac are usually reserved for dessert, but they can be served before, during or after a meal. Try these sweet wines as an aperitif with jamón ibérico, oysters with a spicy mignonette or during dinner alongside hearty Alsatian sausage.
Known for elegant wines that combine power and finesse, Carneros is set in the rolling hills that straddle the southernmost parts of both Sonoma and Napa counties. The cooling winds from the abutting San Pablo Bay, combined with lots of midday California sunshine, create an ideal environment for producing wines with a perfect balance of crisp acidity and well-ripened fruit.
This cooler pocket of California lends itself to growing Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah. Carneros is an important source of sparkling wines made in the style of Champagne as well.