Arietta Quartet 2018

Bordeaux Red Blends from Napa Valley, California

95 Wine
Enthusiast
93 Wilfred
Wong
92 Jeb
Dunnuck
91 James
Suckling
90 Robert
Parker

4.8 Fantastic (10)

2021 Vintage In Stock

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Product Details

Varietal

Bordeaux Red Blends

Region

Napa Valley, California

Producer

Arietta

Vintage

2018

Size

750ML

ABV

14.9%

Winemaker Notes

With all four of our Bordeaux varieties performing at virtuoso level, the 2018 Arietta Quartet is an ode to joy. The wine is almost flirtatious from the glass, with alluring aromatics and a deep but vivid color profile. Fresh raspberries, cocoa, and hazelnut are some of the first descriptors that come to mind when the wine is poured. As it opens, notes of baked blueberry pie, toasted almond, and s'mores on the campfire bring a smile. On the palate, the texture is tightly woven and smooth, even with the grand intensity of the fruit that penetrates the palate. This is a layered, serious offering, with a solid framework, a sound foundation, but with a soft, playful shape reminiscent of a Frank Gehry design. The defining feature of this blend is undoubtedly the purity and core strength of the fruit—red raspberry, wild strawberry, and preserved cherry. It is the power of this fruit that holds together the myriad layers of savory and spice—vanilla bean, nutmeg, sandalwood, flint, and juniper berries, just to name a few.

While this wine was exceedingly enjoyable directly from the bottle, without decanting, it will certainly benefit from aging in bottle, which will only heighten the intensity and help to meld together the many components that went into its formation.

Blend: 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Cabernet Franc, 24% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot

Professional Ratings

95 Wine Enthusiast
This blends 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot into a cohesive whole of complex structure and grace. Cedar, pencil shavings, iron and crushed rock provide a savory foundation complemented by lush richness in the form of dense blueberry, dark chocolate and nutmeg. Enjoy best from 2028–2035.
93 Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2018 Arietta Quartet, a Bordeaux-inspired red wine blend, is well-made and delicious. TASTING NOTES: This wine is concentrated yet stylish with aromas and flavors of generous black fruit and a hint of oak. Enjoy it with grilled beef. (Tasted: June 22, 2021, San Francisco, CA)
92 Jeb Dunnuck
Functioning as the second wine of this estate, the 2018 Red Blend Quartet checks in as 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc, and the remaining 1% Petit Verdot. Lots of red and black fruits, leafy herbs, spring flowers, and sandalwood notes emerge from the glass, and on the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied and has a supple, elegant, seamless texture as well as nicely integrated acidity and just a great finish. It’s undeniably delicious today yet should evolve gracefully for 10-15 years in cold cellars.
91 James Suckling
Blue fruit with some bark and ash undertones on the nose. It’s medium-to full-bodied with tight tannins and a medium finish. Shows leanness and firmness at the end. 51% cabernet sauvignon, 24% merlot, 24% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot. Drink or hold.
90 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Quartet offers up expressive scents of stewed plums, warm cassis, boysenberries and blackberry preserves with hints of sautéed herbs, spice cake and menthol. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a racy backbone and rounded tannins that support the baked berry flavors, finishing on a savory, dried herbs note.

Other Vintages

2020

92 James
Suckling
92 Robert
Parker

2019

92 Jeb
Dunnuck
92 James
Suckling
91 Robert
Parker

2016

95 Wine
Enthusiast
94 Wilfred
Wong
94 Robert
Parker
92 James
Suckling
92 Jeb
Dunnuck

2015

90 Robert
Parker

2012

93 Robert
Parker

2010

93 Robert
Parker

Arietta

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Arietta Winemaker Andy Erickson Winery Image

The Arietta project is owned and run by the Kongsgaard and Hatton families. John Kongsgaard, winemaker, is a fifth generation Napan, but the first in his family to make wine. Kongsgaard has grown grapes since 1975 and made wine professionally since 1979, notably for thirteen vintages at Newton and five at Luna, as well as looking after numerous clients as a viticultural and enological consultant. Since founding Arietta and Kongsgaard in 1996, he has limited wine production to that which he can make with his own hands. In 2000, Kongsgaard stopped all consulting activities, devoting himself solely to twenty-eight acres of vineyard and the resulting Arietta and Kongsgaard wines.

Fritz Hatton is the nation's foremost wine auctioneer. He worked for Christie's for most of the last two decades and was in charge of Christie's U.S. wine auctions from 1995 to 1998. In the spring of 2002, Hatton joined the prominent retailer, Zachy's, as auctioneer and consultant to Zachy's Auctions, Inc. He serves as principal auctioneer for the Napa Valley Wine Auction and conducts numerous other charity wine auctions across the U.S. Hatton is responsible for the sales and distribution of the Arietta and Kongsgaard wines and shares the marketing duties with Kongsgaard.

The partners came together through their love of music. Fritz is a serious amateur pianist and singer, and the Kongsgaards present a ten concert classical music series in Napa. Their friendship in music is reflected in the Arietta wine label: Beethoven's manuscript of the sublime Arietta movement of his last piano sonata, Opus 111.

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Napa Valley Red Wine

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Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.

Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.

SPRARQUAR18C_2018 Item# 704213