2019 Arietta Quartet Red Blend

The Arietta Philosophy & Background

Arietta Wines is a family-owned Napa Valley winery that produces a variety of red and white French-inspired blends, in addition to single vineyard Cabernets, Merlots.

Arietta, which means short aria, or art song, is an idea sewn into every aspect of the Arietta brand. The Hatton’s approach to wine is one where wines should “sing”, as a piece of music does. As such, each vintage presents elements that “take flight”, as their website notes, and have layered characteristics like finesse, depth, balance, brightness, and vibrancy – again, just like a piece of music.

Arietta Wine was created by Fritz Hatton, who was previously Christie’s Auction House’s Director of Wine Operations, his wife Caren Frutig Hatton, and legendary Napa Valley winemaker John Kongsgaard and his wife Maggy.

If you need a quick refresh on John Kongsgaard’s profound impact on Napa Valley wine, and Napa Valley Chardonnay in particular, it’s worth noting that John was a pioneer when it came to fermenting Chardonnay in wood barrels, rather than stainless steel tanks. The idea to use wood barrels occurred to him after a trip to France where he met with some of the country’s top producers. Needless to say, using oak barrels with Chardonnay completely changed the trajectory of Napa Chardonnay.

The Hatton’s have since bought out the Kongsgaard’s share of the business, and are now the sole proprietors.

Esteemed winemaker Andy Erickson is responsible for crafting the wines at Arietta. Even if you haven’t tried Arietta wines yet, you’ve likely enjoyed some of Andy’s wines. Prior to his stint at Arietta, he worked under Paul Hobbs, John Kongsgaard, and Michel Rolland. He has also served as a winemaker for Harlan Estate, Staglin Family Vineyards, and consulted for Screaming Eagle – phew!

To say that the team at Arietta knows a thing or two about good Napa Valley wine is an understatement!

The Arietta Quartet Vineyards

Arietta Quartet uses grapes sourced from three vineyards in Napa Valley. Like all Arietta vineyards, these grapes are grown in Napa’s cooler climates, so the fruit doesn’t ripen too quickly.

While Arietta doesn’t disclose exactly which vineyards all of its grapes are sourced from, beyond a map, which reveals the appellations, they do mention that the Cabernet grapes come from the Two Belles Farm in Coombsville, which was planted in 2013 by viticulturist Mike Wolf.

The Two Belles Farm (Coombsville)

Coombsville is east of the Oak Knoll District, and south of Atlas Peak. The Two Belles Farm is a five acre plot planted to Clones 4 and 169 Cabernet Sauvignon; the vineyard itself sits in the northern part of Coombsville. The vineyard soil at Two Belles is a mix of alluvial gravels, clay, and volcanic ash. These grapes benefit from the slope’s southwestern features, which allow the fruit to receive late afternoon sun.

What are Bordeaux-style blends?

A “Bordeaux-style red blend” is a red wine created by combining Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and occasionally Carmenère and Malbec. Wine buyers will most often see this term used in California, Washington, and South American wine producing regions.

In a Bordeaux blend, each grape serves a specific purpose. Here’s a quick rundown of the grapes used in the Arietta blend.

Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot provide the backbone for Bordeaux-style blends. Merlot’s softer, rounder characteristics balance Cabernet Sauvignon’s tannins and acidity. Merlot also offers more obvious fruit notes to the blend, while Cabernet Sauvignon’s high tannins help these wines age well.

Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot are added in much, much smaller amounts – just 4% and 2% in the Arietta blend, but still have a distinct purpose. Cabernet Franc contributes additional fruit, and slightly herbaceous, earthy notes. Its lightness can also add an underlying crispness. Petit Verdot is a small, but necessary piece of the wine. Winemakers use Petit Verdot to add more color, a hint of spice, and just a touch more tannin.