2016 Arietta Merlot Hudson Vineyard
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The 300-case 2016 Merlot is another winner. Medium to full-bodied, rounded, concentrated, and beautifully textured, it has wonderful notes of ripe black cherries, tobacco, and earth as well as a distinct gravelly minerality. It’s well worth seeking out and will deliver the goods for 10-15 years.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Arietta's 2016 Merlot Hudson Vineyards is just as impressive from bottle as it was from barrel. Powerful and savory, the Merlot packs a real punch. Black cherry, grilled herbs, graphite and menthol add character to this decidedly brooding wine. Far from an easygoing Merlot, the 2016 at Arietta is going to need a few years to come into its own, and will drink beautifully for many years beyond that.
The 2016 Merlot Hudson Vineyards is quite savory and laid back in this vintage, with the fruit more pushed in the background at this stage. Black cherry, blackberry jam, spice, licorice and bittersweet chocolate are some of the signatures. Reticent today, the 2016 is likely to require at least a few years to be at its best. Silky tannins and expressive aromatics add to the wine's considerable appeal. There is quite a bit of potential here, that much is evident.