2014 Arietta Quartet Red

The least expensive wine, the 2014 Proprietary Red Quartet, a blend of 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot, is a wonderfully juicy wine showing plenty of cherries, blackcurrants, spice, supple tannins and a whiff of oak in the background. The wine is round and borderline opulent, but elegant, complex and already offering charming and seductive drinking. The color is deep ruby, plum/purple. This is a quintessentially elegant wine that can be found in Northern California and certainly Fritz Hatton has done it. Drink it over the next 8-10 years.

The 2014 Quartet, Arietta's entry-level red, is delicate, perfumed and airy in style, with lovely precision and elegance throughout. The flavors are bright, precise and nicely nuanced. This mid-weight, refreshing wine is an excellent choice for drinking now and over the next few years.

The 2014 Red Blend Quartet is soft, approachable and absolutely delicious. Sweet red cherry fruit, leather and tobacco unfurl in the glass. Attractive floral overtones grace the finish. The 2014 has aged very well, surprisingly so for what is essentially the entry-level red in this range. What an absolute delight.