2010 Arietta Quartet Red
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Tasting notes
Full medium ruby. Musky, dusty scents of blackcurrant, blackberry, dark chocolate and mocha. Plush, sweet and open-knit; texturally, this wine appears to be at its peak right now. Wonderfully concentrated, pliant, mouthfilling, sweet wine with floral and mineral high notes to lift the dark berry flavors. Generous and sexy right now in a Pomerol way, thanks partly to its exotic Merlot notes of black raspberry and chocolate. This will last several more years but it's heavenly right now. Very plush and long on the aftertaste, with big, ripe, building but fully integrated tannins and an essential softness. (There was no H Block bottling in 2010 due to the late-season heat spikes, so much of that fruit, particularly the Cabernet Franc, went into this wine.)
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Arietta's 2010 Quartet is in a perfect spot for drinking now, as the first signs of early tertiary aromatics have begun to develop. Mocha, plum, black cherry and smoke add shades of complexity. This is an especially soft, feminine red in a vintage in which so many wines are so powerful. In 2010, Arietta did not make an H Block because the late season heat spike burned much of the fruit. What could be saved, including a good bit of Cabernet Franc, went into the Quartet.
The 2010 Quartet is composed of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Floral, blueberry, black raspberry, and mountain fruit-like aromas jump from the glass of this dense purple-colored 2010. Juicy and full-bodied with impressive purity and breadth, it cuts a broad swath across the palate. This hedonistic and intellectual turn-on can be approached now, or cellared for another 15+ years. This wine’s dense purple color is followed by abundant aromas of creme de cassis, licorice, subtle smoke, and a truffle-infused earthiness. Tel. (707) 963-5918
(a blend of 50% cabernet sauvignon, 2% merlot, 19% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot; mostly from fruit grown in the cooler Coombsville area): Bright red with ruby highlights. Sexy, smoky aromas of brambly redcurrant, truffle, brown sugar and leather. Fat, thick, supple and sweet, but with harmonious acidity giving shape to this pliant blend. The tannins here are not as refined as those of the cabernet sauvignon, but the wine is nonetheless in a soft and very accessible style.