Arietta 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

A fantastic Napa Cabernet from Arietta and former Screaming Eagle winemaker Andy Erickson. Limited. 97 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "The star of the show is the Arietta 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, a stunningly pure, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon that comes from two vineyards in the Coombsville appellation. Reminding me of a great vintage of Chateau Mouton Rothschild with its broad, expansive texture, this inky-hued beauty has tons of ripe black fruits, notes of leafy herbs, tobacco, and cedar pencil, ripe tannins, a stacked mid-palate, and one heck of a great finish. Hide bottles for 4-5 years if you can, and it will drink brilliantly over the following 15-20 years." 95 Points Vinous: "The Arietta 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is packed with inky black fruit, grilled herbs, licorice, incense and scorched earth. This potent, explosive Cabernet is super-impressive. Even with all its natural intensity, the 2021 remains quite refined. All this needs is time to soften." 94 Points James Suckling: "Textural and well-balanced with dark cherries, cassis, warm herbs, roasted meat, bay leaves and some baking aromas on the nose. Medium to full body with sinewy tannins. Compact and chewy at this stage with a juicy core of dark berries at the finish. 100% cabernet sauvignon. Try from 2026." Notes by Arietta winemaker Andy Erickson: "Always produced from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from the cooler southern end of Napa Valley, the Arietta wines are typically very expressive and varietally on point.  Given the strong character of the 2021 vintage, this is especially true. The wines are at once dark and bright:  there is a remarkable black-purple hue to the wine, and yet also a lively, complex perfume. Notes of black fruits, sandalwood, dark chocolate and thyme give the wine a multi-dimensional tone. On the palate, the wine is dense but accessible. Tannins are firm but not overly astringent. Nineteen months of age in two-thirds new French oak barrels has helped to give the wine polish, while preserving the structure and aromatic purity.  With a light decanting, it is absolutely enjoyable now, and will benefit from cellaring as well."