Arietta, Napa Valley (California) “Quartet” 2023 ($90)

I love Arietta’s concept of making the connection between wine and music, but I wish the concept carried over more successfully into the execution. Of the producer’s three wines I’ve tasted recently, I would compare them musically to a pianist who performs a well-known score without hitting a wrong note while at the same time failing to provide spirit and interpretation. This red, about half Merlot and half Cabernet Sauvignon, with notes of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, is like that – still somewhat tight in structure with the savory components, especially bitters and dried herbs, competing with the fruit even after extended aeration.
89 Roger Morris