Arietta Arietta Quartet, USA, California, Napa Valley

A nose of dark fruits and spices, dark garnet in color. A medium to full bodied Bordeaux blend with blackberry, currants, some licorice and spices on finish, drink now. www.winelx.com

Terrific bordeaux blend - a little time has allowed a nice balance.

Color: Dark purplish red at the center, deep garnet at the edge. Nose: Interesting. A touch of volatility combines with some savory/spicy notes to deliver a worchestershire/balsamic/tomato sauce character, beneath which is glossy, polished dark fruit aromas of blackberry and plum, along with some alcohol. There's also some sweet spice and vanilla from the oak. An unusual nose, and one that feels like it's pulling in two directions at the same time. Mouthfeel: Full-bodied, viscous, and tannic. Palate: Huge concentration …

This was stellar. The 92 rating seem on point for me. One of the best Cali Bordeaux blends I have had. Delicious.

Lots of ripe dark fruits, spices and damp earth along with graphite and fresh mineral. Full and plush with a concentrated core. This finishes long, with dark jammy fruits echoing. (Drink 2012-2019)

Winery Tastings, Napa, May 2012; 5/17/2012-5/20/2012 (Coombsville, Howell Mountain, Moss Creek, Calistoga, Spring Mountain, Rutherford, Pritchard Hill) : (B+) Smooth and silky. A bit of tart fruit peeks through pretty big blue fruit. Nice leathery finish.

Old World vs. New World (Farpointe Cellar) : Loads of very sweet blueberry and raspberry fruit on the nose, along with small amounts of earth notes, and a little spice. Soft on the palate with loads of fruit. Here the earth and spice flavors are very subdued.

Dense and spooky. Smells of ripe plum, coffee bean, tobacco leaf, black cherries. Full body with well integrated tannins and solid acidity. Fresh with a bbit of roundness on the tongue.