2011 Arietta H Block Hudson Vineyard
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Tasting notes
The 2011 Red Blend H Block, Arietta's Merlot/Cabernet Franc blend, is laced with sweet red cherry fruit, mint, spice, leather, cedar and tobacco. The 2011 is a bit lithe, but it has aged gracefully. It should drink well for at least another handful of years. There is lovely depth and density here.
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Arietta's 2011 Red Wine H Block is bright, focused and energetic, with beams of salinity that provide support. Sweet red cherry, blood orange, mint, pomegranate and star anise give the 2011 an intriguing, exotic character. The 2011 has enough acidity and structure to age gracefully for a number of years. This is another strong 2011 from Arietta.
Sweet red berries, tobacco, mint, licorice and a host of savory notes are woven throughout the 2011 H Block Hudson Vineyards, a Cabernet Franc/Merlot blend. The 2011 is soft and inviting, with a focus on nuance rather than size. My impression is that the 2011 is built for near-term drinking, but like all of Arietta's reds in this challenging vintage, the H Block stands out for its sense of balance.
The 2011 H Block Hudson Vineyards is an intriguing blend of 54% Merlot and 46% Cabernet Franc, a Cheval Blanc or Ausone-like composition. It possesses a blue/purple color, good fruit, a soft underbelly, ripe tannin, spice box from oak barrels, a moderate, medium-bodied texture and good length. It is slightly more downsized than one might expect, but it is very well-made. (RP)