2008 Arietta H Block Hudson Vineyard

The 2008 Red Wine H Block, 100% Cabernet Franc in this vintage, is fabulous. Firm, structured and powerful, the 2008 retains striking freshness and intensity. Sweet tobacco, menthol, licorice, spice and red cherry add attractive aromatic top notes. This is a superb showing.

(the only one of these wines that's 100% cabernet franc, owing to the high quality of the franc and to severe frost damage to the merlot in 2008): Deep, bright ruby-red. Vibrant but tight nose offers medicinal blackberry, black cherry, minerals and violet, along with a high-pitched minty note. Juicy and energetic, with excellent cut and precision to the dark fruit and chocolate flavors. A distinctly firm style of this wine: I miss the mid-palate pliancy and plumminess that's normally contributed by the merlot.

(this is 100% cabernet franc for the first time; normally this includes some merlot but winemaker Andy Erickson said this frost-affected fruit was picked much later and the decision was made not to use it): Bright red-ruby. Aromatic nose combines smoke, flint, spices and violet. Then tightly coiled and firm in the mouth, with lovely energy framing the flavors of cassis, blackberry, violet and spice. A solidly structured wine that finishes with building tannins. Should be long-lived. Still, I miss the mid-palate pliancy normally contributed by the merlot. Winemaker Erickson notes that there were no heat spikes in 2008 to compromise aromas.