1998 Arietta Merlot Napa Valley

The 1998 Merlot (400 cases of 95% Merlot and 5% Syrah) makes it debut under the Arietta label. It is a tightly-knit, structured Merlot (remember the outstanding Merlots fashioned when John Kongsgaard was the winemaker at Newton?) revealing expressive aromas and flavors of jammy berry fruit intermixed with chocolate. Full-bodied and rich, yet backward, it requires 2-3 years of cellaring, and should keep for 15-18 years. Everything at Kongsgaard is sold via mailing list. Fax (707) 963-4512.