Arietta On the White Keys White Blend California 2017

Arietta, an ultra-premium Napa winery specializing in limited production Bordeaux-style blends, is owned by wine specialist and auctioneer Fritz Hatton and his wife, Caren. One of America's most celebrated winemakers, Andy Erickson, crafts the Arietta wines from carefully chosen blocks in the cooler climates of Napa Valley. The Hatton's founded Arietta in 1996 in partnership with winemaker John Kongsgaard and his wife Maggy. The partnership was born of a shared passion for fine wine and classical music. Hand-crafted by winemaker, Andy Erickson, the Arietta "On the White Keys" is a blend of hillside Sauvignon Blanc and old vine Semillon. The brilliance and pungent vibrancy of the Sauvignon Blanc has been preserved by fermentation of a substantial portion of the Sauvignon Blanc in stainless steel barrels. The balance of the Sauvignon Blanc, as well as the Semillon, was fermented in new French oak barrels, an important factor in achieving length and making an age-worthy wine. The label incorporates the manuscript of the Arietta movement from Beethoven's last piano sonata, Opus 111. The key to the name "On the White Keys" is the melody of the Arietta theme, which is played in its entirety on the white keys of the piano.

"On the White Keys is crafted in tribute to our favorite white wines from Graves and Entre-Deux-Mers. Our goal is to produce a wine with great structure, depth, and ageability. The 2017 vintage is no exception. A blend of 89% Sauvignon Blanc and 11% Semillon, the wine presents a vivid spectrum of aromas and flavors, delivered in high definition. Candied citrus peel, flint, lemon grass and Thai basil are only a few of the descriptors that come to mind as the wine opens in the glass. This aromatic intensity is matched by the wine’s brilliant gold color. On the palate, the wine is nothing if not incredibly generous, fresh and energetic, having a near-electric quality. Flavors of bergamot, lemon curd, and vanilla bean are held together by an impressive lattice of phenolic strength and complex oak tannin and toast. These delicious white wines have proven to be ageworthy in the serious oeonophile’s cellar. However, this vintage is delicious right out of the gate." - winemaker notes from Any Erickson