Arietta 2018 On the White Keys Proprietary White Blend, Napa 95 Points

Winery Notes: “The Arietta White Wine “On the White Keys” is a blend of hillside Sauvignon Blanc and old vine Semillon. We ferment and age the White Keys for nine months in a combination of new and second-use oak and stainless steel barrels. 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.

Tasting Notes by winemaker Andy Erickson: “The sensationally good 2018 vintage in Northern California gave us a brilliant 2018 Arietta White Wine On The White Keys.   We continue to pursue our ideal of a white Bordeaux-styled blend with a bright and mouthwatering entry, and a grandly expansive finish.  The 2018 White Keys, a blend of 87% hillside Sauvignon Blanc from Sonoma Mountain and 13% old vine Semillon from the Hyde Vineyards in Napa/Carneros, takes us as close as ever to this ideal..”

Vinous 93 Points: “The 2018 On The White Keys is bright, precise and wonderfully nuanced. Orange peel, mint, apricot and light tropical notes all develop in the glass in this nuanced Sauvignon Blanc/Sémillon blend. The 2018 stands out for its tension – this is a wine built on precision and total class; it is one of the better vintages I can remember tasting.”

FMW 95 Points: “This is a beautiful blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Musque and Sémillon made by winemaker Andy Erickson. Inspired by Bordeaux, it shows high-toned aromas of Meyer lemon and lemongrass with a flinty undertone and juicy acidity. Layered, complex and textured, it is floral, earthy and balanced, a gorgeous expression of the grapes.”