2013 ARIETTA "HUDSON VINEYARD"MERLOT From Antonio Galloni's Vinous, "The 2013 Merlot Hudson Vineyard emerges from the oldest vines in Lee Hudson's famous Carneros vineyard. Deep, rich and unctuous, yet impeccably balanced throughout, the 2013 is a real head-turner. Layers of fruit open up in a distinctive, Merlot endowed with real depth and personality. The 2013 is even better from bottle than it was from barrel. Once again, I was quite taken with Fritz Hatton's Arietta. The wines are made in small quantities and are available only in a few markets, but from a purely qualitative perspective, they are as good as anything being made in Napa Valley today. Sadly, rarely I hear any buzz about Arietta, and that is a shame, as the wines are gorgeous and distinctive. Winemaker Andy Erickson has done a terrific job with these new and upcoming releases." 96 Points