2013 Arietta H Block Hudson Vineyard

A deep, powerful wine, the 2013 H Block hits the palate with serious depth and intensity. Sweet red berries, mint, crushed flowers, anise and rose petal open up gradually, but it is the tannin profile of the Franc that really stands out. There is a lot to like here, but readers need to be patient. Today, the 2013 is incredibly aromatic and precise, but the wine's pedigree is likely to take a few years to fully come through.

The 2013 H Block, Arietta's Cabernet Franc/Merlot blend, is striking. Creamy, resonant and rich in the glass, with vibrant underlying energy and structure, the 2013 is incredibly delicious. Black cherries, plums, mocha, spices and new leather are some of the many notes that build to a powerful, explosive finish laced with mint and graphite overtones.

The 2013 H Block Hudson Vineyards has arrived at a plateau of maturity. Worn-in leather, tobacco, spice, dried herbs and mocha are all nicely delineated. Readers who own the 2013 should be thinking about drinking it, as it certainly is not going to get better from this point.