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Arietta

John Kongsgaard, who was responsible for the Newton wines through 1996, is the winemaker behind the Luna venture, in partnership with Mike Moone, ex-president of Beringer, and George Vare, who once owned the Henry Wine Group, a California wholesaler. Luna was envisioned as a source of Italianate wines, chief among them a barrel-fermented pinot grigio in the style of a Gravner or a Radikon, but I find the pinot grigio more Alsatian in style; nor is the winery's chewy, gamey merlot, from vineyards in Carneros and Yountville, a style commonly produced in Italy. That said, these are terrific, characterful wines worth seeking out. About 3,000 cases of sangiovese and 5,000 cases of pinot grigio are made; there is also a small quantity of reserve sangiovese and a "super-Tuscan" blend called Canto. Under his own label, Kongsgaard offers an extraordinary chardonnay, from a steep, north-facing hillside in the southeastern corner of Napa Valley, as well as a limited quantity of syrah. In partnership with Fritz Hatton of Christie's, Kongsgaard also makes a Cheval Blanc-like cabernet franc/cabernet sauvignon blend called Arietta (there is also a varietal merlot bottling under the Arietta label).

From Focus on California (May 2000) by Stephen Tanzer

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1998 Sangiovese Napa Valley

Color: Red

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