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| "These are some of the most distinctive, compelling wines being made in California today. I can't recommend them highly enough." Antonio Galloni, Vinous |
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| “The focus of this two-man operation is small-lot, single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Chardonnay, as well as a few other varieties uncommon in northern Californian vineyards. Sites are carefully chosen and are generally on the cooler end of the spectrum for the planted varieties. Collaboration with dedicated and passionate growers is paramount in the farming of these sites; Duncan and Nathan grew up around winemaking in the Napa Valley. Nathan is a second-generation cooper and personally builds all French oak barrels that are utilized in the ageing of all Arnot-Roberts wines ....
Total production of Arnot-Roberts is only around 2,000 cases per year with 13 individual wines. Both primary and secondary fermentations are carried out utilizing native yeasts. For the Syrahs, whole clusters are retained during primary fermentation before being basket-pressed to French oak barrels. For the Cabernets, hillside sites of intense character are chosen, small amounts of whole clusters are retained during primary fermentation, and the wines are aged for two years in varying amounts of new French oak cooperage, selected and toasted to meld with the vintage at hand. White wines are whole cluster pressed and stainless steel fermented with native yeast, then aged in neutral French oak barrels.”
Beaune Imports |
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“Duncan Arnot Meyers and Nathan Roberts were in high spirits on the day I saw them, as the San Francisco Chronicle had just named them Winemakers of the Year - well-deserved recognition for this talented duo who have known each other since childhood. As for the wines, well, they were pretty special, as I hope my notes make clear."
Antonio Galloni, Vinous |
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75% Touriga Nacional, 9% Tinta Cão, 9% Tinta Amarela (aka Trincadeira), 7% Grenache Noir; from Luchsinger, St. Amant, Pierce Ranch, and St. Jorge Vineyards
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‣ "We began making Rosé from Touriga Nacional in 2010. We were compelled by the grape’s deep color, brilliant acidity, and aromatic complexity - even at low sugar content. Touriga is a late-ripening Portuguese variety that needs some heat to mature, and we have sought out vineyards suited to this hearty variety. The original fruit source came from the rocky volcanic soils of the Luchsinger vineyard, located at 1400ft in the Clear Lake AVA. In 2015, we added Touriga from St. Amant, planted in sandy granitic loam at the base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in Amador County. In 2021 we discovered Touriga at St. Jorge vineyard in Lodi’s Mokelumne River AVA, planted in granitic alluvial soils amidst steady delta breezes. We also utilized the intriguing Tinta Cão from this site, and in 2022 we added Trincadeira as well. In 2021 we began working with Touriga from the Pierce Ranch, situated in the remote San Antonio Valley of southern Monterey County, marked by sandy clay soils with white diatomaceous rock known as Monterey Shale. Additionally, we were able to source a small block of Grenache from the incredible Fenaughty vineyard situated at 2,800ft elevation in the Sierra Foothills above Placerville. The fruit from all of these vineyard sites is hand-harvested, then lightly crushed by foot to release some color prior to pressing. The juice is fermented with native yeasts and full native malolactic in all stainless steel tanks, then blended together to harmonize prior to bottling in early January .... Vibrant coral and rose quartz color with bright aromas of melon, citrus, and dried herbs with ample orchard fruit and mineral salinity." Arnot-Roberts |
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Planted to the Sauvignon Blanc clone known as 'Clone 1 Yquem,' or 'FPS [Foundation Plant Services] 01;' this Sauvignon Blanc plant material was brought to California and later propagated by then-CEO of the Board of State Viticultural Commissioners Charles Wetmore, who acquired the cuttings from the Marquis Amédée de Lur Saluces at Château d’Yquem in 1884
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‣ "The gnarled, old Sauvignon Blanc vines at the Randle Hill Vineyard were planted in 1982 in the Yorkville Highlands of Mendocino County. This rugged and remote site is farmed organically on a steep hillside of eroding shale, situated at 1,100ft elevation, where it enjoys warm days and cool nights. We love the mineral-driven Sauvignon Blancs of France’s Loire Valley and have long hoped we would find a site here in California that could grow Sauvignon Blanc that leaned in that direction. We knew that vine age, clone, elevation, soil, and farming all had to be right for us to achieve that expression and this vineyard met all the criteria. The resulting wine exhibits mineral and saline flavors balanced with a hint of herbaceous and floral aromatics .... The grapes were direct pressed and fermented in a stainless steel tank using all native yeasts. Aged for 10 months in a combination of neutral, French oak (75%) and stainless steel (25%). The resulting wine exhibits mineral and saline flavors balanced with a hint of herbaceous and floral aromatics. 10 barrels produced." Arnot-Roberts |
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An assemblage of Rancho Arroyo Grande, Baker Lane, Solas, and Clary Ranch Vineyards
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‣ "Our 2022 Syrah is a gorgeous example of the variety, coming from some of the best Syrah vineyards in California. The backbone for the wine is the Rancho Arroyo Grande vineyard in the San Luis Obispo Coast appellation, making up just over half the blend. This cool and windy site is located about 7 miles from the ocean, yielding beautiful spicy fruit. The rest of the blend is composed of Syrah from our Sonoma Coast sites: Baker Lane, Solas Vineyard and Clary Ranch. All of the vineyards were harvested at perfect maturity and fermented whole cluster with native yeasts, before blending and aging in neutral oak barrels, along with 30% aging in concrete tank and 10% in French oak foudre. The final blend is deeply aromatic and saturated in color and flavor. This Syrah is supple and delicious allowing it to drink well in its youth." Arnot-Roberts |
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Clone 4 Chardonnay planted at 400ft elevation (Clone 4 is Côte d'Or plant material provided by the Fetzmann family of Louis Latour); 'Fagan series' calcareous clay over limestone
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‣ "Watson Ranch Vineyard is perched on a steep hillside overlooking the San Pablo Bay at the southernmost end of the Napa Valley. The ranch was named after early Napa attorney, Augustus Watson, who owned the property in the early 1900s. The adjacent property is an abandoned limestone quarry which historically employed over 300 people, mining material to make Portland cement used to rebuild San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake. Exposed and unprotected from the elements, this wind-whipped site was planted in 1993 by the talented Napa Valley veteran grower Salvador Ramos. Soils at Watson Ranch are composed of calcareous clay over limestone. This [Burgundian] soil type is extremely rare on the North Coast but shows itself in a narrow fin at the tail end of the Vaca Mountains in Southern Napa County. This fractured, well-drained calcareous soil, coupled with organic farming and cool, windy conditions, imbue this parcel with great potential to produce world-class Chardonnay. The fruit we harvest each year from Watson is consistently textural and vibrant with underpinnings of ample natural acidity and salinity." Arnot-Roberts |
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Syrah Clone 470 planted at 300ft elevation in Steinbeck series and sedimentary clay loam soils
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‣ "Clary Ranch is a stunning hillside planting in the heart of the Petaluma Gap near Tomales Bay. Paul Clary took a big risk in 2000 when he planted Pinot Noir and Syrah in this extremely cold and windy site. The ranch is now owned and tended by Drew Beuchley and the same crew that has worked these vines since they were planted. The Coast Range Mountains in northern California run parallel to the coastline but take a sudden dip and nearly disappear around Bodega Bay in Sonoma County. It is at this point that cool air over the Pacific Ocean is drawn inland via convective forces through the Petaluma Gap, moderating the climate in this section of the Sonoma Coast. Our coldest vineyard for Syrah .... The protracted growing season paired with the sedimentary clay-loam soils slow the ripening and allow us to farm without irrigation resulting in fruit that is deeply pigmented and loaded with flavor. The resulting wines we have made exhibit soaring aromatics, expressive exotic spice notes, and high natural acidity that are hallmarks of this wind scraped vineyard." Arnot-Roberts |
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Krug Clone Cabernet Sauvignon planted in Katykat-Sanikara complex and mixed volcanic and sedimentary soils
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‣ "The Fellom Ranch Vineyard is planted on an exposed ridgetop at 2200ft elevation in the Santa Cruz Mountains. When the Fellom family purchased their ranch on the Montebello Ridge in 1929, it came with an established vineyard planted to Zinfandel. From 1980-1983, they replanted and expanded this austere site with Cabernet Sauvignon cuttings from the Charles Krug Winery in the Napa Valley. These old, cane-pruned vines struggle in the harsh environment and low-nutrient soils, generating thick skins and naturally low yields. The soil on the top of this mountain is a complex mosaic of Franciscan Chert, Sandy Loam, Clay, and Serpentine, imparting structure and flavors unique to this historic winemaking region. The cool nights and airflow from the Pacific Ocean just 16 miles away help to moderate ripening; extending the growing season and allowing these mature vines to produce balanced fruit with intense concentration and varietal purity. The resulting wines from Fellom Ranch are wildly aromatic and deeply concentrated with dark pigment and fruit, supported by the tannic structure needed for a long life in the cellar before reaching full maturity." Arnot-Roberts |
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