Why so many wines in one go?
The importer of these wines offers large numbers of wines in one hit. They are often limited in availability with a short timeline to request wines. To give you the best opportunity to grab what you want we are offering them all at once.
Why an Expression of Interest?
Given the limited nature of these wines we often have to share them around. The expression of interest allows us to work hard for you to secure the number of bottles you desire of your chosen tipple.
**Pricing is best net for 1 bottle or 1 million**
How does it work?
Download the spreadsheet. Fill it out and email to [email protected]
or
Just email a list of what you’d like.
**If you have substitutes or specific requests please let us know when you email.**
As volumes are locked in we confirm secured allocations we can offer you.
We invoice for payment at that time.
ETA and Delivery
The majority of the wines will be arriving by refrigerated container end of February 2022.
Given the warmer weather at this time of the year, our heat policy will apply to all shipping.
Wine will be held at our climate-controlled storage facility with a backup power supply until such time as it is safe to ship.
Got any questions?
Call us on 1300 811 066 or Contact Us here.
I’ll be adding further info to the winery profiles over time.
…to let us know your thoughts!
The Wineries
Norton Ridge
Hirsch
Ramey
Matthiasson
Evening Land
Sandhi
Domaine de la Cote
Piedrasassi
Arnot-Roberts
Norton Ridge ☝︎ Index
The wines of Norton Ridge are a testament to their relationships with growers and vintners in Napa Valley and beyond. They are produced with a clear goal: to make straight-forward, food-friendly wines. This goal is attained through a process that begins in the vineyard, where select vineyards in the Sonoma and Napa counties provide high-quality grapes to create elegant, expressive wines. The winemaking style is one of little intervention. Wines are fermented and aged in neutral vessels to allow the fruit and varietal characteristics of the wines to shine through.
Where in the World is Norton Ridge?
Norton Ridge is located in Napa Valley, California.
WHITE
2020 Norton Ridge Chardonnay $42
RED
2019 Norton Ridge Pinot Noir $42
Hirsch ☝︎ Index
“The Hirsch family’s Sonoma Coast estate is undoubtedly one for the great vineyard sites in the United States.”
Antonio Galloni
“This was Pinot Noir of a kind I had never seen, and didn’t expect to see, in California. Nor in Burgundy, for that matter… My impression was of Pinot flavour at it’s most electrically alive…”
Hugh Johnson, The World of Fine Wine, Issue 48
Hirsch Vineyards is recognised as one of the finest Pinot Noir vineyards in the New World, described by the Wine Spectator as a “California grand cru”. Founded by David Hirsch in 1980, it is the oldest premium Pinot Noir planting on the True Sonoma Coast, providing fruit over the years to Williams Selyem, Littorai, Kistler and many others. In 2002, with a full understanding of his vineyard gained over nearly 20 vintages, Hirsch decided to build a winery and bottle the best parcels of fruit under his own label. There is huge complexity of soil and topography across the vineyard, with 67 individual blocks being picked and vinified separately each year. The process of farming to enable an early harvest has been honed over many vintages, ensuring terroir is never masked by ripeness, and delivering wines of refinement, grace and intensity of flavour without weight. Now fully biodynamic, winemaking has been decidedly hands-off from the outset, and the resulting Pinot Noir – more earthy, more savoury, and with a remarkable ability to age and develop in the cellar – are some of the most highly praised and sought after in the United States.
Where in the World is Hirsch?
Hirsch is located in the Sonoma, California.
WHITE
2020 Hirsch Estate Chardonnay $185
RED
2019 Hirsch Bohan Dillon Pinot Noir $127
Aromas of ripe strawberries with some pine needles and dried seaweed follow through to a medium body with fine, linear tannins that are racy and class. Subtle finish. Give it time to soften, but already so pretty. Drink after 2023. James Suckling 94 Points
2019 Hirsch San Andreas Fault Pinot Noir $167
Wonderful purity of fruit to this with ripe-strawberry, citrus and raspberry aromas that follow through to a medium to full body with very intense, powerful tannins that show strength and structure. Vibrant acidity. This needs time to soften. Blend of various vineyards on the site. Try after 2024. James Suckling 96 Points
2019 Hirsch East Ridge Pinot Noir $238
Aromas of ripe strawberries with blueberries, iron and cedar follow through to a tight and full body with firm, slightly chewy tannins and a fresh finish. Not giving much at the end of the palate. Spice, such as cloves, in the aftertaste. Give it time to open. Try after 2023 James Suckling 95 Points
2019 Hirsch West Ridge Pinot Noir $238
Very transparent and fresh aromas of sliced strawberries, lemons and pomegranate. Medium to full body with firm, linear tannins that run through the wine, giving it energy and form. It’s really long. I like the earth, lightly smoked meat and fruit at the end. Always sophisticated and fine. Drink in 2024, but already a beautiful bottle. James Suckling 97 Points
2019 Hirsch Raschen Ridge Pinot Noir $238
Lots of blue fruit and dried flowers with so much vivd raspberry character. It’s medium-to full-bodied with very firm tannins that are chewy and intense. Racy at the end. Needs a few years to open. Try after 2023. James Suckling 94 Points
2019 Hirsch Reserve Pinot Noir $238
Ripe and open with generous fruit character on the nose, suggesting plums and ripe strawberries. Some flowers, too. Full-bodied with round, ripe tannins and a chewy palate, yet it remains soft and very attractive. Give this two to four years to soften. Try after 2024. James Suckling 95 Points
2019 Hirsch Block 8 Pinot Noir $265
There’s real purity of fruit here with cherries, strawberries and roses on the nose. Some watermelon, too. Full-bodied with firm, racy tannins that are long and beautiful. The wine has so much length and beauty. Floral and subtle, yet driven, with pure fruit and balance. White pepper. Still reserved. Better in 2023 and after. James Suckling 96 Points
Ramey ☝︎ Index
“David Ramey is one of California’s best and most respected winemakers. In the early 1990s he was the winemaker at Dominus, and then at Rudd. But for over a decade he has run his own winery, sourcing fruit from outstanding vineyards. setting up his own label allowed him to return to his first love: making Chardonnay.” – Stephen Brook
After making wine at Château Pétrus, Dominus, Chalk Hill and Rudd Estate, David Ramey settled into his own brand in 1996 and focused on Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa and Chardonnay from Sonoma. The wines, as he says, are”bold, but in check.” They’re intense, vibrant and refined. Chardonnay has long been the apple of Ramey’s eye. He produces six: four vineyard designates plus appellation blends from the Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valley. The only one from Napa is the Hyde Vineyard Carneros, and it was Larry Hyde who sold David and Carla Ramey their first load of grapes for their new brand nearly 20 years ago. Ritchie and Woolsey Road vineyards are in Russian River Valley, Platt on the Sonoma Coast.
In late 2012, the Ramey’s bought Westside Farms in Russian River Valley, near the famous Rochioli Vineyard. It’s their first vineyard acquisition, and grapes from the 17ha of Chardonnay there will go into the bottle with the 2013 vintage. A new winery and tasting room are also planned. Ramey embraces Old-World winemaking techniques and applies them, plus a modern twist or two, to sunny Californian fruit.”Kids don’t get trained that way anymore,” he laments.
“It’s hard to know where to begin with these wines from David Ramey, as there are so many highlights, but one common theme is the quality of the entry-level wines. The appellation-level Chardonnays, Pinot, Syrah and Claret all deliver serious quality for the money. As always, the Chardonnays are made in a rich, Burgundian-leaning style that emphasises relatively long ageing in barrel by California standards. The reds all capture a highly attractive stylistic middle ground that offers plenty of New World, California fruit wedded to an Old World sense of structure.”
On tasting the 2018’s: “David Ramey is between releases for some of his bottlings, so I tasted fewer wines than I would have in most years. Ramey did send a few older vintages, which I have included in this report because the wines tend to age well. I especially admire the Chardonnays in this range, as they are so distinctive. Ramey is among the very few producers in California who favors longer aging of 20 months in barrel for his vineyard designates, an approach I personally think works very well with top sites. In recent years, Ramey has been joined by his children Claire and Alan, so the future looks pretty bright.”
Antonio Galloni
Where in the World is Ramey?
Matthiasson is located in the Napa Valley, California.
WHITE
2018 Ramey Russian River Valley Chardonnay $113
The 2018 Chardonnay (Russian River Valley) is another stellar wine in this range. It offers up an exotic mélange of apricot, matchstick, butter and spice, all in a juicy style that captures the essence of the Russian River Valley. The 2018 is quite forward, yet it has plenty of energy and persistence too. Antonio Galloni, Vinous 92 Points. WE 95 Points.
2018 Ramey Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay $199
The 2018 Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard is a powerful, almost bombastic wine. It has a ton of energy, but that energy seems to be going in a lot of different directions. Intensely mineral, stony and chalk notes dominate, while the fruit is very much in the background. Dried flowers, sage, mint and chalk linger on the intense, pointed finish. The 2018 needs at least a year or two in bottle. Antonio Galloni, Vinous 93 Points. WE 98 Points
2018 Ramey Wolseley Road Vineyard Chardonnay $199
The 2018 Chardonnay Woolsey Road Vineyard is a singular, distinctive wine from a top site in the Russian River Valley. It shows tremendous nuance and character to match its transparent personality. Chardonnays from this part of Sonoma are often more exuberant than this. The Woolsey Road is all class. Antonio Galloni, Vinous 94 Points. WE 95 Points.
RED
2015 Ramey Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley $181
78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 7% Malbec, 3% Petit Verdot
The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) is bright, punchy and super-expressive. Sweet red cherry, chalk, mint and floral notes give lovely brightness to play off the racy, beautifully layered fruit. David Ramey’s Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the best values readers will find in Napa Valley. Antonio Galloni, Vinous 91 Points. WE 93 Points.
2015 Ramey Annum Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley $278
80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc, 3% Malbec
The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Annum is soft, pliant and inviting, featuring plenty of bold fruit and plush, silky tannins that add to its considerable appeal. This is another racy, up-front Napa Valley wine from David Ramey. Antonio Galloni, Vinous 93 Points. WA 95 Points.
Matthiasson ☝︎ Index
In 2012, California had an effectively perfect year for grapes. The spring was dry, which meant few problems with mildew. The growing season was long and steady, without any erratic shifts in temperature or rainfall. No blasting heatwaves, no sudden cold spells, no flash-flood rains, no drought.
Steve Matthiasson, after holding his breath for months, allowed his mind to form around the potential hanging in every one of the dozens of vineyards he helped manage. This, he said to himself, could be the vintage of a decade.
And yet, as the clusters plumped on his clients’ vines, ripening in such a way that would allow the wines to elaborate essentially on their own – wines that would perfectly express the vineyard, the climate, the terroir – his clients one by one told him to hold, to wait, to let the grapes ripen to their physical limit. These clients with whom Steve consulted were some of the most prestigious names in American wine. And after two consecutive cold years, they wanted 2012 to be a return to some former glory. Bigger and badder than ever. 15+% alcohol wines from the best of Napa Valley.
He would have to settle for making his own wines, under the Matthiasson label, the way he wanted. Visions of over-ripeness would dominate his roster of clients.
That lost opportunity in 2012 will likely not be repeated on a large scale. Over the past four years, there have been seismic shifts in the expectations of consumers. Minerality and acidity, words the average wine drinker would have scratched her head at in 2010, are now so commonplace as to border cliché. That’s a huge win for the movement championed by Steve and Jill Klein Matthiasson.
Arnot-Roberts, Domaine de la Cote, Hirsch, Broc Cellars, Lioco, Scholium Project, Tyler Winery… The list goes on. Matthiasson is the touchstone among them all.
Where in the World is Matthiasson?
Matthiasson is located in the Napa Valley, California.
WHITE
2020 Matthiasson Napa Valley Linda Vista Chardonnay $89
RED
2018 Matthiasson Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon $167
2018 Matthiasson Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Phoenix Vineyard $250
Evening Land ☝︎ Index
Evening Land is the Oregon outpost of the premium winemaking duo of Rajat Parr and Sashi Moorman (of Domaine de la Cote and Sandhi).
The Willamette Valley in Oregon is often compared to Burgundy, for the challenging growing conditions, varietals planted, and the quality-minded smaller scale producers that have chosen to work here.
Evening Land is based around a special vineyard in Seven Springs in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA just north of Salem. The vineyard was established in 1984, and in 2007 Burgundian legend Dominique Lafon began an advisory role in the project. Just like in Burgundy terroir is key to this project – the different cuvées are all clearly defined despite coming from the same vineyard, and the soil and aspect of each parcel shines through.
Under the Salem Wine Co label they release exceptionally good value high-end wines, which are sourced from the Seven Springs vineyard and surround wine regions.
Where in the World is Evening Land?
Evening Land is based in Willamette Valley, Oregon.
WHITE
2020 Salem Wine Co Chardonnay $67
Sandhi ☝︎ Index
“Breathtakingly delicious and captivating…” – Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Made by Rajat Parr and Sashi Moorman out of the Domaine de la Cote winery in the Sta. Rita Hills. The Sandhi label allows an exploration of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vines throughout the Santa Barbara County terroirs. The Sta. Rita Hills wines benefit from fruit that doesn’t make the cut at Domaine de la Cote, while the single vineyard offerings highlight the uniqueness of a handful of other sites in the appellation. Generally, the Sandhi wines are made to be pretty approachable upon release. Among other considerations, the Pinots in this range are mostly done with destemmed fruit.
The individual vineyards from which these grapes originate–some legendary, some new–have been exhaustively vetted for character, personality, and balance. Employing the wisdom and talents of people who know the vineyards, Sandhi is dedicated to making wines of finesse, minerality, acidity, structure and balance. Wine achieves power and beauty through the seamless integration of these qualities, and this is the inspiration for Sandhi. Wines exhibiting extreme ripeness, alcohol, oak, and other discordant exaggerations cannot truly express a specific vineyards terroir.
Sashi Moorman and Rajat Parr make wines of distinction from a handful of top sites in the Sta. Rita Hills. The S&B Pinot Noir and Bentrock Chardonnay are especially of note in 2019. I also found much to like in the appellation wines. The under the radar gem here is unquestionably the Sta. Rita Hills Pinot, which is made from top-tier fruit. Only the Mt. Carmel Chardonnay is a question mark. As always, the wines are made with an emphasis on freshness and verve.
Antonio Galloni
Where in the World is Sandhi?
Sandhi is located in Santa Barbara, California.
WHITE
2019 Sandhi Central Coast Chardonnay $67
The 2019 Chardonnay (Central Coast) is bright, focused and nuanced, all of which make it a fine choice for drinking over the near and medium term. Lemon peel, tangerine oil, white pepper and mint are nicely delineated. This attractive, nuanced Chardonnay has a ton to offer in its peer group. Antonio Galloni, Vinous 89 Points
2019 Sandhi Santa Rita Hills Chardonnay $84
The 2019 Chardonnay (Sta. Rita Hills) is fabulous. Bright and sculpted in feel, the 2018 captures the more taut style of the appellation, with plenty of lime, lemon, green pear, minerals and white pepper overtones. Readers who appreciate taut Chardonnays will adore the 2019 from Sandhi. Vineyard sites are Domaine de la Côte, Sanford & Benedict, Patterson and Bentrock. Antonio Galloni, Vinous 92 Points
2019 Sandhi Sanford & Benedict Chardonnay $145
The 2019 Pinot Noir Sanford & Benedict is gracious and lifted. Sweet red berry fruit, crushed flowers, rose petal and mint open gently in the glass. There’s a good bit of stem influence here, and yet all the elements are so well balanced. This nuanced, understated Pinot from Sandhi is a winner. Antonio Galloni, Vinous 93 Points
RED
2020 Sandhi Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir $98
Domain de la Cote ☝︎ Index
“Breathtakingly delicious and captivating…”
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
“This new project from Sashi Moorman and Rajat Parr is, even in its first vintage, a hallmark of California’s achievements with this grape. Layer upon layer unfold: intense white-stone minerality, a subtle peppercorn-like spice, bergamot, wintergreen, plum and watermelon. Astonishing energy in this rare bottling.”
Jon Bonne, Top 100 Wines
“Sashi Moorman and Rajat Parr turned out a memorable set of Pinots at Domaine de la Côte. The just bottled 2020s are deep, lush and exquisitely layered. They show all of the concentration of the 2020 vintage and yet are so expressive of site. One of the recent developments here has been a move towards bottling the Pinots earlier, especially in vintages where the fruit is so intense. That certainly seems to have paid with the 2020s. Because of a change in timing of the estate’s release cycle I missed the 2019s, but will add them to the database as soon as I am able to taste the wines.”
Antonio Galloni
Domaine de la Côte has, in a very brief period, established itself as one of California’s top proponents of Pinot Noir. It is based on six vineyards – Pinot Noir only – on the western edge of the Santa Rita Hills. Planted at extremely high vine densities (one site is as high as 17,000 vines/ha), each vineyard has a unique geology, aspect, elevation, and microclimate. The complexity and diversity of these sites, even though they are in close proximity, is unique in California. From these vineyards the aim is to produce a distinct expression of terroir.
The Domaine farms its vineyards organically and makes its wines with the philosophy of ‘add nothing; take nothing away.’ Fruit is picked early before any overtly ripe character can mask the personality of each vineyard, and the resulting wines naturally have a good level of acidity and a moderate level of alcohol – in most cases around 12.5%. The wines, which really are quite special, embody the philosophy of owners Sashi Moorman and Rajat Parr, which centres around freshness, vitality and balance. In Jancis Robinson MW’s words, “these are wines that eschew the heavy-handed, overripe approach of so many Californian producers. They are beautifully elegant, always refreshing and effortlessly drinkable.”
In Raj and Sashi’s own words: “Domaine de la Côte is a collection of five vineyards in the far western reaches of the Sta. Rita Hills, seven miles from the Pacific Ocean. Here in Santa Barbara County, California, our vineyards negotiate a landscape narrated by faults and folds. In this moment of immense geologic upheaval, in a place remarkable for its rhythmic coalescence of wind, fog and sun, Domaine de la Côte presents a singular opportunity for engaging with Pinot Noir. We planted our vineyards in 2007, intent on comprehensively investigating the diversity of a south-facing hillside of marine sedimentary soils. To do so, we utilized California’s heritage selections of Pinot Noir, planted with extraordinary density, and today we farm in the service of posterity and ecological stewardship.When making wine we equally consult memory and intuition. We make use of the whole grape cluster – its berries and stems – and ferment without additives or temperature control. We raise our wine in barrels assembled by a single cooper. The winery is a simple and collaborative space in which we can compose wines with clarity, detail, and, above all, authenticity.”
Where in the World is Domaine de la Cote?
Domaine de la Cote is located in Santa Barbara, California.
RED
2020 Domaine de la Cote Estate Pinot Noir $146
The 2020 Pinot Noir (Sta. Rita Hills) is a gorgeous introduction to this range. All of the house signatures are present, but in miniature, as readers might expect. Aromatic and light on its feet, the Sta. Rita Hills has enough energy and drive to drink well for a number of years. The only real issue here is that the other Pinots in the range are even more alluring! Antonio Galloni, Vinous 92 Points
2020 Domaine de la Cote Bloom’s Field Pinot Noir $225
The 2020 Pinot Noir Bloom’s Field is a powerful, structured wine. Veins of tannin lend energy to this deceptively mid-weight Pinot. Readers will have to be patient with the 2020, as it is pretty tightly wound at this stage. The purity here is just striking. What a wine! Antonio Galloni, Vinous 97 Points
2020 Domaine de la Cote Memorious Pinot Noir $225
The 2020 Pinot Noir Memorious is sublime. Rose petal, lavender, sage, mint, macerated cherry and blood orange give the 2020 captivating aromatic presence. Light and gracious in feel, yet also expansive on the palate, the 2020 is a Pinot of simply mesmerizing beauty. The whole clusters are evident and yet not at all intrusive. Antonio Galloni, Vinous 95 Points
2020 Domaine de la Cote La Cote Pinot Noir $278
The 2020 Pinot Noir La Côte is a wine of tremendous density and power. Red cherry/plum fruit, crushed rocks, herbs and rose petal fill out the layers, but La Côte mostly stands out for its huge core of fruit. Here, too, readers will have to be extremely patient. La Côte is a Pinot of real substance. In some vintages, it has been a bit on the excessively savory side, but Sashi Moorman and Rajat Parr nailed the balance in 2020. Antonio Galloni, Vinous 93 Points
Piedrasassi ☝︎ Index
“The common thread among all the wines we love and admire is that there are both a mind and a place behind them. Wine, just like food, or music, or art, should have a certain kind of authenticity–it should come from someone and somewhere. This idea is what informs the work that we do. We try to make honest wines that we believe in. We hope you like them.” – Sashi Moorman, Piedrasassi
Piedrassi was founded in 2003 by husband and wife team, Sashi and Melissa Moorman, when they began making small amounts of wine in Lompoc, CA. The focus of their wine program is producing cool climate Syrah and working with top-quality sites in Santa Barbara County, incluing Ballard Canyon in the east to the Santa Rita Hills, Arroyo Grande in the west and several in between.
In the vineyard, the team at Piedrasassi picks a bit earlier than their colleagues to keep the alcohol levels in balance with flavor and to preserve the natural acidity of the fruit. In the winery, Moorman employs some whole cluster inclusion, indigenous yeast fermentation, and no sulfur added at fermentation, remaining as natural as possible without compromising the integrity of the wine. Elevage is in 500L barrels to limit the wine’s exposure to oxygen and to minimize the influence of oak. They add the smallest amount of sulfur to the wine at bottling; allowing the aromatics to stay expressive while still protecting the wine during cellaring. The result, in all of these bottlings, is Syrah that shows off the different sites through aromas that bloom and evolve in the glass and tannins that grip and engage the palate.
Sashi Moorman’s Piedrasassi label focus on Syrah. The wines are deep, savory and quite distinctive. In recent years, the use of whole clusters has come down, but that has not materially changed the wines’ personalities, or their tremendous appeal.
Antonio Galloni
Where in the World is Piedrasassi?
Piedrassi is located in Lompoc, California.
REDS
2019 Piedrasassi Santa Barbara County Syrah $70
The 2019 Syrah (Santa Barbara County) is a bright, bold and super-expressive wine. Dazzling floral and spice accents lift a core of red-toned fruit in a vibrant, nuanced Syrah that screams with character. Most of this fruit is from John Sebastiano, one of the top sites in the Sta. Rita Hills. The County Syrah is a total knock-out, and a terrific value too. Antonio Galloni, Vinous 92 Points
2018 Piedrasassi Bien Nacido Syrah $133
The 2018 Syrah Bien Nacido is a dark, beguiling beauty. Purplish/black fruit, spice, lavender, licorice and black pepper give the Bien Nacido a distinctly sepia-toned profile. Time in the glass brings out striking Syrah aromatics, but the 2018 remains a brooding, muscular wine with tons of depth and potent tannins that need time to soften. Antonio Galloni, Vinous 95 Points
2018 Piedrasassi Rim Rock Syrah $133
The 2019 Syrah Rim Rock Vineyard is compelling, as this wine so often is. Bright acids and a touch of whole cluster savoriness lend energy to this decidedly taut, nervy coastal Syrah. Blood orange, exotic spice, lavender, black pepper and grilled herbs build into the long, articulate finish. Antonio Galloni, Vinous 94 Points
Arnot-Roberts ☝︎ Index
Arnot-Robert was founded by childhood friends Arnot Meyers and Nathan Lee Roberts. The pair grew up together in the Napa Valley, and were exposed to vineyards and winemaking from a young age. However, it was after completing university that the duo took the plunge and followed their passion into the wine undsutry – Nathan joing his father as a cooper and Duncan pursuing winemaking as several nenowned wineries in Napa and Sonoma.
Their shared venture came to life in 2001, where it all started with a barrel of wine they made in their basement. The winery started small, growing slowly as they sourced grapes from some of the most remarkable vineyards in California. The focus at Arnot-Roberts is to produce distinctive, site-driven wines that highlight the unique terroirs they work with, including incredible sites in Napa Valley, Sonoma Coast, Santa Cruz Mountains, Santa Rita Hills, Clearlake and Sierra Foothills.
Single-vineyard wines are the core of the production as well as a few appellation bottlings that clearly speak of their individual upbringings. Some of the vineyards are old and dry-farmed, some are newer plantings but all are farmed and cared for by passionate and conscientious growers, which is paramount to the fundamental goal of Arnot-Roberts: producing the most honest and expressive wines possible.
There are a lot of highlights in this range from Duncan Arnot and Nathan Roberts. The 2019 Cabernets in particular are off the charts. The California Syrah, which includes a fair amount of Santa Barbara fruit, is also terrific. Readers will get a good idea of the variability of the 2020s with the rest of the wines, some of which are outstanding (especially some of the whites), and others where the challenges of the growing season were just too great to make wines of the level Arnot-Roberts fans have become accustomed to.
Antonio Galloni
Where in the World is Arnot-Roberts?
Arnot-Roberts is located in the Sonoma, California, but work with vineyards across the state. The maps below indicate which vineyards they are currently working with and where to find them.
WHITES
2020 Arnot-Roberts Luchsinger Vineyard Trousseau $84
The 2020 Trousseau Luchsinger Vineyard is a bit too faded for my taste. The advanced color, even within the context of Trousseau, and an evolved flavor marked by dried-out fruit, brown spice, orange peel and worn-in leather are all signatures of a wine that is unnaturally advanced. Antonio Galloni, Vinous 87 Points
2020 Arnot-Roberts Watson Ranch Napa Valley Chardonnay $108
The 2020 Chardonnay Watson Ranch is light and lacking in both flavor development and depth. With fires advancing, this fruit was brought in five days earlier than normal. The 2020 was also bottled about six months earlier than is typical here. It will be interesting to see if time in bottle helps the 2020 come together a bit more. Today, it is decidedly awkward. Antonio Galloni, Vinous 86 Points
2020 Arnot-Roberts Trout Gulch Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountain Chardonnay $146
2020 Arnot-Roberts Sanford & Benedict Vineyard Sta Rita Hills Chardonnay $173
The 2020 Chardonnay Sanford & Benedict captures all the magic of this iconic Sta. Rita Hills site. Ample, creamy and inviting, the 2020 is beautifully textured from start to finish. Apricot, lemon confit, white flowers, mint and marzipan build as the 2020 opens with a bit of air. Arnot-Roberts pulls fruit from the old-vine section of S&B, which was planted in 1971 with own-rooted vines. Antonio Galloni, Vinous 95 Points
REDS
2020 Arnot-Roberts Peter Martin Ray Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir $199
2020 Arnot-Roberts Heaven and Earth Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir $173
The 2020 Pinot Noir Heaven and Earth Vineyard is bright, floral and intensely savory. There is good energy and drive here, but it is hard to get past the angular contours and edginess here. This is an especially savory style. Red fruit, orange peel, sage and mint linger. Antonio Galloni, Vinous 90 Points
2020 Arnot-Roberts Manchester Ridge Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Pinot Noir $146
2019 Arnot-Roberts Vare Vineyard Ribolla Gialla $120
The 2019 Ribolla Gialla Vare is fabulous. Rich, ample and layered, the 2019 possesses tremendous depth and textural resonance. All of the phenolic intensity of Ribolla comes through loud and clear. Dried pear, chamomile, spice and almond are some of the many aromas and flavors that build in the glass. The 2019 is fabulous. In fact, the 2019 is the finest vintage of the Arnot-Roberts Ribolla I have tasted. Antonio Galloni, Vinous 95 Points
2019 Arnot-Roberts Clary Ranch Sonoma Coast Syrah $173
The 2019 Syrah Clary Ranch is a powerful, driving wine that is going to need time to be at its very best. Red-toned fruit, rose petal, spice, lavender and blood orange are some of the signatures. The Clary Ranch is among the wines in this lineup that is marked by the decision to pick 7-10 days earlier than originally planned because of approaching fires. That turned out to be a smart decision, because waiting just a few days would have resulted in a total loss. The 2019 will require time in bottle to soften, which it did start to do with few hours of aeration. Antonio Galloni, Vinous 93+ Points
2019 Arnot-Roberts Que Vineyard Sonoma Coast Syrah $199
The 2019 Syrah Que Syrah Vineyard, from Nathan Roberts’ home ranch, is bold, powerful and explosive. Inky dark blue/purplish fruit, lavender, spice, menthol and gravel wrap together in a deep, potent Syrah that is going to need time to unwind. There is a lot to the 2019, but readers have to be patient. There is so much personality and character here. Antonio Galloni, Vinous 94+ Points
2018 Arnot-Roberts Montecillo Vineyard Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon $252
The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Montecillo Vineyard is a headspinning wine. Rich, dense and explosive, the 2019 captures all the pedigree of this great site. Readers will find a towering, statuesque Cabernet of the highest level. Graphite, leather, dried herbs, menthol and licorice play off a core of intense, dark fruit. Potent, muscular tannins need time to soften, but, wow, what a wine. Best of all, the Montecillo is one of the most insane values readers will find in elite California Cabernet Sauvignon. I would be thrilled to own it. Antonio Galloni, Vinous 98 Points
2018 Arnot-Roberts Fellom Ranch Santa Cruz Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon $278
Antonio Galloni, Vinous 93 Points
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