Arnot Roberts - California Red Wine 2021

In 2021 Arnot-Roberts decided to make a wine inspired by old-school California Cabernet-based blends.They were fortunate to secure old vine Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot from the historic Massa Vineyard, perched 1300' above the Carmel Valley, the first planting in the AVA. They were also honored to work with Cabernet from the historic Bedrock vineyard, owned and farmed by Morgan Twain-Peterson in the heart of the Sonoma Valley. Cabernet also came from the Gordenker Vineyard, growing in the volcanic red clay loam of Sonoma Valley’s Moon Mountain District. The Cabernet Franc comes from Persia Vineyard, located in the volcanic cobble of the Chalk Hill AVA. 

All the sites were harvested and vinified separately. The fruit was destemmed and fermented using native yeasts, then blended and aged in 50% concrete tank and 50% neutral French oak barrels for 10 months. The resulting wine is 12.5% alcohol and is vibrantly aromatic, supported by punchy fruit and fresh acidity. They crafted this wine to pair well with food and be ready to drink upon release but also see that it has strong potential for positive development with some time in the bottle.

Blend: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, 20% Merlot

Arnot-Roberts was Founded in 2001 in Healdsburg, CA by childhood friends, Duncan Arnot Meyers and Nathan Lee Roberts. The focus of this two person operation is on small lot, single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Chardonnay, as well as several 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. Over the years Duncan has worked making wine in the Napa Valley in wineries like, Caymus, Groth, Acacia, Kongsgaard. Total production of Arnot-Roberts is around 2,000 cases per year with thirteen individual wines.

The 2021 Red Wine California is a new Bordeaux-style red wine that Duncan Arnot and Nathan Roberts made initially to take the place of the 2020 Cabernets that would have been released around this time but were compromised by smoke. The Red Wine was initially intended to be a fun project, but Arnot and Roberts may have stumbled into what is really a pretty serious red with real potential. The 2021 is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon (Massa, Bedrock and Gordenker), 20% Cabernet Franc (Persia) and 20% Merlot (Massa). A powerful, old-school wine, the 2021 is going to need a few years to shed some tannin. I loved it.- Antonio Galloni