Arnot-Roberts Syrah, Sonoma County, California 2022

FROM ARNOT-ROBERTS:

THE WINE: This cuvée exemplifies cold-climate Syrah grown on the rugged Sonoma Coast and is one of our hallmark bottlings. A blend of four amazing sites grown on the coast: Clary Ranch, Que Syrah, Baker Lane and Solas vineyards. Syrah is well suited for life on the Sonoma Coast as the loose clusters and thick skins manage the cool, windy and often damp growing conditions well. The long slow growing season near the edge of the continent provides complete ripeness at low sugar levels, resulting in a wine of deep color that has intense fruit character loaded with an undercurrent of earth and spice. The vineyards are each harvested and fermented separately without destemming, then blended together for aging. This is the Syrah to enjoy in its youth while our single vineyard Syrahs mature in the cellar.

THE PRODUCER: Arnot-Roberts was founded in Healdsburg in 2001 by childhood friends Duncan Arnot Meyers and Nathan Lee Roberts. Beginning with one barrel of wine made in their basement, the winery started small and grew slowly by sourcing grapes from some of the most remarkable vineyards in California. Duncan and Nathan grew up together in the Napa Valley and from an early age were immersed in the rhythm of agrarian life surrounded by the vineyards and winemaking of the early 1980’s. Both of their families, while not directly involved in winemaking, were deeply rooted in the community as chefs, coopers, teachers and attorneys in what, at the time, was a small up and coming wine region. After college, the duo followed their passion into the wine industry with Nathan joining his father as a cooper of oak wine barrels and Duncan pursuing winemaking in several renowned wineries in Napa and Sonoma counties.

The focus of Arnot-Roberts is to produce distinctive, site-driven wines that highlight the nature of the unique terroirs in which the grapes are grown. The journey to this end has led Duncan and Nathan to seek out vineyards throughout Northern California and now includes 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.