2015 Arnot-Roberts, Syrah, Sonoma Coast.
Joe Roberts and Duncan Meyers are making great authentic/terroir wines and the 2014 and 2015 releases have been nothing short of spectacular from Arnot-Roberts, and especially their Syrah offerings, like this 2015 Sonoma Coast Syrah, which is detailed, vivid, textured and northern Rhone in style. Everyone is terrified to say something along the lines of Syrah is finally taking it’s place at the top of the food chain, or the it’s time it took a turn in the spot light, because of the past curse of “The Next Big Thing” that has never happened in the American wine market place, even though Syrah is quietly very successful and is a great wine in California, in particular you should try Syrah from Alban, Pax/Windgap, Lucia by Pisoni, Lagier-Meredith, Samsara, Piedrasassi, Bedrock, Kongsgaard, Stolpman, Peay, Big Basin, Epoch, Booker, Cattleya, Rudius, Sheldon, Andrew Murray and Roar to name just a tiny few of stunning wines, along with this Arnot-Roberts that craft awesome Syrah, and in fact are great values and some of the State’s best very best wines! The truth is Syrah, at every price price point, comes out as good or way better than Cabernet or Pinot in quality and value terms, so it has always been hard to understand way the mainstream wine buyer doesn’t take it, Syrah, to heart or as seriously as it deserves! This latest Arnot-Roberts Sonoma Coast Syrah is a deep and spicy example with crushed violets, minty anise, creme de cassis, wild plum, kirsch, black olive, white pepper and blackberry leading the way with hints of bitter coco, saline, camphor/embers, crushed stones and light cedar notes. This pure and lively Syrah dances on the palate with vigor, racy acidity and good depth, complexity and length in a medium full bodied wine that has refined tannins, but richness and structure to age a decade or more. This is one of the more concentrated versions yet of this wine, a blend of cool climate Sonoma Coast sites, native ferments and partial whole cluster from a vintage that had tiny yields, this is a special and very limited artisan Syrah, drink over the next 5 to 10 years, very impressive stuff. This latest tasting with Arnot-Roberts was mind-blowing, along with this Syrah and their Trousseau which are always my favorites, Duncan poured what maybe the best Pinot Noir I’ve tasted all year, it turned out to be a 2012 Arnot-Roberts Coastlands Vineyard, Sonoma Coast, with grapes he got from Ross and Daniel Cobb, sadly there is none available, but it does show the remarkable talents of these guys, I seriously would easily give that wine 100 Points! Look for these killer wines, this 2015 Syrah is a thrilling wine and will get even better over the next year or so in bottle.
($40 Est.) 93 Points, grapelive