2015 Arnot-Roberts, Pinot Noir, Clary Ranch, Sonoma Coast.
The six barrel cuvee of 2015 Clary Ranch Pinot by Arnot-Roberts is a beauty, sometimes we forget to talk about how good the Arnot-Roberts Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are, when there is their fabulous Syrah, Trousseau and the RPM Gamay Noir around, but this last tasting with Duncan Meyers and Nathan Roberts left me mind-blown with their haunting and gorgeous Pinots. The two new releases from the tiny 2015 vintage look set to be unicorn wines and classics, both this wine, the Clary Ranch Sonoma Coast and the Peter Martin Ray Vineyard old vine Santa Cruz Mountains are fantastic terroir expressions of Pinot Noir with layers you expect from Burgundy and with elegant finessed detail, especially since they are such young wines, they are wonderfully expressive and exceptionally pleasing. Duncan Meyers also poured a special library wine from Magnum, of course it’s not available sadly, but it truly left me dumbstruck, it was a 2012 Arnot-Roberts Coastlands Vineyard Pinot Noir, seriously one of the best California Pinot Noirs I’ve ever had! And these 2015 wines are not far off and should be almost as good with a few years in bottle, in particular the Peter Martin Ray, which is more intense and nervy, needs time to develop, though it was pretty spectacular already, and this more delicate Clary Ranch should gain as well with 2 to 5 years in bottle. The 2015 Clary Ranch Pinot by Arnot-Roberts starts with loam, mineral and rose petal on the nose with a impression of blue fruits, it’s hue glows bright ruby with a garnet core before a vibrant palate of tangy cherry, wild plum and dusty raspberry fruits along with hints of earthy spices, briar elements, blood orange tea, a hint of smoke and soft oak shadings. Where this wine shines is in it’s energy and it’s mouth feel, refined acidity and silky length of flavors. The native yeast fermentations and careful sorting gives ripe/richness, but with remarkably low natural alcohol at 12% making for a lively and fresh style of Pinot that lacks for nothing in complexity and depth, lingering with strawberry, cinnamon/anise, stones and floral notes. These Pinots by Arnot-Roberts are lovely artisan wines that have reached the next level, these are serious offerings to be cherished, wonderfully pure and transparent, showing a sense of place and reserved style, patience too will be rewarded, drink from 2020-2028.
($82 Est.) 94+ Points, grapelive