Arnot-Roberts
Watson Ranch Chardonnay
Napa Valley, California, USA
I am not the biggest fan of a lot of CA Chardonnays but, I have come to fully embrace Arnot-Roberts, this vintage & terrior.
This is not a wine you want well chilled...better just under room temperature. When well chilled, it loses too much of its beauty & sheer elegance. Shows more CA Chardonnay structure/backbone with big green apple. When it is cold it does pair better with the Lattebusche Piave Vecchio...a drier, harder cheese. When it warms, the best choice is the Jasper Hill Farms soft, full cream. white, Harbison.
After it has warmed & had about a half-hour of air, the nose is rounded, lush & ruby. Sweet & sour lemon, green & golden apple, overripe pineapple, guava, green melon, kiwi with skin, lime candy, caramel, gentle, white spice, just a glimmer of, herbaceousness, chalk, grey volcanics, melted, brown butter with yellow flowers/lilies, jasmine, spring flowers with mixed greens.
The body is rich, lush and full, a touch gluey with good viscosity. Sweet & sour lemon, green & golden apple, overripe pineapple, guava, green melon, kiwi with skin, tangerine, lime candy, honeysuckle, caramel, cream, gentle, white spice, just a glimmer of, herbaceousness, chalk, grey volcanics, limestone, melted, brown butter with yellow flowers/lilies, jasmine, spring flowers with mixed greens. The acidity is phat, round and really well done. The rich, well balanced, elegant, long finish is delicious, settling into persistent, delicate white spice.
Just misses 94.
Photos of; Arnot-Roberts vineyard, staff at harvest and Duncan Arnot Meyers (left) and Nathan Roberts in their vineyard in Forestville, where they have Trousseau planted.
I am not the biggest fan of a lot of CA Chardonnays but, I have come to fully embrace Arnot-Roberts, this vintage & terrior.
This is not a wine you want well chilled...better just under room temperature. When well chilled, it loses too much of its beauty & sheer elegance. Shows more CA Chardonnay structure/backbone with big green apple. When it is cold it does pair better with the Lattebusche Piave Vecchio...a drier, harder cheese. When it warms, the best choice is the Jasper Hill Farms soft, full cream. white, Harbison.
After it has warmed & had about a half-hour of air, the nose is rounded, lush & ruby. Sweet & sour lemon, green & golden apple, overripe pineapple, guava, green melon, kiwi with skin, lime candy, caramel, gentle, white spice, just a glimmer of, herbaceousness, chalk, grey volcanics, melted, brown butter with yellow flowers/lilies, jasmine, spring flowers with mixed greens.
The body is rich, lush and full, a touch gluey with good viscosity. Sweet & sour lemon, green & golden apple, overripe pineapple, guava, green melon, kiwi with skin, tangerine, lime candy, honeysuckle, caramel, cream, gentle, white spice, just a glimmer of, herbaceousness, chalk, grey volcanics, limestone, melted, brown butter with yellow flowers/lilies, jasmine, spring flowers with mixed greens. The acidity is phat, round and really well done. The rich, well balanced, elegant, long finish is delicious, settling into persistent, delicate white spice.
Just misses 94.
Photos of; Arnot-Roberts vineyard, staff at harvest and Duncan Arnot Meyers (left) and Nathan Roberts in their vineyard in Forestville, where they have Trousseau planted.
This bottling has continued to improve and is drinking beautifully right now. Still has that richness cut with clean acidity but also is showing a very pleasant oiliness.
This bottling has continued to improve and is drinking beautifully right now. Still has that richness cut with clean acidity but also is showing a very pleasant oiliness.
Feb 14th, 2020We have waited to find more of this beauty from Arnot-Roberts after our first bottle in Spring. Finally arrived, settled and tasting brilliantly.
The nose reveals more Burgundian than CA qualities. It’s softer and rounded. Sweet & sour lemons, lime not quite candy, green & golden apple, grapefruit with sugar, overripe pineapple, stone fruits, slight burnt caramel, creme brûlée, toffee, honey notes, waxiness, vanillin, mixed greens, slight fresh herbal presence, saline, delicate volcanic minerals, gentle woodiness, limestone with fruit blossoms, yellow lilies, jasmine and spring flowers.
The body is full, round and ruby lush. It a gentle and beautiful glide over the palate. It a nice cross of round burgundy and CA ripeness without the CA more rigid toughness. Sweet & sour lemons, lime candy, green & golden apple, grapefruit with sugar, overripe pineapple, just the right amount of cream & butter, stone fruits, salted caramel, creme brûlée, toffee, honey notes, butterscotch, waxiness, vanillin, slivered almonds, mixed greens, slight fresh herbal presence, saline, delicate volcanic minerals, powdery chalkiness, gentle woodiness, limestone with fruit blossoms, yellow lilies, jasmine and spring flowers. The round acidity is magnificent. The long, round, understated richness, perfect balance is delicious and persists nicely.
Photos of; Arnot-Roberts facilities, their Syrah vines and Owners-Winemakers-Duncan Arnot Meyers and Nathan Lee Roberts crafting their wines.
We have waited to find more of this beauty from Arnot-Roberts after our first bottle in Spring. Finally arrived, settled and tasting brilliantly.
The nose reveals more Burgundian than CA qualities. It’s softer and rounded. Sweet & sour lemons, lime not quite candy, green & golden apple, grapefruit with sugar, overripe pineapple, stone fruits, slight burnt caramel, creme brûlée, toffee, honey notes, waxiness, vanillin, mixed greens, slight fresh herbal presence, saline, delicate volcanic minerals, gentle woodiness, limestone with fruit blossoms, yellow lilies, jasmine and spring flowers.
The body is full, round and ruby lush. It a gentle and beautiful glide over the palate. It a nice cross of round burgundy and CA ripeness without the CA more rigid toughness. Sweet & sour lemons, lime candy, green & golden apple, grapefruit with sugar, overripe pineapple, just the right amount of cream & butter, stone fruits, salted caramel, creme brûlée, toffee, honey notes, butterscotch, waxiness, vanillin, slivered almonds, mixed greens, slight fresh herbal presence, saline, delicate volcanic minerals, powdery chalkiness, gentle woodiness, limestone with fruit blossoms, yellow lilies, jasmine and spring flowers. The round acidity is magnificent. The long, round, understated richness, perfect balance is delicious and persists nicely.
Photos of; Arnot-Roberts facilities, their Syrah vines and Owners-Winemakers-Duncan Arnot Meyers and Nathan Lee Roberts crafting their wines.
Green apple, green pear, green pineapple, key lime, green passion fruit, green pluot, salinity,
Green apple, green pear, green pineapple, key lime, green passion fruit, green pluot, salinity,
Sep 1st, 2019
From a 30 year old hillside vineyard at Southern most part of Napa Valley. This is a truly remarkable Chardonnay. It boasts verve and acidity but it is by no means, lean or 'steeley' in nature. The acidity and precision are not at the expense of the beautifully rich fruit, which carries the wine. The nose is full of orchard fruit, citrus blossoms , and every-so-light butterscotch. The palate is mineral driven with loads of pretty mandarin orange, lemon oil, and verbena. This is about as 'old world' as you will find a Chardonnay in California.
From a 30 year old hillside vineyard at Southern most part of Napa Valley. This is a truly remarkable Chardonnay. It boasts verve and acidity but it is by no means, lean or 'steeley' in nature. The acidity and precision are not at the expense of the beautifully rich fruit, which carries the wine. The nose is full of orchard fruit, citrus blossoms , and every-so-light butterscotch. The palate is mineral driven with loads of pretty mandarin orange, lemon oil, and verbena. This is about as 'old world' as you will find a Chardonnay in California.
1 person found it helpfulJul 13th, 2017Pear butter and green almond jelly. Very delicious..
Pear butter and green almond jelly. Very delicious..
May 16th, 2017
Citrusy, acid driven chard. Slightly rough—but in a way that contributes interest and complexity—texture.
Citrusy, acid driven chard. Slightly rough—but in a way that contributes interest and complexity—texture.
Nov 26th, 2017
A bit shy at first but opened up beautifully. Elegance and restraint.
A bit shy at first but opened up beautifully. Elegance and restraint.
Nov 22nd, 2021