| With silky textures and electric energy, Arnot-Roberts' iconic, limited-production wines are never available for long. Limited quantities; allocation rules may apply. | |
  |
View online |
| Arnot-Roberts |
| Return of the New California
vanguard |
 Nathan Lee Roberts & Duncan Arnot Meyers |
 |
As someone who
has the privilege to taste the benchmark wines of
Italy, France and California, there is no doubt in
my mind Arnot-Roberts is one of the world’s great
wineries. — Antonio Galloni, Vinous Arnot-Roberts represents a forward-thinking era of winemaking in the US and the scramble to secure them on release is testament to their quality and popularity. — Matthew Luczy, Decanter (July 2020) . . critics, sommeliers and collectors are falling over themselves to get at their minuscule production. — Noble Rot |
 |
| Duncan Arnot
Meyers and Nathan
Lee Roberts are making some of the most
exciting wines in California right now, though they
insist they simply make wines to please their own
palates. The wines are restrained and elegant –
impeccably balanced; fresh and alive with silky
textures and electric energy – a world apart from
the stereotypical overripe, over-oaked character of
Californian wines. |
Childhood buddies, Duncan and Nathan were raised on Napa’s sleepy east side. They formed a fast friendship after meeting on the first day of third grade, and their shared youth saw them exploring the Californian hills and backroads on bike – something they still do today, just with a focus on vineyards. California kids through and through, they share a deep love for the region. Perhaps this is what’s given them the incredible knack for tracking down exceptional vineyards in superb, albeit obscure, locations.
As with many other young winemakers, purchasing vineyards is simply not an option for the duo. That they work with predominantly purchased fruits only makes their consistent qualitative success even more mind-boggling. They work closely with passionate vineyard owners and viticultural consultants, and encourage their vineyard partners to farm organically, with as little impact on the environment as possible.
Arnot-Roberts started off as a passion project (and in many ways it still is), with just a single barrel in 2001. In the beginning, their intention was simply to make good Californian wine that pleased their own palate. When the exceptionally cool 2005 vintage yielded wines with a more austere profile, lean fruit and higher acids, Duncan and Nathan weren’t worried about critics’ reviews and ratings (which at the time skewed towards fruit-dense, heavily oaked Californian wines). They were thrilled – these were wines they loved to drink. From that point on, they focused their efforts on seeking out the best cool-climate sites they could find.
 Nathan and Duncan in the cellar |
The duo finds inspiration in bottles from the Old World: Jura’s Jacques Puffeney, Blaufränkisch from Austrian producer Moric, and Syrah benchmarks such as Cornas’ Thierry Allemand and Côte-Rôtie’s Domaine Jamet. The influence is evident, but they’re not trying to make copies of the Old World in California. “We believe California can deliver wines that have similar characteristics while having all of what California can offer,” says Duncan.
Arnot-Roberts produces a highly diverse range of cuvées – spanning different terroirs, and different varietals: a few barrels of Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs, Syrahs, Cabernets are released each vintage, along with less widely planted varieties such as Trousseau, Ribolla Gialla and Gamay. “We’ve never limited what this winery was going to be about,” Nathan says. “It’s a reflection of our own taste in wine, why wouldn’t I make wine from the varieties I love?” Trousseau grown on the Californian coast? No problem.
What’s impressive is that every wine is true to Arnot-Roberts’ mission to produce distinctive, site-driven wines – and every wine is exemplary.
 Nathan examining grapes from the harvest |
Duncan and Nathan place great emphasis on “nailing the pick”. i.e., the perfect moment for harvest, when ripeness, acidity and flavours intersect at their optimal points within a harmonious whole. In the cellar, they aren’t formulaic about the way they work, preferring instead to adapt the winemaking style to preserve their wines’ distinctive voices. Broadly speaking though, they keep the winemaking process as simple and low-intervention as possible.
While each wine gets its own vinification regime, the general technique includes indigenous yeast fermentations, little to no new oak, and whole-cluster inclusion for red wines. They are then aged in neutral wood for different lengths of time depending on grape varieties and vintage conditions. Fining and filtration are avoided, with very rare exceptions for certain whites. When new oak barrels are used, they are handmade by Nathan himself, whose father founded one of California’s only American-owned cooperages.
|
Rather than
emphasizing power, concentration and heavy fruit
flavors, the Arnot-Roberts wines are graceful and
relatively low in alcohol. — Eric Asimov, The New York Times Elegant, balanced single vineyard wines from one of California’s most exciting small wineries… — Jamie Goode |
|
Arnot-Roberts have shown that California wines can not only shine at the table, but also express the individuality of the sites from which they come. Their wines are fascinating to follow as they age and develop in complexity, from post-bottling youthfulness to the glories of a fully mature and harmonious bottle. We just doubt you’ll be able to wait that long – they are that alluring.
Twice a year, we receive an email from Nathan containing a tiny offer of the upcoming season’s allocation. These are highly sought-after wines; we don’t get much, as the wines are sold out almost all domestically and exported to just a few select countries. We’re extremely grateful that Singapore is one of the few privileged markets that gets a direct allocation alongside Japan, Canada and the UK.
 Arnot-Roberts’ iconic, instantly recognisable labels quicken the pulse of many a wine lover, and each time we receive new releases from them, it’s cause for celebration. The fact that these wines are just downright delicious belies their graceful nuances and perfumed, layered elegance – and they show yet again why they’re one of the standard-bearers for a new paradigm of California fine wine. With their limited production, intensifying acclaim, and ever-escalating demand, the wines from these New California icons are never available for long. |
This offer is valid until 28 June 2022. Some of the wines
have restrictive supplies, so please understand that we
may have to allocate them in order to ensure as equitable
a distribution as possible. Orders will be processed
subject to remaining availability and final written
confirmation. Full payment is required no later than 7
days after confirmation invoice is sent in order to
confirm the purchase. All terms and conditions apply.
| - OFFER VALID ONLY UNTIL
28 JUNE 2022 - PRICES ARE QUOTED NETT, no further discount - allocation rules may apply - ORDER CONFIRMATIONS MAY TAKE 1-2 WORKING DAYS TO PROCESS - SUBJECT TO FINAL WRITTEN CONFIRMATIOn |
|
California
is a hotbed of talent these days. Even so, I can't
think of too many producers who excel with so many
different varieties and wines as Duncan Arnot and
Nathan Roberts do. — Antonio Galloni, Vinous |
|
| Chardonnay |
 |
|||||
|
 |
|||||
|
 |
|||||
|
| Pinot
Noir |
 |
|||||
|
 |
|||||
|
| Syrah |
 |
|||||
|
 |
|||||
|
 |
|||||
|
| Cabernet Sauvignon |
 |
|||||
|
 |
|||||
|
 |
|||||
|
TERMS
& CONDITIONS
|
 100G Pasir Panjang Road #06-16/17 Interlocal Centre Singapore 118523 t +65 6838 0373 f +65 6836 0036 e sales@artisan-cellars.com w www.artisan-cellars.com |
  |