R Bl

9.0

Still nice fine tannins but somehow structure mostly gone - dark fruit bomb and leathery notes. Still good but is either past the sweet spot or waiting for late maturity — 10 hours ago

Will Stanley

9.4

Over my birthday at the beginning of July I had Covid, by far the worst consequence of which was losing my senses of smell and taste. I’ve heard some horror stories from people in the wine trade experiencing this and not fully recovering, which for the past two years has terrified me (I had avoided Covid until now). I’ve had Chablis and Bordeaux (in a restaurant) in the past week, both of which didn’t smell of much and had oddly metallic tastes. Other things I love - such as coffee - have started to taste and smell better in the past week, so I was anxious whether my enjoyment of wine might have been restored. I also felt that only at home, in a controlled and familiar environment, would I be able to fully attest one way or the other.

I’d been wanting to try Duncan Savage’s flagship red since buying a case of the 2018 over a year ago, a 100% Stellenbosch Syrah from one of the Cape’s most exciting winemakers that received glowing reviews from prominent South Africa critics Tim Atkin and Greg Sherwood. A quick note: no, after more than a fortnight, my sense of smell is still pretty poor, but this wine was v enjoyable nevertheless!

From the nose, I was still able to appreciate subtle aromas of fresh blueberry, lavender, bacon fat, ground pepper and warm earth; really textbook Syrah, an utterly intoxicating smell that whets one’s appetite for grilled meat.

The palate is complex, with saturated cranberry & blueberry, dense with high acidity at this youthful stage, and plucky but very fine tannins, and a lasting finish.

What this wine must really taste like, when one’s senses are firing at 100%, I can only imagine! Really, really impressive stuff. I’m delighted I have a case and can’t wait to try it again - maybe in a few weeks’ time 😅🤞 94+ — 2 years ago

Chris Urra

9.0

Coconut water! Cortese, not grenache gris! — 5 years ago

Steve Rura

9.2

Delicious Fall rosé. Fermented strawberry from summer’s past, funky, almond, herbal, apricot, slightly effervescent. Gibson Ranch has 110-year-old vines of Grenache Gris. With sheet pan chicken on roasted butternut squash, cranberries, red onion and kale. Precursor to Thanksgiving! — 7 months ago

Gunja Gargeshwari

9.1

Peat MONSTER! — 3 years ago

Elizabeth Spletzer

9.2

Maybe the pettiest white wine in the glass I've seen, hauntingly pale. It's got great acid, lots of tart peach, beautiful texture -- feels like it keeps changing long after a sip. I'd lodge where this Naomi lodges, if you catch my drift. #oldtestamentjoke — 4 years ago

Dennis Jarosch

9.2

Amazing Pinot Gris. Light and buttery, low on acidity. Touch of minerals as well. Love it! — 5 years ago

Brian Hearty

9.2

2022. Weather was really encouraging rosé on the patio, so we were happy to oblige! Loads of chunky sediment that was easily kept in the bottle (kind of). Delicious pink grapefruit, strawberry, watermelon. Mouthwatering acidity, but balanced with the fruit. — 7 months ago

leon egozi

9.4

@Matt Duncan - beautiful winery. Loved the wines- they did not have the 2018 to try! — 3 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

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. — 4 years ago