Arnot-Roberts – The Seasons Best Rosé

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It’s that time of the year that I get super excited, not just because it’s spring, and the flowers are blooming, but here in the northeast it is rosé season. So often when I buy wines, I end up cellaring them, not to be drunk for years to come. This was not the case when I got my newest shipment of my summer supply of Arnot-Roberts Rosé 2015. My excitement couldn’t be contained, and I did not wait for an occasion to have this wine, I popped open a bottle immediately on arrival.

Arnot-Roberts is a boutique wine producer, founded by two school friends, Duncan Arnot Meyers and Nathan Lee Roberts. Duncan and Nathan represent a new wave of avant-garde wine producers in the Napa region. They both share a deep passion for producing natural wines that distinctively represent the grape varietal, the landscape, and the individual sites. The two are committed to finding incredibly unique vineyards and plots from Mendocino in the north to Santa Cruz in the south. They mainly focus their efforts on sourcing single vineyard varietals like Syrahs, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noirs, and Chardonnay’s.

I discovered Arnot-Roberts Syrahs a few years ago, and they have become some of my most favorite wines. I especially enjoy their Syrahs from some amazingly distinctive vineyards like, Clary Ranch and Que Syrah. Having been mesmerized by their wines, I thought I would give their rosé a swirl this spring. I was especially intrigued when I discovered that the rosé they produced was made with Touriga Nacional, a rare grape varietal for the north west region of California. Touriga Nacional is typically grown in Portugal and is the primary grape used in making Port wines. The grapes for this rosé are grown on a parcel of land just north of Napa Valley in the Luchsinger Vineyards. The grapes are produced on a site that has an elevation of 1400 feet and is grown on volcanic soils with river rock stones. The wine was vinified with whole clusters, with 24 hours of skin contact and pressed in stainless steel tanks. This rosé is a perfect springtime Sunday brunch kind of wine. Think of picnics and summer foods when grabbing this bottle. It pairs wonderfully with tomato salads, grilled vegetables, light pastas, and seafood.

This is a rosé that makes you stand up and take note. Very Provence like in its style, this rosé has a delicate profile, wonderful acidity and low alcohol. The wine is fresh, lovely, and elegant. This rosé has a very inviting lovely pale salmon color. The aromas jump from the glass with notes of strawberries, melons, oranges and a subtle floral bouquet. The palate is full of racy acidity making this wine full of life and zest. I really enjoyed the long silky finish.

Only a 1000 cases produced, I highly recommend grabbing several bottles before it’s too late(Approx. $25 at local retailers).