2012 Arnot-Roberts North Coast Syrah

Arnot-Roberts was founded in Healdsburg in 2001 when Duncan Arnot Meyers and Nathan Lee Roberts decided to make single vineyard wines in very small quantities. The men are childhood friends who grew up in Napa Valley. Before teaming up to make their own wine, Meyers worked as a winemaker and Roberts was a cooper. Arnot-Roberts sources grapes from Sonoma County, the Santa Cruz Mountains, the Sonoma Coast, Napa Valley and Clear Lake. They make Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and white blends. They are also known for having experimented with Trousseau, a red-wine grape that is native to the Jura region of France but rarely planted or used for winemaking in the U.S. Arnot-Roberts wines are in high demand but mainly available through their mailing list. Robert M. Parker Jr. has called Arnot-Roberts wines “impressively endowed (and) well-made…”

North Coast AVA includes California’s most prestigious sub-appellations and vineyards. The three million acre area includes vineyards in six counties north of San Francisco and nearly 50 sub-appellations. The Napa Valley and Sonoma County AVAs are just two of the renowned sub-appellations included in the North Coast designation, which also includes the AVAs Diamond Mountain District, Howell Mountain, Oakville, Stag’s Leap and Rutherford, which are all among the most acclaimed wine producing districts in California. The North Coast AVA designation is generally used for wines made by blending grapes grown in several counties or AVAs. The appellation includes part of the counties of Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Marin, Solano and Lake.

This grape is grown in milder climates and produces a medium-to full-bodied wine. It is also known as Shiraz, but should not be confused with Petit Sirah, which was developed by crossing Syrah with Peloursin.