Arnot Roberts 2021 California Red

The Wine

A red blend of Cabernet, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. 

The nose leans into the rustic elegance of California’s forgotten corners, featuring ripe black cherry, dusty herbs, and a whisper of sun-warmed chaparral. There’s a savory undertone here, like tomato leaf steeped in bramble, that feels quietly confident rather than showy.

The palate is taut, with crunchy pomegranate and red currant wrapped in a fine mesh of tannin. The fruit doesn’t shout, it hums - a welcome style for a Domestic red. There's a tactile element to it, unfussy but deliberate, with gentle structure nodding to Northern Rhône sensibilities more than New World bravado. An enticing flicker of smoked tea and graphite lingers through the finish, subtle but persistent.

This bottle speaks with clarity, not volume. It’s the kind of wine that rewards attention and defies expectation—a well-worn leather book whose pages still bring delight, time after time.

Cheese pairing ideas include and Aged Manchego, an earthy Tomme de Savoie, or an aged cheddar. Main courses of grilled lamb with a salt crust of garlic, Thyme and Rosemary (recipe here). Roasted red pepper and fresh goat cheese crostini. Or a very simple dish of prosciutto-wrapped figs. 

The Winery

Arnot-Roberts, founded in Healdsburg in 2001 by childhood friends Duncan Arnot Meyers and Nathan Lee Roberts, began life with one barrel of wine made in their basement.

Starting small and grownig slowly, they sourced grapes from some of the most remarkable vineyards in California! The two friends grew up together in the Napa Valley so they were immersed in the rhythm of agrarian life at an early age. Both families were deeply rooted in the community as chefs, coopers, teachers and attorneys in the small up-and-coming wine region that was Napa of the 1980s.

After college, Nathan joined his father as a cooper of oak wine barrels while Duncan began making wine for several renowned wineries in Napa and Sonoma counties.

Though their Napa roots might suggest they'd love the big, bold wines the area became known for, but the two friends went in the opposit direction. Today, their brand has become synonymous with distinctive, site-driven wines that highlight the nature of the unique terroirs in which the grapes are grown.

All their vineyard partners are passionate and conscientious growers, which is paramount to the fundamental goal of Arnot-Roberts: producing the most honest and expressive wines possible.