95 pointsVinous

The 2021 Red Wine California is a new Bordeaux-based red wine that Duncan Arnot and Nathan Roberts made initially to take the place of the 2020 Cabernets that would have been released around this time but were compromised by smoke. The Red Wine was initially intended to be a fun project, but Arnot and Roberts may have stumbled into what is really a pretty serious red with real potential. The 2021 is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon (Massa, Bedrock and Gordenker), 20% Cabernet Franc (Persia) and 20% Merlot (Massa). A powerful, old-school wine, the 2021 is going to need a few years to shed some tannin. I loved it.

60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc

ORGANIC: PracticingVINEYARDThe Arnot Roberts Red wine is sourced from four vineyards. The Cabernet Sauvignon comes from Mass Vyd in Carmel Vly (26%), Bedrock Vyd in Sonoma (17%) and Gordenker in Moon Mtn. The Cabernet Franc comes from Persia Holdings Vyd in Chalk Hill (20%), and the Merlot is sourced from Masa Vyd (20%)

SOIL: A mix of clay loam, sandy cobble and volcanic soils.

VITICULTURE: Farmed using organic methods

VINIFICATION: The grapes were hand harvested, destemmed and fermented separately with native yeast in stainless steel and blended in November.

AGING: The wines were aged in a combination of neutral, French oak and concrete tank for 10 months