Arnot-Roberts Cabernet Sauvignon Montecillo Sonoma 2023

Arnot-Roberts is a cult project founded in 2001 by childhood friends Duncan Arnot Meyers and Nathan Lee Roberts. It is widely considered one of the most progressive and influential producers in the “New California” wine movement.

Based in Healdsburg, the two have built an incredible reputation by moving away from the heavy, high-alcohol styles once synonymous with the state. Instead, they focus on finding “marginal” cool-climate vineyard sites—often high-altitude or coastal—that allow them to produce wines with high acidity, lower alcohol, and profound transparency. Their approach is one of extreme restraint, utilizing native yeasts, whole-cluster fermentation, and neutral oak to ensure that the unique voice of the vineyard is never muffled by winemaking technique.

What makes Arnot-Roberts truly awesome is their adventurous spirit in championing “unsung” grape varieties alongside their world-class Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. They were among the first to bring widespread critical attention to California-grown Trousseau and Gamay, proving that the state’s terroir is far more diverse than the industry previously acknowledged. Their wines are celebrated by sommeliers and collectors alike for their “nervy” energy and crystalline purity.