2018 Arnot Roberts Trout Gulch Chardonnay

Years ago, I wrote this:

“It was the Spring of 2012 and I had just completed a mega-day of tasting the tiptop of Napa’s elite wineries, culminating in a disastrous drunken episode at Harlan.

“The next day, my friend and chauffeur – Kenny from Folk Machine – decided he needed to prove to me that real wine was being made in California. None of that billionaire-juice from Napa. The first stop when we headed out? Arnot-Roberts.”

Mauvais quart d’heure. Those were the days of professional embarrassment. But I digress.

I’m writing to you today because once again I have an allocation of Arnot Roberts Trout Gulch Chardonnay and wanted to get a pre-shelf offer out to you before it’s gone. The 2018 vintage is once again just a beautiful thing – vibrant aromas of pear, lime salt, agave, white flowers and quince engage a palate that is fresh, quite stony, and still clinging to a last hint of orchard fruits. There is zero fat and pure clarity. It’s probably one of the most amazing California Chardonnays I have ever had.

The vineyard sits in sandy loam soils about three miles from the Pacific Ocean near the town of Aptos (yes, this is also where Kenny of Folk Machine makes his Chardonnay). Having been there, this is a cool, densely fog-packed site of gnarly old vines. In some ways it looks like a fantasy-movie set – old woods, thick fog, steep slopes and completely quiet except for the ocean. A perfect spot to grow lean yet flavor-packed California Chardonnay.

We always sell out of this wine, so I wanted to get an offer out before that happens. This year we also got a pretty good discount on it as well. I’d say take advantage and enjoy!