2023 Syrah Clary Ranch

These new and upcoming releases from Duncan Arnot and Nathan Roberts are very illuminating with regard to variety, site and vintage. Arnot and Roberts work with cool-climate sites, some of which were very challenged by the cold conditions of the growing season. There is no way of getting around what Mother Nature was not ready to provide in 2023. A hands-off, minimalist style in the cellar further amplifies the attributes of a growing season in which fruit struggled to ripen in some sites. Where conditions allowed, Arnot and Roberts turned out some gorgeous wines. The 2023 Red Wine California is a fine example. A mid-tier wine in the lineup, the 2023 overdelivers for its relatively modest price. Readers will find some outstanding wines in this range. Others are decidedly more challenging, not because of a lack of diligence or intent, but because the growing season imposed a very low ceiling on what was possible in some sites.