2024 Arnot-Roberts Syrah, Sonoma Coast

Aromas of red and black plums, resinous herbs, crushed violets and green and black peppercorns. An expressive and beautiful cool-climate syrah. Medium-bodied with nice tension and flavors of wild blackberries. Drink or hold.

97 points James Suckling

Arnot Roberts was founded in 2001 by childhood friends Duncan Arnot Meyers and Nathan Lee Roberts, and it has become one of the defining names of modern California. Their approach has always looked beyond sheer ripeness and power, seeking cooler vineyards and distinctive sites that allow varieties to show perfume, structure and place. Syrah from the Sonoma Coast fits that philosophy beautifully, revealing a very different face of California from the dense, sweetly fruited stereotype.

The cool maritime influence of the Pacific is central to the style. Fog, wind and chilly nights slow ripening, allowing Syrah to develop flavour while retaining acidity and its naturally peppery, savoury character. The 2024 is all about fragrance and energy rather than heavyweight concentration, with dark fruit sitting alongside flowers, herbs, olive and spice.

Deep ruby purple, with blackberry and blueberry joined by violet, cracked black pepper and black olive. There are fascinating notes of smoked meat, graphite, rosemary and liquorice underneath, with a little blood orange adding lift. Medium bodied and beautifully savoury, the palate has juicy dark fruit, fresh acidity and fine, tensile tannins. Pepper and olive become more prominent towards the finish, leaving a lingering impression of dark berries, graphite and cool coastal spice.

Pepper crusted tuna with sesame would be terrific, alongside Korean galbi, lamb skewers with cumin and yoghurt, grilled portobello mushrooms with miso or duck with blackberries and five spice. Our pick is the tuna, kept rare in the middle with plenty of cracked pepper around the outside. Syrah and meaty fish deserve to see each other more often.

Cellaring: Drink now to 2038.