2024 Arnot-Roberts Trout Gulch Chardonnay, Sonoma

A beautifully perfumed and savory wine with aromas of coastal foliage, salty sea breeze and redwood forest. Crisp, balanced, textural and refreshing, with a finish of salty minerality. Wonderful.

96 points James Suckling

Duncan Arnot Meyers and Nathan Lee Roberts have built a remarkable reputation for producing some of California's most distinctive cool climate wines. Friends since childhood, they established Arnot-Roberts in 2001, focusing on exceptional vineyard sites and a restrained approach that favours freshness, texture and regional character. Their Trout Gulch Chardonnay is one of the most sought after wines in the range, celebrated for its remarkable purity and mineral intensity.

Trout Gulch Vineyard lies high in the Santa Cruz Mountains, overlooking Monterey Bay, rather than in Sonoma County. Its cool maritime climate, elevated position and sandy soils create ideal conditions for Chardonnay to ripen slowly while retaining vibrant acidity. The 2024 growing season produced beautifully defined fruit, giving this wine an exciting combination of concentration and energy.

Pale straw yellow with delicate green reflections. Meyer lemon, crisp green apple and white peach mingle with citrus blossom, crushed stone and a subtle hint of fresh almond. The palate is taut and beautifully textured, with vibrant citrus fruit, fine acidity and a lovely savoury edge. Notes of lemon pith, sea spray and gentle spice linger through a long, mineral finish.

Try it with grilled abalone and lemon, steamed snapper with ginger and spring onion, or crispy artichokes with a light saffron aioli. Its mineral intensity would also make it a wonderful partner for fresh oysters or delicate kingfish sashimi.

Cellaring: Drink now to 2035. A beautifully structured Chardonnay that should reward several years in the cellar