# Arnot-Roberts Gamay Noir (2024)

- **Producer:** Arnot-Roberts
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Gamay Noir
- **Region:** California, United States
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 13.0%
- **Average price:** €36
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 12–14 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** plum, strawberry, rose, orange, mint, redcurrant, cherry, cedar, tobacco

## About this wine

Arnot-Roberts was founded in 2001 in Healdsburg, California, by childhood friends Duncan Arnot Meyers and Nathan Lee Roberts. Widely recognized as leaders of the New California Wine movement, they focus on site-driven bottlings from cool-climate vineyards. Sourced from high-elevation sites in the El Dorado AVA of the Sierra Foothills—specifically the Barsotti and Witters vineyards planted at up to 3,300 feet—this bottling showcases mountain energy and granitic terroirs reminiscent of Beaujolais Crus.

## Interesting facts

- Grown at elevations up to 3,300 feet, these sites are among the highest vineyard plantings in California.
- The high-altitude granitic soils in El Dorado were specifically selected to mirror the granite terroirs of Beaujolais Crus like Morgon.
- The 2024 blend combines fruit from two mountain vineyards: Barsotti (75%) and Witters (25%).

## Food pairing

The wine's bright natural acidity and soft, fine-grained tannins make it remarkably versatile at the table. High natural acidity cuts through the richness of roasted poultry, duck fat, and oily fish like salmon, while its gentle tannins and red fruit notes harmonize with savory mushrooms and goat cheeses without overpowering them.

## Wine making process

The fruit is organically farmed in granitic and volcanic clay-loam soils at high elevations. Winemaking incorporates 100% whole-cluster fermentation utilizing native yeasts. A portion of the uncrushed fruit undergoes partial carbonic maceration in sealed vessels to retain vibrant fruit expression. Following fermentation, the wine is gently basket-pressed and aged in large wooden foudres and neutral French oak barrels before being bottled unfined and unfiltered.