2011 Arnot-Roberts Chardonnay Watson Ranch

(raised in neutral French oak): Light gold. Mineral-accented aromas and flavors of orange, mint, anise and ginger. Dry, silky and penetrating, displaying very good lift and focus. Finishes spicy and taut, with impressive clarity and length. This vineyard sits just above San Pablo Bay and the ocean influence shows.

The 2011 Chardonnay Watson Ranch bursts from the glass with lemon peel, spices and crushed rocks. Aging in neutral oak allows for the purity of this site in southern Napa Valley to come through. Even with all the brightness, this is a surprisingly soft, accessible wine for the vintage that stands out for its polish and exceptional overall balance. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2016. Duncan Arnot Meyers and Nathan Roberts were in high spirits on the day I saw them, as the San Francisco Chronicle had just named them Winemakers of the Year, well-deserved recognition for this talented duo who have known each other since childhood. As for the wines, well, they were pretty special, as I hope these notes make clear. Meyers and Roberts use a fair bit of whole clusters and shy away from doing too much in the cellar, which means the wines are made with natural yeasts and see minimal handling in the cellar. Tel. (707) 820-1383