2013 Arnot-Roberts Syrah North Coast
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The Syrah Clary Ranch is, as it often is, one of the truly great, iconic Syrahs of California. Deep, powerful and explosive, the 2014 boasts magnificent depth and intensity accentuated by the use of 100% whole clusters. Black pepper, smoke, graphite, lavender, cloves and licorice open up in a wine with breathtaking aromatic presence, fabulous complexity and exceptional overall balance. Clary Ranch, a windy site that is often fogged in, is capable of yielding wines with real pedigree. This is what cold-climate California Syrah is supposed to be. In a word: epic. Childhood friends Duncan Arnot and Nathan Roberts have turned out a spectacular set of new releases. The highlights are the 2014 Pinots and Syrahs and the 2013 Cabernets, but all of the wines in this range are absolutely delicious. Arnot and Roberts have dialed in a very personal style that seeks restraint but never at the loss of intensity. The reds are typically done with high level of whole clusters and new oak is kept at a minimum throughout the cellar. These are some of the most distinctive, compelling wines being made in California today. I can't recommend them highly enough. (AG) 96+
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Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
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Another deep, inky wine 2013 Syrah Griffin's Lair Vineyard is striking, but also shows only a fraction of its true potential. Black pepper, smoke, inky purple fruit, cloves, game and menthol meld together in a deep, inky wine that is going to need further time in bottle as the tannins are quite imposing. This is a classic, coastal, cool-climate Syrah with expressive aromatics, crystalline fruit and fabulous overall balance. (AG)