2018 Arnot-Roberts Chardonnay Sanford & Benedict Vineyard

Duncan Arnot and Nathan Roberts have been adamant about their desire to work only with sites they can reach within a few hours of their Healdsburg winery, but when the opportunity arose to work with Sanford & Benedict fruit, they made an exception. I can't say I blame them. These own-rooted vines in Santa Barbara are among the oldest and most pedigreed in the United States. The debut 2018 Chardonnay Sanford & Benedict is outrageously beautiful. Orchard fruit, mint, white pepper and floral notes lend brightness to this creamy, wonderfully nuanced Chardonnay. I can't wait to see what Arnot and Roberts do in future vintages as they gain familiarity with this site.