2015 Arnot-Roberts "Watson Ranch" Napa Valley Chardonnay
SKU #1276492
94 points
Vinous
The 2015 Chardonnay Watson Ranch is powerful and richly textured, almost shockingly so for an Arnot-Roberts wine. Ample and voluptuous because of the low yields of the vintage, the 2015 exudes intensity in all of its dimensions. Apricot, hazelnut, vanillin and dried herbs build into the creamy, deeply expressive finish. All things considered, the Watson Ranch handled the challenging conditions of the growing season well. (AG)
(3/2017)
93 points
John Gilman
Watson Ranch is in the extreme southern end of Napa Valley, just above the San Pablo Bay and is one of the coolest vineyard sites in northern California. The soils here are a blend of clay and limestone, which is also extremely rare in Napa. The 2015 chardonnay from Arnot-Roberts from Watson Ranch is excellent, offering up a superb bouquet of pear, lemon, butter, chalky minerality, a touch of fleur de sel and a topnote of spring flowers. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, complex and beautifully balanced, with impressive focus and grip, zesty acids and a very long, balanced and classy finish. This is only 12.5 percent octane, but seems just a bit more complete than the 2013 version. Fine, fine juice. 2017-2030+. 93+
(8/2017)
K&L Notes
Arnot-Roberts describes this unique terroir: "The Watson Ranch vineyard is perched on a steep hillside overlooking the San Pablo Bay in the southernmost end of the Napa Valley. Exposed and austere, the Watson Ranch is a wind whipped site planted in 1993 by the talented grower Salvador Ramos on marine deposits over limestone. This soil type is extremely rare on the North Coast and lends itself perfectly to growing world class Chardonnay. This soil coupled with organic farming techniques and cool windy conditions give this parcel great potential to produce Chardonnay of singular character."
