2008 Arnot-Roberts Trousseau

Oswaldo Costa

Oswaldo Costa
2008 Arnot-Roberts Trousseau Luchsinger Vineyard Clearlake 12.5%
Three barrels made. Nose a bit closed, with some cherry/raspberry and rose hips. Light CO2 spritz, appealing texture, despite almost no tannin, excellent acid/sweet balance. Very European, even Jurassic, and a pleasure to drink.

I keep complaining that new world wines are not European enough, but when my wish is granted as completely as it is here, I find myself wondering where the local expression lies. Ungrateful sod. Plus the lovely Heredia Verre des Potes gave me as much pleasure in a similar register at half the cost. But, still, kudos to Arnot-Roberts, very fine winemakers, if this is anything to go by.
 
funny, i drank this last night too. my first taste of this producer. i thought the wine was lovely. putting price aside i could see having quite a few of these in my cellar.

i had the same impression you did about sense of place but did pick up some subtle cherry liqour hints that i don't normally get with the european version of this.

tonight i have the white blend to try.
 
Let us know how that goes, Bill. The white they have at Chambers left me curious, but it may be different from yours (it's a chard).
 
They also do a ribolla gialla that is, I think, the best of their whites.

I may have mentioned here that I recently tasted with them. A trip worth making and, since Wind Gap and Ryme occupy the same building, one that can be multi-dimensional.
BTW, Ryme is doing a bunch of skin-fermented stuff that is really interesting.
Best, Jim
 
originally posted by Oswaldo Costa:
I keep complaining that new world wines are not European enough, but when my wish is granted as completely as it is here, I find myself wondering where the local expression lies.

A notion I am all too familiar with and one I would not have anticipated when first putting my own hands in must. Evidence of new world youth, perhaps?
Which makes me appreciate Steve Edmunds', Navarro's and a few scant other's efforts, all that much more.
Best, Jim
 
I confess to disappointment on this one. It was a bit one-dimensional, and suffered from what I think of as the California Sangiovese Problem--"huh, this isn't bad, you could drink it, nice effort. Too bad that it's twice the price of good stuff from the Old Country even at an unfavorable exchange rate."
 
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