Arnot Roberts El Dorado Gamay 2023

A triumphant return! The 2023 vintage marks the first El Dorado Gamay released by Arnot-Roberts in four years, after three successive vintages were lost to wildfire smoke. Fruit comes from two high altitude vineyards in the Sierra Foothills - the Witters and Barsotti sites - planted by visionary winemaker Steve Edmunds and legendary stone fruit grower Ron Mansfield. Both vineyards sit between 900 and 1,000 metres above sea level, on decomposed granitic soils strikingly similar to those of Gamay's spiritual homeland in Beaujolais. Once thought to be on the very edge of viticultural possibility, these sites are now recognised as among California's most extraordinary, and are carefully tended today by Ron's son, viticulturist Chuck Mansfield. A partial carbonic maceration with 100% whole clusters preserves all the grape's delicate aromatics. This is bright, pure-fruited, and impeccably balanced - exactly the kind of wine that makes this corner of California so exciting right now. Importer note 

"This comes from two cool-climate, high-elevation vineyards in the El Dorado region of the Sierra Foothills, at 900-1000 m, which is about as high as it gets in California. Granitic soils. This is supple, floral and elegant with a sappy, leafy edge to the sweet redcurrant and cherry fruit. There’s a touch of spicy warmth on the fine-grained palate with detail and focus. Textured, showing some fruit sweetness, but also nice definition. I think it’s a lovely expression of Gamay." 

Jamie Goode, Wine Anorak