Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2023 Pinot Noir Heaven and Earth Vineyard really plays into a larger-scaled style for Arnot-Roberts. Dark-toned fruit, leather, licorice, grilled herbs, menthol, pine and tobacco are nicely dialed up. The 100% stems are very nicely integrated. Broad and ample in feel, with notable persistence, the 2023 is terrific.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2023 Pinot Noir Heaven and Earth Vineyard comes from vines planted in 2004, and grapes were harvested on October 12. It was fermented with whole clusters and matured for 10 months in used French oak. It has layered aromas of cranberry, sour cherries, mossy bark, mushrooms, bitters and dried herbs. The light-bodied palate is delicately styled with a modest 12% alcohol and generous crunchy red fruit flavors. It’s framed by dusty tannins and bright acidity and has a long, spicy finish.
The Sonoma Coast AVA is large in area but, not counting overlapping regions like Russian River Valley, only has a few thousand acres of grapevines—and it’s no wonder. Much of the region is rugged and not easily accessible. Its proximity to the Pacific Ocean’s fog and cool breezes limits the varieties that can be cultivated, but it proves to be an ideal environment for high quality Pinot Noir.
Since fog is a frequent fact of life here, as are heavy marine layers that sometimes bring rain, the best vineyards are wisely planted above the fog line, on picturesque ridges that capture enough sun to provide even ripening. That, with the overnight drop in temperature that reliably preserves acidity, results in fine expressions of Pinot Noir that often receive tremendous critic and consumer praise alike, and are often in high demand.