So what separates this 2021 Arnot-Roberts Syrah from every Hermitage (including Chave and Jaboulet’s La Chapelle) and every Cote-Rotie (including all the Guigal La Las – only one of which, the 1978 La Mouline, scored 99) and every Australian Shiraz (including Penfolds Grange and Henschke Hill of Grace)?
This one earned a perfect 100-point score from Vinous – and none of those legendary Syrah/Shiraz icons ever did. And not a single one from Sine Qua Non has either.
So yes, this one is special. And it’s already selling in the one California store to actually have any quantity (a whopping 14 bottles) for $295. Which given that so many of the wines it beat sell for $1000 or more (Chave 1990 Cathelin, at 99 points, goes for $13,500), still looks pretty reasonable.
Galloni says:
The 2021 Syrah Que Syrah Vineyard is the greatest wine I have ever tasted from Duncan Arnot and Nathan Roberts. It emerges from Robert's home vineyard in the Taylor Lane district that includes other notable vineyards such as Summa and Thieriot. The Que Syrah dazzles from the very first taste. Red/purplish fruit, blood orange, mint and rose petals all soar out of the glass. The purity of the flavors is simply captivating. At times, the 2021 has a Pinot-like finesse, but the Syrah aromatics and structure are there, buried underneath the fruit. The 2021 is totally dialed in. It's a magical wine that will thrill readers lucky enough to find it.
