Arbalest 2022
(Bordeaux, France)

Made by Napa winemaking star Benoit Touquette, previous winemaker for Screaming Eagle, Dalla Valle, Ovid, Hartwell, Arietta, and the current winemaker of Realm, Fait-Main, and Kata.

In creating the 2022 Arbalest Bordeaux, Touquette sourced fruit from both the Left Bank, where Cabernet Sauvignon reigns supreme, and the Right Bank, where Merlot shines. 

On the palate, this wine is rich and full-bodied, with a round, supple mouthfeel driven by the Merlot. Blackcurrant, dark plum, and cherry flavors emerge first, accented by a spiciness and minerality that provide complexity and depth. The structure and tannic backbone of the Left Bank Cabernet Sauvignon are unmistakable, giving the wine a subtle austerity that promises solid aging potential. The balance between ripe fruit and silky tannins demonstrates Touquette’s skill in managing two different varietals and terroirs in harmony. The finish is long and memorable, with lingering notes of dark chocolate, toasted oak, and a touch of salinity.

91 Points - Jeb Dunnuck (2016):
One of the best values in Bordeaux out there, the 2016 Arbalest comes from a mix of the Right and Left Banks and is 75% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Ripe, medium to full-bodied, and beautifully textured, it has classic notes of black cherries, leafy herbs, chocolate, and damp earth. With nicely integrated acidity, fine tannins, and a beautiful sense of purity paired with plenty of richness, it's a no-brainer purchase to enjoy over the coming decade.

91 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (2016):
Here's a seriously fun Bordeaux wine that offers jaw-dropping great value, made by French native, Napa super-star winemaker Benoit Touquette. The 2016 Arbalest is a blend of 75% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. The Petit Verdot and the Cabernet Sauvignon come from the Left Bank. I’m not allowed to tell the name of the Château, but it’s in the Saint-Estèphe area. The Merlot and Cabernet Franc come from the Right Bank, where the soil is clay-limestone on limestone rock, with a southwest exposure.

Medium garnet-purple colored, it charges out of the gate with notes of warm black plums, Black Forest cake, licorice and candied violets plus hints of fallen leaves and cedar chest. The medium to full-bodied palate is jam-packed with juicy black fruit, framed by ripe rounded tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and spicy. 2,000 cases were made.

91 Points - Jeb Dunnuck (2015):
"Mostly Merlot blended with 14% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot, the 2015 Arbalest was brought up 16 months in tank and 30% new oak. It offers a perfumed, gorgeous bouquet of plums, incense, spice and hints of forest floor. Full-bodied, ripe and rounded, with a sexy, opulent style, lots of mid-palate depth, and a great finish, it's well worth your time and money and is a smoking deal at 20 bucks. This wine comes from a collaboration between winemaker Benoit Touquette and importer/distributor Kimberly Jones." (12/29/17)