Petals, Peppers, and "Party Kiwi": A Shared Arnot-Roberts Retrospective

If you know, you know. Arnot-Roberts doesn’t make "big" wines; they make vibrant ones. This dinner is a deep dive into the savory, peppery, and floral side of winemaking that has made Duncan Arnot and Nathan Roberts two of the most respected names in the industry.
This evening is a true look into our shared journey with wine. We are opening rare bottles of Trousseau and Syrah from the 2013 vintage—bottles from my personal collection purchased on release and cellared ever since. To bridge the gap to the present, we are featuring a selection of current releases from Yoon’s collection who is also a fan of the Arnot-Roberts style.
We’re kicking things off with a special spark from a trip taken this past summer: the high-voltage "Party Kiwi" Sauvignon Blanc. We visited the Commonwealth Crush incubator in the historic Virginia Metalcrafters building in Waynesboro, VA, and were so struck by this wine’s electric energy that we knew it had to be the opening act for our next gathering.
The Five-Bottle Flight:

• The "Trip Bottle" (2024 Party Kiwi): Texture, salt, and "glou-glou" energy to start the night. Experience the wine that caught our attention in the Shenandoah Valley.
• Trousseau Two Ways: A side-by-side look at the 2013 Northcoast bottling from my cellar and Yoon’s 2022 current release. See why this "forgotten" Jura grape is a sommelier favorite as it evolves from fresh strawberry to ethereal earthiness.
• Syrah at its Peak: We are opening the legendary 2013 Que Syrah Vineyard from my cellar alongside Yoon’s 2023 Sonoma Coast bottling. At 11+ years old, the 2013 is a masterclass in cool-climate complexity—think black olives, violets, and woodsmoke.

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The Venue: Nudibranch (East Village)
For this gathering, we are trying out a new spot for the group: Nudibranch.
Named after a vibrant species of sea slug, this East Village gem is run by alumni of Momofuku Ko, Eleven Madison Park, and Jungsik. It’s the perfect backdrop for our lineup because the food is as adventurous as the wines.
What to expect:

• The Vibe: "Library-cool" and buzzy. It’s intimate, sleek, and designed for shared plates.
• The Food: A creative mashup of Korean and Spanish influences.
• Must-Try pairings: Their signature frog legs (with lemongrass and galangal) and the aged duck with scallion pancakes are legendary and should play beautifully with the high acidity of the Arnot-Roberts wines.

Why you should come: This is a rare opportunity to taste bottles with over a decade of personal provenance alongside the newest releases at one of the most exciting, wine-friendly restaurants in NYC.
We hope you can join us!
Here is a link to their menu... Nudibranch
Please note that nudibranch may limit the number of credit cards they accept at a given table. So please bring cash or be prepared to pay for your meal electronically.
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Just a reminder of our usual rules:
** The cost of this event is $49 and is for the cost of the wines only!
NOTE: Meetup has started charging a "Partner Fee" that is above and in addition to the listed price of the event. It is annoying and confusing, but there is nothing we can do about it. It comes to approximately $4 more for each RSVP. You will see this charge when you complete your RSVP and pay for the event. Sorry! Meetup+ members are exempt from this charge.
You will also have to pay the cost of your food (plus 33% for tax and tip). Please order at least two courses (i.e. a main dish and either appetizer or dessert) for your dinner. There are very few restaurants that allow us to bring our own wine for a Zero corkage fee. We must be good guests to encourage the restaurant to continue to be generous to us.
Please read and understand the group's cancellation policy. If you take spot, then cancel, and no one else takes the spot, you will not receive a refund or credit. No refunds or credits will be given for no-shows or late cancellations (unless someone else takes your spot).
All cancellations are subject to a $6 service fee.
Please use public transportation - NO DRINKING AND DRIVING!