Reviews of Arcadian Wines

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Anthony Dias Blue has scheduled a review of the Arcadian 2005 Chardonnay, Sleepy Hollow Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands ($48) in the October issue of The Tasting Panel magazine, with a score of 91 points.

"Two thousand six wasn't my style of vintage for red wines, so I had to make adjustments to my wine-making," Joe Davis told me candidly as we began to taste through his set of new releases. "The wines needed more grip, so I extended the barrel aging to give them some more wood tannins." Those 2006's were eventually bottled after 27 months in wood and Davis pointed out that he made one of the best and cheapest investments in his winery to help him with this endeavor: a humidification system to slow down the evaporation that naturally occurs in this often dry climate. "Otherwise I would have been topping up constantly, which means opening and closing the barrels all the time, which I don't want to do."
2006 Arcadian Winery Chardonnay Sleepy Hollow Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands	90 points
($48) Greenish-yellow color. Pungent pineapple, tangerine and peach aromas are complicated by smoky minerals and brown spices. Rich and weighty but energetic too, offering sweet citrus and tropical fruit flavors and a chewy texture. Nervier on the finish, which features a note of lemon peel and very good clarity and persistence. This is drinking very well right now.
2006 Arcadian Winery Chardonnay Dierberg Vineyard Santa Maria Valley	91 points
($27) Bright gold. Fresh apple and pear aromas are deepened by notes of honey and smoky lees. Tightly wound citrus and orchard fruit flavors unfurl with aeration, giving way to deeper peach pit and melon character. Leaves zesty mineral and lemon pith qualities behind on the impressively long, focused and chewy finish. Showing a more serious side than the Sleepy Hollow and balanced to age.
2007 Arcadian Winery Pink Pisoni Santa Lucia Highlands	88 points
($23; 100% pinot noir) Orange-hued pink. Ripe strawberry and cherry aromas are complemented by dried flowers and orange peel. A weighty, supple rose that offers rich red berry and citrus flavors, with gentle spiciness and grip. The finish is a touch warm but nicely persistent. This could handle rich food.
2006 Arcadian Winery Pinot Noir Sleepy Hollow Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands	91 points
($27) Medium red. Alluring aromas of red berries, potpourri, smoked meat and baking spices. Tangy and sharply focused, offering lively raspberry and bitter cherry flavors with a smoky undertone. A nicely balanced pinot that suavely blends depth and vivacity. The spiciness carries through a long, sweet and energetic finish.
2006 Arcadian Winery Pinot Noir Gold Coast Vineyard Santa Maria Valley	90 points
($28) Vivid red. Deeper and smokier than the Sleepy Hollow, showing scents of black raspberry, cherry skin, Indian spices and dried rose. Fleshy dark berry flavors are firmed by chewy tannins and deepened by notes of black pepper and candied plum. Gains freshness with air and finishes with very good thrust and lingering sweetness. This will benefit from more cellaring but could be drunk now after an hour or so in the decanter.
2006 Arcadian Winery Pinot Noir Dierberg Vineyard Santa Maria Valley	90 points
($50) Deep red. Exotic, pungent bouquet of blackberry, cherry skin and illicit herbs. Offers musky dark fruit flavors and chewy texture, with complicating notes of smoked meat and candied rose. This powerful pinot could stand up to a rich lamb dish. Finishes with good punch and a strong smoky echo.
2006 Arcadian Winery Pinot Noir Jill's Cuvee Santa Maria Valley	92 points
($65) Bright red. Pungent, high-pitched aromas of red berries, flowers and spices. Then high-pitched and intense in the mouth, with a penetrating quality to the sweet raspberry, cherry and floral pastille flavors. This seductive, vibrant wine finishes quite long, with lingering spiciness and an echo of sweet red berries.
2006 Arcadian Winery Pinot Noir Fiddlestix Vineyard Santa Rita Hills	92 points
($60) Vivid medium red. Energetic strawberry, redcurrant, blood orange and mineral scents are complicated by a hint of licorice. Delicate and finely etched, with sweet red fruit and cherry flavors given spine by a zesty minerality that resonates on the long, juicy finish.
2006 Arcadian Winery Pinot Noir Francesca Vineyard Central Coast	92 points
($90) Bright red. Sexy black raspberry, potpourri and incense on the nose. Dense and lively, offering sweet red and dark berry flavors and silky texture. Vanilla and oak spice notes gain strength with air and carry through a long, sappy, spicy finish. Leaves bitter cherry and juicy red berry notes on its wake. This wine is the result of a barrel selection.
2006 Arcadian Winery Syrah Santa Ynez Valley	91 points
($18) Bright red. Peppery red berry and cherry aromas are complemented by notes of black olive and cracked pepper. An energetic rendition of syrah, offering gently sweet raspberry and cherry flavors and slow-building spiciness. Impressively focused and pure, with strong finishing snap and tangy persistence. This doesn't act like a wine from a hot vintage. A great value.
2006 Arcadian Winery Syrah Westerly Vineyard Santa Ynez Valley	91+ points
($20) Bright ruby. Deeper and smokier than the straight Santa Ynez bottling, offering powerful cassis and cherry-cola scents and a note of cured meat. Weighty and chewy in texture, with gently sweet dark fruit flavors and a note of bitter chocolate. Becomes spicier with air and finishes with good thrust and clarity. Give this some decanter or cellar time.
2006 Arcadian Winery Syrah Sleepy Hollow Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands	92 points
($24) Vivid ruby. High-pitched red and dark berry aromas are complicated by notes of cracked pepper, Asian spices, violet and smoky minerals. Lively, finely etched red fruit flavors are framed by silky tannins and gain richness with aeration. Leaves notes of blueberry and black raspberry behind on the spicy, impressively persistent finish. Davis told me that this wine's pH is very low and that it weighs in at 13.7% alcohol. He vinified it with 50% whole clusters.
2006 Arcadian Winery Syrah Purisima Mountain Vineyard Santa Ynez Valley	92 points
($55) Deep ruby. Intensely perfumed bouquet of violet, boysenberry, olive tapenade and cracked pepper. Classic syrah on the nose and palate, which offers sweet red and dark berry flavors and notes of olive, floral pastille and peppery spices. Suave and expansive syrah with impressive finishing clarity and persistence. Davis told me that this clone came from Tablas Creek.
2006 Arcadian Winery Syrah Stolpman Vineyard Santa Ynez Valley	91 points
($55) Opaque purple. High-pitched blackberry and cherry aromas are complemented by notes of violet and dried rose, along with a smoky undertone. Fleshy and smooth, with sweet red and dark berry flavors and gentle tannins. Gains depth with air and finishes with good grip and a building note of sexy, sweet oak spices. This should be drinking well in the next few years.
2006 Arcadian Winery Syrah Hommage a Max Santa Ynez Valley	93 points
($85) Deep ruby with a bright rim. Powerful, pungent aromas of singed plum, mulberry, potpourri and gingerbread. Deeply concentrated and energetic, with sweet, deep dark berry and spice flavors framed by velvety tannins. The spicy element repeats on the finish, which is broad, sweet, gently smoky and impressively persistent.
2005 Wines
2005 Arcadian Chardonnay Sleepy Hollow Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands	91 points
($48) Greenish gold. Ripe tangerine and peach on the nose, with a bright mineral undercurrent adding energy. Round and spicy, with deep but brisk orchard and pit fruit flavors. Gains weight on the finish but this possesses outstanding vivacity and cut.
2005 Arcadian Pinot Noir Sleepy Hollow Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands	91 points
($56) Bright red. Spicy redcurrant and strawberry on the nose, with a zesty white pepper quality adding energy. Shows deeper cherry and plum on the palate, but also offers vibrant minerality and a suave floral pastille character. Finishes with a crisp, exotic orange peel flavor and impressive length.
2005 Arcadian Pinot Noir Clos Pepe Vineyard Santa Rita Hills	92 points
($75) Deep red. Intensely perfumed ("typical for this vintage," says Joe Davis), with a vibrant bouquet of raspberry, blackberry, dried rose and tobacco. Spicy, sharply focused red berry flavors are impressively sweet but restrained by zesty minerality. Dusty tannins slowly build on the long, juicy finish, which leaves a resounding echo of tangy raspberry.
2005 Arcadian Pinot Noir Dierberg Vineyard Santa Maria Valley	92(+?) points
($65) Dark red. Exotic, pungent aromas suggest dark cherry, cassis, blood orange and dark chocolate. Pretty wild stuff, with highly expressive dark fruit and licorice flavors firmed by youthful tannins. This closed down with air but its quality is readily apparent. I'd hold this for at least another three or four years.
2005 Arcadian Pinot Noir Pisoni Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands	93(+?) points
($95) Medium red. Wild, gamey and exotic, offering ripe cherry, cassis and blueberry scents, along with an exotic lashing of cocoa powder and anise. Solid bitter cherry and dark chocolate flavors gain sweetness in the glass, slowly revealing a sweet raspberry preserve quality. Impressively persistent, deeply flavored wine offering striking finishing intensity.
2005 Arcadian Pinot Noir Fiddlestix Vineyard Santa Rita Hills	90(+?) points
($60) Medium red. Spicy redcurrant and strawberry on the nose, with subtle earthiness and musky herbal character. Bitter cherry and cracked pepper flavors possess impressive concentration but are a bit wound up today. Air brought up sweeter raspberry, then a big hit of bitter cherry pit. The tannins are standing out right now. This needs time.
2005 Arcadian Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills	90 (+?)points
($37) Light, bright red. Red berry, cherry and musky herb aromas are underscored by lively minerality. Light in body, offering spicy raspberry and bitter cherry flavors firmed by dusty tannins. The tannins gain strength with air, but so does the fruit. Finishes with good grip and a suave, lingering cherry note. This is still very young.
2005 Arcadian Pinot Noir Francesca Vineyard Central Coast	93 points
($92) Bright red. Explosively perfumed nose offers vibrant black raspberry and floral aromas and suave minerality. Graceful and bright but packed with deep, sweet dark berry fruit and juicy acidity. Gains power and depth on the finish but doesn't lose freshness or clarity. Extremely suave pinot, finishing with excellent cut and cling. "Two thousand five is a fantastic year for a guy like me and the style I like: lower alcohol and more brightness," Davis commented at the end of this brilliant flight of pinots. "We could tell from the beginning of the harvest that there were no challenges. It's like getting dealt four aces: you know that you're going to win."
2005 Arcadian Pinot Noir Gold Coast Vineyard Santa Maria Valley	91 points
($42) Vivid red. Spicy red berries, cherry and musky underbrush on the nose, with a suave floral quality adding interest. Tangy redcurrant and bitter cherry flavors show medium body and pack solid punch, with fine-grained tannins adding grip. Finishes sweet and silky, with excellent clarity and persistence. This softened with air, suggesting that a couple more years of bottle age are in order.
2005 Arcadian Syrah Westerly Vineyard Santa Ynez Valley	91 points
($40) Bright medium red. Red and dark berries, smoked meat and Christmas spices on the nose. Midweight raspberry and bitter cherry flavors are complicated by beef jerky and floral pastille qualities. This strikes me as a blend of pinot noir and syrah, with the former variety's finesse and sweetness and the latter's game and earth character. Finishes crisp and long, leaving a peppery note behind.
2004 Arcadian Pinot Noir Pisoni Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands	92 points
($80) Deep red. Roasted cherry and plum on the nose, with a slow-building mineral quality adding energy. Sweet boysenberry and blueberry flavors are strikingly fresh, with supple tannins adding support. Very round, suave and luscious, with excellent finishing thrust. This won't let go of the palate.
2004 Arcadian Pinot Noir Fiddlestix Vineyard Santa Rita Hills	91 points
($52) Medium red. Blackberry and cherry scents are deepened by candied licorice and smoky minerals. Dense and chewy, offering sweet cherry and dark berry preserve flavors, with chewy tannins adding grip. A concentrated, somewhat brooding pinot that gained sweetness and energy with air, as well as suave spiciness.
2005 Arcadian Syrah Santa Ynez Valley	90 points
($26) Bright red. Spicy red berry and cherry aromas are sharpened by white pepper and zesty minerality. Fleshy and subtly sweet, with bright strawberry and cherry flavors; picked up a gentle cola quality on the finish. Reminded me of a northern Rhone wine. Finishes with brisk persistence and lingering sweetness. This is an outstanding value.
2005 Arcadian Syrah Sleepy Hollow Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands	91(+?)points
($36) Inky ruby. Intensely perfumed aromas of vibrant cherry and blackberry brightened by zesty minerality and a subtle cola quality. Lively red fruits on the palate, with black olive and licorice nuances emerging with air. A deep, sweet, pure syrah, finishing with excellent persistence and a late-arriving wave of youthful tannins.
2005 Arcadian Syrah Hommage a Max Santa Ynez Valley	93 points
Bright ruby. Sexy, strikingly complex bouquet of smoky dark berries, cherry, pungent herbs and Indian spices. Deeply concentrated but surprisingly fresh, with sweet red and dark berry flavors, sexy spiciness, supple texture and smooth tannins. Finishes with slow-mounting grip and a strong echo of sweet dark berries. The fruit here is already extremely alluring, but this is balanced for cellaring
2005 Arcadian Syrah Purisima Vineyard Santa Ynez Valley	93 points
($65) Dark red. Intriguingly floral nose displays pungent raspberry and cherry qualities, along with fresh rose, violet and anise. Fleshy but impressively focused red fruit preserve flavors are brightened by crackling minerality that carries into the finish. Clean and refreshing, with excellent finishing grip and clarity.
2005 Arcadian Syrah Stolpman Vineyard Santa Ynez Valley	94 points
($65) Bright red. Lovely, floral-dominated scents suggest fresh red berries, kirsch and Asian spices, with sexy rose and magnolia adding complexity; seems to expand in the glass while maintaining focus. Silky and packed with sweet red fruit flavors, picking up floral pastille and bitter chocolate character with air. A very grown-up style of syrah that finishes with superb clarity and persistence. This doesn't hit you upside the head, it hits you inside it.
2004 Arcadian Syrah Stolpman Vineyard Santa Ynez Valley	93 points
($55) Deep ruby. Fresh blackberry and blueberry on the nose, with an enticing floral quality adding interest. Juicy dark fruit preserve flavors are enlivened by energetic minerals and exotic orange zest. Picks up black olive and candied licorice on the finish, which offers excellent chewy grip. This is really impressive, and it clocks in at a moderate 13.8% alcohol.
2004 Arcadian Syrah Westerly Vineyard Santa Ynez Valley	92(+?) points
($30) Ruby-red. Exotically perfumed nose features vibrant cherry and dark berry scents complicated by black olive, tobacco and smoky herbs. Tactile dark fruit preserve flavors display impressive depth and sweetness, with suave tannins adding grip. Spiciness builds on the long, juicy finish, which shuts down quickly. This needs some cellar time.
2003 Arcadian Syrah Hommage a Max Santa Ynez Valley	92 points
($85) Deep ruby. Spicy cherry and dark berry aromas are enlivened by zesty minerality and complicated by subtle smokiness. Inky bitter cherry on the palate, which shows a weighty, chewy texture and slow-building sweetness. Fresher and more red-fruity on the long, spicy finish. This was a selection of the best two barrels of Stolpman and the best two of Westerly, according to Davis, and is slated to be sold exclusively at charity auctions.

The Prince of Pinot- Great website devoted to the joys of Pinot Noir, below are several reviews. This site does offer a reasonable subscription rate but by using these links you will be able to access these stories for free:

	Review of 2004 Arcadian Fiddlestix Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir $50. Co-owner and winemaker Davis has been a close friend of Kathy Joseph's and began sourcing fruit from Fiddlestix Vineyard in 2001. Dark reddish-purple wine showing very ripe, raisiny and oak-infused aromas. Cooked dark fruit flavors with grippy tannins, tangy acidity and a dry, tart finish. Reviewed October 1, 2008
	Review of 2003 Arcadian Pisoni Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir$80. · From the most coveted block of the famed Pisoni Vineyard. Many people say Joe’s Pisoni Pinot Noir is the most “unpisoni� of the many that are produced from this vineyard. It really amounts to an interpretation of the site and Joe prefers a more modest, medium-bodied, and understated style that offers plenty of restrained power beautifully matched with a silky texture and bright acidity at the end. I also sampled the Reviewed March 5, 2007
	Review of 2003 Arcadian Rio Vista Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir A blend of clones 115 and 667 · This is more restrained than many Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noirs featuring tart cherry flavors and bracing acidity. This won’t disappoint at the dinner table. Reviewed July 23, 2007
	Review of 2002 Arcadian Fiddlestix Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir $50. Joe says the grapes from Fiddlestix can have considerable structure and tannin and it takes some clever skill to “tame the beast.� This is a current release and shows off what Joe’s wines do with a little bottle age. Plenty of complexity here with charming earth, leather and soy notes and dusty tannins. Reviewed July 23, 2007
	Review of 2001 Arcadian Pisoni Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir $82 (current retail). Joe Davis crafts this wine differently than many working with Pisoni fruit. He picks less ripe and strives for balance and elegance. A sturdy wine that is still supple. Ripe, smoky dark fruits, oak spice and barnyard on the nose. Cassis, plum and earth flavors leading to a dry and citric finish with zippy acidity. Drinking beautifully now. Reviewed October 1, 2008

 

 

Paul Root - Root's Cellar A Taste & Toast to "Sideways" - "Joe Davis's 2002 Arcadian Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir ... How can it be that this wine's been around since last October and we weren't told about it?"

Robert M. Parker, Jr's The Wine Advocate The Independent Consumer's Bimonthly Guide to Fine Wine - "These impressive wines are hand-crafted from low yields, bottled gently, and handled with care."

Morrell & Company - "Extremely rich, ripe aromas of honey and honeysuckle with pineapple and hay nuances, even a touch of marzipan and vanillin."

Weekend Journal - The Wall Street Journal Tastings / By Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher - "... and such outstanding winemaking is not an accident."

Decanter.com the route to all good wine - "My favorites include: The Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs of newcomers, Joe Davis at Arcadian"

Wine Enthusiast Magazine Wine Enthusiast | Buying Guide - "The bouquet of this "big and chewy" Syrah is a complex tiramisu, black-cherry and smoke mélange."

THE WILDER SIDE OF CALIFORNIA - Doug Wilder, Issue 67 - 2003 Arcadian - Pinot Noir Dierberg Vineyard, Santa Ynez Valley; Vinfolio rating: 98 points Joe Davis has done something unusual for most wineries; he has nearly tripled production of his Dierberg Vineyard Pinot Noir in one year, and the wine has gotten better. Arcadian produced about 250 cases in 2002, and the wine received a VF 94 rating making it into my "Top 25 of 2005". It was a significant wine among Pinot Noir I selected last year. In regards to the 2003, the production is about 700 cases now, which is still small. I was instantly enchanted when I tasted this wine last week and have taken a large position in it; Vinfolio is the first to offer it. I spoke with Joe on the phone today, and he mentioned that the changes in fruit they are receiving from Dierberg includes some Pommard clone. The overall blend is now roughly balanced with additional clones 31, 13 and 115. Joe agreed with me that the Pommard gives the wine substantial richness throughout.

Steven Tanzer's International Wine Cellar - 2002 Arcadian Pinot Noir Sleepy Hollow Vineyard Monterey (Sep/Oct 06) 91($45) Deep red-ruby color. Initially reticent nose opened to reveal black fruits, gunpowder, candied violet, mocha and black pepper. Sappy, saline and densely packed; not as fruity as the Pisoni but really blossomed in the glass, showing increasing sweetness and fat with aeration, along with complex flavors of currant, smoked meat and violet. Finishes with sweet tannins and sneaky length. (A second bottle was equally rich but not as delineated or primary; this one merited 88 points.)

Steven Tanzer's International Wine Cellar - 2003 Arcadian Chardonnay Sleepy Hollow Vineyard Monterey (Sep/Oct 06) 90($35) Deep straw color. Musky, high-toned aromas of pineapple, smoked meat and honey. Concentrated, tactile and saline, with somewhat exotic flavors of apple, papaya, pear skin, toffee, honey and brown butter. Finishes dry and stony, with a slight phenolic bite.

Steven Tanzer's International Wine Cellar - 2003 Arcadian Pinot Noir Fiddlestix Vineyard Santa Rita Hills (Sep/Oct 06) 90(+?)($50; 13.6% alcohol) Medium red. Aromas of strawberry, spice, smoke and earth. Juicy, tight and imploded but minerally and pure, with firm acids and solid tannic spine. Showing more intensity than fleshiness today, but appears to be built to age. Finishes with excellent length. How refreshing to find a California pinot under 14% alcohol. Like most of Joe Davis's pinots, this one needed extended aeration to show its stuff.

Steven Tanzer's International Wine Cellar - 2003 Arcadian Pinot Noir Sleepy Hollow Vineyard Monterey (Sep/Oct 06) 90($45) Medium red. Musky aromas of strawberry, smoke, nutmeg and herbs, plus a whiff of game. Spicy red berry flavors offer good fat and sweetness as well as density, cut and lift. Finishes firmly tannic, juicy and persistent. (An earlier sample, which I scored 89 points, was a bit sweeter and fuller in the mouth, but showed more game and mineral notes than primary fruit and finished a tad dry.)

Steven Tanzer's International Wine Cellar - 2003 Arcadian Pinot Noir Rio Vista Vineyard Santa Rita Hills (Sep/Oct 06) 92($65) Good full, deep red. Pungent, tangy aromas of raspberry, cherry, spices, flowers and herbs. Rich, lush and sweet, but with lovely tangy spice character to the flavors of red berries, cola and underbrush. Compellingly smooth pinot, finishing with sweet tannins and excellent length.

Steven Tanzer's International Wine Cellar - 2003 Arcadian Pinot Noir Dierberg Vineyard Santa Maria Valley (Sep/Oct 06) 90($50) Medium red with a palish rim. Rather reduced nose offers spices, meat, mocha and smoke. Supple and plump, with strawberry, mineral and smoke flavors complicated by lovely pinot earth character. Very sweet, smooth wine, finishing with supple tannins and very good length. (A second bottle offered similar aromas and flavors but was a bit drier on the finish, with dusty tannins, rating 88 points.)

Steven Tanzer's International Wine Cellar - 2003 Arcadian Pinot Noir Pisoni Vineyard Monterey (Sep/Oct 06) 91(+?)($80) Medium red. Blackberry, cranberry and mint on the nose, lifted by pungent cinnamon and flowers. Juicy and nicely delineated, with a slightly high-toned flavor of cherry cola. Finishes with firm tannic spine and excellent length.

Steven Tanzer's International Wine Cellar - 2002 Arcadian Syrah Sleepy Hollow Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands (Sep/Oct 06) 90($30) Dark, bright ruby-red. Distinctly rustic, musky nose reminded me of an old-style Cote-Rotie. Musky and meaty on the palate, with intriguing notes of minerals, graphite and smoke. Not a fruity style but offers a captivating lightness of touch. Finishes juicy and persistent. I never would have picked this as a California wine.

Steven Tanzer's International Wine Cellar - 2003 Arcadian Syrah Evans Ranch Santa Rita Hills (Sep/Oct 06) 93($55) Ruby-red. Deep, ripe aromas of black raspberry and dark chocolate, with complicating notes of flowers, herbs, pepper and leather. Opulent, even a bit obvious, for a young wine from Arcadian, but the piquant, harmonious acids give a savory character to the very rich, tactile black fruit flavors. A dense, primary wine with terrific sugar/acid snap. Finishes with a wave of palate-coating dark berries and excellent length.

Steven Tanzer's International Wine Cellar - 2002 Arcadian Pinot Noir Dierberg Vineyard Santa Maria Valley (Jan/Feb 06) 92 ($50) Good saturated ruby-red. Compellingly bright, pure aromas of cassis, violet, licorice and mint. Juicy, intense and penetrating, with bright but integrated acidity framing the flavors of blackcurrant, blackberry, candied violet, spices and minerals. A light saline quality adds complexity. Finishes with strong dark fruit flavors and excellent length. A no-brainer, and remarkably full-flavored and satisfying for a pinot with "only" 13.8% alcohol. Why can't more California producers do this?

Steven Tanzer's International Wine Cellar - 2002 Arcadian Pinot Noir Pisoni Vineyard Monterey (Jan/Feb 06) 92(+?) ($80) "Moderately saturated medium red. Pungent, tangy and complex on the nose, offering notes of redcurrant, raspberry, white pepper, flowers and brown spices. Firmly built, juicy and light on its feet, with penetrating mineral and spice character. Clos-Saint-Denis meets Chambolle Amoureuses! Finishes firmly tannic, with intense red berry flavors. Only 13.7% alcohol. An outstanding example of this vineyard: this should age very well for California pinot."

Steven Tanzer's International Wine Cellar - 2002 Arcadian Pinot Noir Dierberg Vineyard Santa Maria Valley (Jan/Feb 06) 92 ($50) "Good saturated ruby-red. Compellingly bright, pure aromas of cassis, violet, licorice and mint. Juicy, intense and penetrating, with bright but integrated acidity framing the flavors of blackcurrant, blackberry, candied violet, spices and minerals. A light saline quality adds complexity. Finishes with strong dark fruit flavors and excellent length. A no-brainer, and remarkably full-flavored and satisfying for a pinot with "only" 13.8% alcohol. Why can't more California producers do this?"

Steven Tanzer's International Wine Cellar - 2002 Arcadian Chardonnay Sleepy Hollow Vineyard Monterey (Jan/Feb 06) 91(+?) ($35) "Soil-driven nose offers pear skin, pineapple, iodine and macadamia. Juicy and penetrating in the mouth, with slightly wild, pungent flavors of citrus fruit, iodine, flowers and smoke. A somewhat funky, rather Burgundian-style chardonnay with plenty of personality. Finishes dense and quite long."

Steven Tanzer's International Wine Cellar - 2002 Arcadian Pinot Noir Fiddlestix Vineyard Santa Rita Hills (Jan/Feb 06) 86(+?) ($50) "Good full red. Slightly high-toned aromas of redcurrant and spicy oak. A distinctly drier-style wine, with rather bracing acidity, even a suggestion of grapefruit. This has intensity but also a slight sour edge and some finishing dryness. Will this round into form with time in bottle? A second bottle was similarly hard-edged."

VINTRUST - Wine Management and Cellarage November 29, 2005 - 2001 Arcadian - Pinot Noir 'Gary's Vineyard' - SOMMscore 95. 2002 Arcadian - Pinot Noir 'Pisoni Vineyard' - SOMMscore 93.

The Grape Press Issue VI 2005 - "And his new Santa Maria Pinot Noir, 2003 (only 470 cases made and we got twenty-five of ëem.) is a fabulously affordable introduction to just how incredible central coast Pinot, in the hands of the "gifted and passionate" can be - at $20.99 this is great stuff - a real beauty with gorgeous, expansive mouth-feel and complex (trademark Arcadian) flavors and aromas of strawberry, plum, cherry, rhubarb and Asian spices ... so much going on in there ... so little wine to be had ..."

Paul Root - Root's Cellar Arcadian-Lucia-Pisoni-Roar-NOW - "2003 Roar Pisoni Vineyard Pinot Noir...Ultra-ripe, silky, glycerol, CrËme de Cassis, wild, late summer blackberries wrapped around smoky cherry wood with a dash of cinnamon. This is a great example of why the Santa Lucia Highlands (SLH from now on) region is getting so much attention.

Santa Barbara News Press (09/01/05) Schaefer On Wine: Winemaker follows the path of artisanal Burgundies - "... with winemaker Joe Davis at Arcadian Winery, based in Santa Maria, everything is always 'more' Burgundian."

Steven Tanzer's International Wine Cellar - 2001 Arcadian Pinot Noir Fiddlestix Vineyard Santa Rita Hills (July/Aug 2005) 86+ ($62) - "Good medium red. Reticent aromas of red plum, red cherry, menthol and flowers, with some scotch-like tarry oak. Then a bit aggressively spicy in the mouth, with elevated acids and scotch tones currently clashing. In a distinctly awkward phase."

Steven Tanzer's International Wine Cellar - 2001 Arcadian Pinot Noir Sleepy Hollow Vineyard Monterey (July/Aug 2005) 90 ($50) - "Medium red with a pale rim. Strawberry, smoke, mocha, cola and earth on the nose. Nicely concentrated and silky-smooth, with Burgundian flavors of strawberry, earth and underbrush. Thick, sweet and plump but manages to hold its shape. Finishes sweet and persistent. Nicely balanced, accessible pinot, with a firm edge of acidity. With extended aeration, this showed a deeper red color and brighter aromas of raspberry and underbrush; a growing silky sweetness; and distinctly firm-edged tannins, with late notes of minerals and woodsmoke."

Steven Tanzer's International Wine Cellar - 2001 Arcadian Pinot Noir Gary's Vineyard Monterey (July/Aug 2005) 92 ($62) - "Red berries, spices, mocha, rose petal and underbrush on the nose; showed lovely perfume as it opened in the glass. Began a bit disjointed and spirity, but showed much more sweetness with aeration, becoming quite silky, with a sappy wild raspberry aroma and deep flavors of red fruits, spices and underbrush. The acids seem more thoroughly integrated than those of the Sleepy Hollow. Ultimately quite Burgundian in style, finishing with suave tannins, lovely subtle persistence and note worth structure. These are utterly fascinating wines that grew distinctly deeper in color with extended aeration and showed fresher aromas and flavors too."

Steven Tanzer's International Wine Cellar - 2001 Arcadian Pinot Noir Pisoni Vineyard Monterey (July/Aug 2005) 88+ ($97) - "Good deep red. Brooding, reticent nose offers black cherry, rose petal, mint and some high-toned, edgy oak. High-pitched and tightly wound; penetrating but a bit youthfully rigid. Compared to the Sleepy Hollow and Garys' bottlings, this is distinctly drier in the mouth, with a darker fruit character. Finishes youthful and persistent, but quite dry. Extremely unevolved pinot, in need of at least a couple more years of patience. With aeration, this showed more finishing sweetness and length, but remained relatively unyielding."

BURGHOUND.COM (3rd Quarter 2005 - Issue 19) THE ULTIMATE BURGUNDY REFERENCE - "Readers should know that Joe Davisí goal is to create serious, long-lived and intense Burgundian styled wines ..."

Robert Parker.com Discussion Board (June 19, 2005) - "The best Pinot I have ever had was the 2002 Arcadian Francesca, an entirely different style, and a staggering Burg replica." - Roy Piper

Wine Skinny.com (June - July 2005) For the inside skinny on wine! - "2001 Pinot Noir Garys' Vineyard ($45). Lush and voluptuous, with ripe black cherry flavors layered with bacon fat, toasty vanilla, earth and smooth spices. Maintains a sense of elegance, even with all these big flavors and a fair amount of grip. Would be a lovely match for most foods -- and practically begs for something with bacon and mushrooms! Ready to drink now and over the next four or five years." Locate this wine in your area!

Wine Skinny.com (June - July 2005) For the inside skinny on wine! - "2000 Pinot Noir Pisoni Vineyard ($75). The 2001 vintage of this wine is on the way, but if you still have a chance at any of this 2000 -- you should take it. Practically Perfect Pinot, with complex layers of flavors that are beautifully integrated -- no single thing stands out. Red berry, plum, black cherry, tobacco, mushroom, sweet spices, earth, smoked meats, toast, just a touch of vanilla. Long, focused, elegant finish. Very good now and over the next eight to ten years." Locate this wine in your area!

Santé Magazine (June 2005) The Magazine for Restaurant Professionals - "2001 Sleepy Hollow Vineyard Chardonnay - Complex aromas lead to a full bodied, rich palate with concentrated, complex fruit including ripe apple, peach/nectarine, pineapple, and mango plus a hint of butterscotch. Lobster, roasted chicken, pork." Sante Gold Star Award Winner

Santé Magazine (June 2005) The Magazine for Restaurant Professionals - "2002 Sleepy Hollow Vineyard Pinot Noir - Medium to full bodied, rich, and spicy with complex aromas and flavors of ripe red and black fruit, game, mushroom, herbs, rhubarb, and roasted coffee. Duck, pheasant."

Santé Magazine (June 2005) The Magazine for Restaurant Professionals - "2000 Pisoni Vineyard Pinot Noir - Medium to full bodied, exceptionally well balanced, and complex with lush, ripe red and black fruit, strawberry preserves, meat, mushroom, and toasty oak; long finish with subtle hints of spice. Beautiful. Pork loin, beef stroganoff."

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