Arcadian Santa Ynez Valley Syrah
$64.99 + $5 shipping
CONDITION: Red
PRODUCT: 4 2005 Arcadian Syrah Westerly Vineyard, Santa Ynez Valley
CT link above

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Lot's of positive CT reviews from Lot18 buyers. Very tempting despite my Syrah inventory.

Winery: what style were you aiming for with this?

Syrah had a tough run for a few years there, both in the market and with me. However, I have been brought back to really enjoying Syrah from and modeled after (at least in part, although keeping the source's terroir) the Northern Rhone.

Arcadian has their tasting room in my home town. Awesome wine.

This wine went through micro-oxing?? Interesting! Can you explain why you chose to do this? Michael Haven's was (is?) a big defender of this practice, but it has garnered some substantial criticism from many in the business.

Hmmm ... looks to be a good enough wine, but the price? It looks like at $70/4, it's about $17 + change per bottle which, on Wine-Searcher, is about average.

So - is this a deal? Or just good wine at a pretty standard price?

kylemittskus wrote:This wine went through micro-oxing?? Interesting! Can you explain why you chose to this?

I wonder how common it is to perform micro-oxygenation on California wines.... Ever since I saw Mondovino it seemed like Michel Rolland's answer to every problem he encountered was to use this approach (to the point where it was getting ridiculous how common this solution was proffered - "il faut micro-oxygèner!" - it could be its own drinking game). It would be interesting to know why this wine maker chose to do this, if that is indeed the case.

neilfindswine wrote:Winemaker Joe Davis should be joining us in the AM.

His Syrahs are amazing. I bought a couple bottles of the Stolpman Vineyard Syrah when it was on Lot 18 and it's amazing.

I'm going to have to start taking donations for a wine cooler.

Too many "can't resist, must purchase" wines have been up here. It is kinda stress full having all this wine in my kitchen.

I can't afford a decent wine cooler, but I have all this wine. I have all this decent wine; I can't afford to not get a wine cooler. A true batch-22.

I've been buying their wines from Lot18 and LOVING them! My first taste was of their Stolpman Syrah, which was absolutely fabulous. I have also had the Westerly Syrah, which is also quite satisfactory. I also paid more for them on Lot18... This is a great buy!

So glad to see them here on Wine.Woot! Definitely in for one!

ETA: Lot18 has their Fiddlestix Vinyard Sta. Rita Pinot Noir for sale. Bought some of that, too. I love me some Arcadian reds!

Such an amazing hidden jewel of a Syrah! This is one of my local favorites.

Can I just order 1. I don't want 4. I'm curious as to how beef jerky tastes in a wine...

I love syrah from this region and loved the Stolpman winery syrah I had a few years ago. But the racks are full, so not this time.

I have a feeling there is not a lot of this to go around.

NYC, who wants to split?

Joe, get out of bed (or off the tractor) and on the computer, it's almost lunchtime back east! I'd text you a picture of Elvis but you changed your cell number right after you gave it to me.

Just kidding. Excellent wine!!!

I've got a bottle of the Arcadian Stolpman Vineyard from the same vintage. I'm curious to hear the winemaker's thoughts on the differences between that Syrah and this one.

redwinefan wrote:I've got a bottle of the Arcadian Stolpman Vineyard from the same vintage. I'm curious to hear the winemaker's thoughts on the differences between that Syrah and this one.

Yes, I'd like to know the difference as well. The Stolpman seems to go for a little more. I'm guessing it's because the grapes are from a better/more exclusive vineyard?

No delivery to Kansas or Missouri? Usually at least one of them is on the list. Sooo sad.

this is the wine my wife and I served at our wedding. it's a well-rounded syrah with some earthy and peppery notes. we're planning to hold onto ours for a few years. enjoy!

I like the numbers on this wine and if Stillman likes it, it should be good.

neilfindswine wrote:Winemaker Joe Davis should be joining us in the AM.

I though morning in CA was about 6 hours ago...

ScottHarveyWines wrote:I like the numbers on this wine and if Stillman likes it, it should be good.

I agree Scott - this looks to be right up my alley - I'm in for 2!

kylemittskus wrote:This wine went through micro-oxing?? Interesting! Can you explain why you chose to do this? Michael Haven's was (is?) a big defender of this practice, but it has garnered some substantial criticism from many in the business.

We do not micro ox wines, in fact we have built a reputation on working in a reductive environment. Let's remember this wine spent 22 months in barrel and if we had micro oxed here it would have been to much in my opinion. See the fact sheet for levels of dissolved O2. While I recognize that Syrah has a propensity to produce excessive sulfides for which additional oxygen can bind up. We also recognize the benefits of the absence of oxygen in long term development. My interest lies in whats evolves in the bottle over the long term.

arcadiansyrah wrote:My interest lies in whats evolves in the bottle over the long term.

Speaking of long term, I've got more Syrah than I have room for, but could drink up some older stores I need to get rid of. Properly cellared, how long could this wait till I get around to it?

redwinefan wrote:I've got a bottle of the Arcadian Stolpman Vineyard from the same vintage. I'm curious to hear the winemaker's thoughts on the differences between that Syrah and this one.

Westerly is located on the far eastern side of the Santa Ynez Valley. It is much warmer than the Ballard Canyon where Stolpman Vineyard is located.

Soils are quite different with Stolpman you have a great deal of limestone throughout wile Westerly is more clay loam with red chirt throughout. These contribute in many ways to the texture of the wines in terms of calcium levels. to my mind Stolpman has always been the most elegant Syrah we produce while Westerly is a bit more brambly and forward. To say the least they are very different and stand out as excellent representatives of their respective sites.

rjquillin wrote:Speaking of long term, I've got more Syrah than I have room for, but could drink up some older stores I need to get rid of. Properly cellared, how long could this wait till I get around to it?

I have been working with Westerly since 2003 so this is the third vintage from this site for Arcadian. As I mentioned in an earlier post we are interested in the evolution over a long period of time, so our focus is on preserving the structure of the wine by protecting against excessive oxygenation. In a word I would expect this to drink well for 15 years from vintage and perhaps longer. This also depends upon how you prefer your wines due you like them in a primary state with more up front fruit or due you prefer the subtle nuance of older wines?

arcadiansyrah wrote:I have been working with Westerly since 2003 so this is the third vintage from this site for Arcadian. As I mentioned in an earlier post we are interested in the evolution over a long period of time, so our focus is on preserving the structure of the wine by protecting against excessive oxygenation. In a word I would expect this to drink well for 15 years from vintage and perhaps longer. This also depends upon how you prefer your wines due you like them in a primary state with more up front fruit or due you prefer the subtle nuance of older wines?

Pretty much the answer I was -hoping- for. There are plenty of new-world bottles out there, I have some I need to dispose of.
I, but not my wallet, thank you for the push.
Glad you made up here for Q&A, it's what makes this place so special.
Last wooter to woot: rjquillin
Hoping you get your sell-out.

ScottHarveyWines wrote:I like the numbers on this wine and if Stillman likes it, it should be good.

Scott,

I remember selling you a bunch of used barrels back when I was making wine at Morgan. You drove down in an old pickup with side fences and stacked three or four high and strapped them down. It must of been 1988 or 89!

No shipping to Iowa just saved me $70, but I would have loved to try this.

stillmanbrown wrote:Joe, get out of bed (or off the tractor) and on the computer, it's almost lunchtime back east! I'd text you a picture of Elvis but you changed your cell number right after you gave it to me.

Just kidding. Excellent wine!!!

Stillman,

You still in Colorado!Or are you in Paso these days. Sorry to be late to the party but I was hanging out with my son Max at his school this morning.

rjquillin wrote:Pretty much the answer I was -hoping- for. There are plenty of new-world bottles out there, I have some I need to dispose of.
I, but not my wallet, thank you for the push.
Glad you made up here for Q&A, it's what makes this place so special.
Last wooter to woot: rjquillin
Hoping you get your sell-out.

We originally produced 644 cases which we sold all but 100 cases. We offered a total of 60 cases to Wine Woot and have kept 40 for our library.

veenstrak wrote:No shipping to Iowa just saved me $70, but I would have loved to try this.

You would have been blown away! I wish we had distribution in Iowa too.

tuneandsquid wrote:Can I just order 1. I don't want 4. I'm curious as to how beef jerky tastes in a wine...

It tastes delicious go ahead and get 4, you won't regret it.

sdbcmr wrote:Hmmm ... looks to be a good enough wine, but the price? It looks like at $70/4, it's about $17 + change per bottle which, on Wine-Searcher, is about average.

So - is this a deal? Or just good wine at a pretty standard price?

Are you kidding me, it's a hell of deal. And there is no more, what's in the market is all there is. A seven year old Syrah that is just hitting its stride for this price are you kidding me.

Well. I have way too much red on hand but this just sounds too promising to pass up -- I've loved the Stolpman reds I've had before. (yes, different styles, but neighbors at least). Guess I'll let them rest for a bit before trying them, though after 7 years they probably don't need too much more age, yes? No?

A bit of googling turns up a 2007 LA Times article http://www.latimes.com/features/la-fo-vineyards5sep05,0,3006677.story praising wines from the Westerly and other lesser-known Santa Barbara vineyards.

arcadiansyrah wrote:Are you kidding me, it's a hell of deal. And there is no more, what's in the market is all there is. A seven year old Syrah that is just hitting its stride for this price are you kidding me.

After reading your posts, I'm in for 1. As a graduate of Lompoc High, I have a soft spot for wineries in the 93436. I'm sure I'll enjoy it as the Stolpman Syrah I purchased last year...

Almost sold out now so click the button while you can!