TN: 2000 Arcadian Chardonnay Bien Nacido Vineyard

WINE TALK
#1

I’ve had several bottles of this wine, and have always thought it to be at the top-end of domestic chardonnay, but today’s showing really blew me away. This is just a bitchin’ bottle of wine.


  • 2000 Arcadian Chardonnay Bien Nacido Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Maria Valley (4/4/2015)
    This is a simply stunning example of mature chardonnay that is, for my preferences, at its zenith. Showing a bit of bronzing in color and some slight oxidative notes, but buttressed by loads of still-fresh acidity, lemon, and salted hazelnuts in the mouth. The finish keeps on rolling thanks to the great extract and just seems to pull on the back of the tongue. Wow…super impressive juice.

Posted from CellarTracker


This wine reminds me a lot of its '96 sibling that we had at Jim Dietz’s house from magnum back in December of '08 when we did an all Arcadian dinner with Joe (thanks again Gerry!). I posted notes on it back then on eBob, and have always thought of it as my California chardonnay benchmark. This one may have just reached the same height.

PS - if someone would be kind enough to get me a copy of the notes I posted to eBob from that tasting via PM, I’d be most appreciative.

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#2

awesome. Keep telling myself i’m going to resign up to their club, keep not doing it. Gotta do it soon!

#3

Charlie - I can certainly relate to that sentiment, but I won’t let Arcadian fall into that category…

#4

Atta boy, RJ. Nice note. I believe that day I was in Dietz’s backyard with you, along with Jason Hagen, Rob Winn and a few other guys, life GF who doesn’t post much here, if at all. I just remember a lot of Arcadian one day at Dietz’s old place and I think at that time, my palate wasn’t aligned to where it is today so I’m not sure if I could appreciate what was being poured that day.

#5

Good memories fellas. The chardonnays that night at Dietz’s confirmed something I still believe which is, similar to what Rick said, that Arcadian chardonnays are at the highest level of California white wine.

Thanks for the note.

Jason

#6

Ok, I am supposed to be working, but here I go into my wine storage, looking to see what’s there. Pretty sure this one is not there.

#7

As is their Pinot Noir… flirtysmile

TTT

#8

You were indeed there Mr. Murray… and, with your new perspective/palate preferences, perhaps we ought to revisit a similar line up in the future (with Jason and the rest of the old crew) again.

#9

Count me in!

J

#10

i wasn’t invited tot he first one, but feel free to invite me to this one :smiley:

#11

I would love to do an Arcadian tasting again. I have plenty of wines to contribute.

#12

In. Where is Dietz? He should host for continuity. Jimbo, where you at?

#13

I’d be up for hosting a retrospective. I remember that one going on to well after midnight and a second round of grilling carne asada.

Was WetRock there? It’d be good to get him back in the mix.

We could consider inviting Fu. neener

And there are lots of new Arcadian fans now who might want to join in.

#14

Me me me…pick me :wink:

#15

New guys, yeah, like you, Bryan.

#16

Semaj, hazlo!

How about June?

#17

Sure

#18

Let’s do it!

Wetrock was there, as was Joe. And I see we started chasing the Arcadian with Tequila [wow.gif]

Jason
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#19

Good to see the enthusiasm here. June is a tough one for me, workwise (end of our Fiscal Year), but let me check with the Mrs. and get a couple of dates down to you guys of when I/we could travel down for the Arcadian get-together v2.0.

This will be fun.

#20

OK - as promised, I’ve done some date-checking…how would the weekend of July 17/18 work for folks? I could do either Friday (evening) or Saturday (afternoon and/or evening).