I’ve long had a soft-spot for Arcadian, and went quite long on the '05s. As such, I thought it’d be fun to check in on two of my favorites; the Sleepy Hollow chardonnay and pinot, neither of which I’ve had in over a year. I continue to be impressed with the trajectory Joe’s '05s are taking, and believe that something special is coming for those who are patient.
2005 Arcadian Sleepy Hollow Chardonnay - Followed over 2 days, with consistent notes throughout. Beginning to show, slightly, its age with a more yellow color both in hue and bouquet than prior bottles. She also seems to be gaining richness with a distinct waxiness to the still vibrant fruit. Excellent acidity, and very well proportioned. Perhaps in the early stages of developing secondary nuances, which may put this in the hold or drink now bin depending on you like your chardonnay. I’ll be holding as I believe there is great upside to come.
2005 Arcadian Sleepy Hollow Pinot Noir - Followed over 2 days, with day 2 showing best. Really classy effort here, with tremendous energy and harmony all at once. The nose is effusive with dark red strawberry fruit and an herbal tone in the background. The palate is still taut, but beginning to show a more velvety character to the fruit than prior bottles (especially on day 2), suggesting that it should continue to open up nicely over the next 12+ months and (by my estimation) hold for several years. I am excited to see where this goes, and continue to believe that Joe’s 05’s are going to be really special when they fully blossom.
Good notes Rick and perfect timing. I set up a dinner tonight with Joe Davis and 14 others where we will be tasting blind flights of white and red Burgs against his Chards and Pinots. One of the Chards is the 05 Sleepy Hollow [along with the 06]. TNs forthcoming.
I do remember the color of the 05 Sleepy Hollow Chardonnay being worrisome (i.e. getting fairly deep yellow/gold) when I opened one last month, but the wine was superb and not oxidative at all.
I know I’m badly scarred from years of white Burgundies, and I’m not sure whether that color is indicative of the aging curve of the wine or not. I also don’t know what color the wine was in its youth, as that was my first bottle.
Charlie, Im happy to hear you enjoy his wines. Ive got an idea our palates enjoy the same company from all of your posts Ive read. We should be in for a treat tonight. Ive not had his Syrah or Chardonnay, but like the Pinots very much with one exception, the 04 Pisoni. It was after I posted notes on that wine that Joe contacted me about doing something like what were doing tonight.
He evidently did something similar recently in the San Fernando Valley with Alan Meadows and others and his wines “showed very well” and in some instances merited apologies from some who had them as Burgundy, a good thing. Perhaps you were there?
I was at the tasting with Meadows and Joe. His wines were the best. We had about 10 Burgundy reds and about 10 of Joe’s wine (white and red). There was a DRC and several other top red burgs. I think the 2001 and 2005 Sleepy Hollow pinots were the top rated wines. A few had the 2002 Fiddlesticks as their top wine. i had five of his older chards last month . At 10 and 12 years old they were OMG wines. Joe can do no wrong with pinot or chard. I am not a big fan of the Arcadian syrah.
Mike, glad to know you were there as Ive only heard from Joe about it; we did not have the quality of Burgundy Id hoped for, but it was an interesting evening with winners on both sides. The 01 SH was my WOTN. The 02 Stix was very good.
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