WTN: 2006 Arcadian PN, Fiddlestix

[Jenise]

Light to med color and body. Acid more present than the muted fruit, and overall it lacks depth. Not enough stuffing to carry a big Burg bowl, so we moved the wine to a smaller chardonnay glass where it showed a bit better, but only a bit. This isn't what I expect from Arcadian.

I guess I can feel fortunate not having any of this in my cellar.

[Jenise]

I guess I can feel fortunate not having any of this in my cellar.

Yes indeed. My first ever Arcadian disappointment. Some on Cellartracker have posted similar notes so I don't think it's bottle variation, though mine is the harshest.

How has Fiddlestix ultimately developed as a vineyard? Pretty cool there in a normal year. Warm enough to produce great Pinot most of the time, or marginal with occasional greatness? Over the course of many vintages and several producers, what is the concensus? No good reason for asking, just reminiscing, and Kathy was in my class way back when.

[Jenise]

How has Fiddlestix ultimately developed as a vineyard? Pretty cool there in a normal year. Warm enough to produce great Pinot most of the time, or marginal with occasional greatness? Over the course of many vintages and several producers, what is the concensus? No good reason for asking, just reminiscing, and Kathy was in my class way back when.

Craig, it was Kathy's Fiddlestix pinot that besotted me with California pinot noir quite some time ago, and I often buy the vineyard when I see bottles from other producers like August West and Hitching Post. Telling you that reminds me that I have a 2006 HP Fiddlestix, in fact, in the cellar. I should open it soon and compare.

Whenever I'm disappointed with an Arcadian, I attribute it to not having the patience to wait longer, as I feel Arcadian needs the time, but I'm not sure of the Fiddlestix vineyard. I just added some 2001 Sleepy Hollow in order to keep my hands off the rest. Jenise, I don't believe that August West makes wine from Fiddlestix Vineyard.

[Jenise]

Really, re August West? I could swear I bought both a Fiddlestix and a Rosella's together back in California a few years ago. I'm a fan of AW's Rosella's and couldn't resist a Fiddlestix when I saw one. If it wasn't August's, then whose was it I wonder. I definitely have the HItching Post from a different trip, though.

I totally hear you re patience. It's just that the 06 Sleepy Hollow is drinking so well, or was as I finished mine, so I decided to try a Fiddlestix. It just didn't taste like it was merely sleeping--I will not, however, dump them down the drain. I've been wrong before.

I don't have any bottles of this although that is around the time I got way behind on my Cellartracker inputting. Thanks for the note. If I stumble across I'll share it with Dr. Dietz

I'm also a fan of August West's Rosella's, and if you haven't tried Ed Kurtzman's own label, Sandler, I recommend you give it a try. I especially like his Keefer's Vineyard.