WTN: Arcadian, Savage Grace, Soos Creek and more

[Jenise]

A few from the past week:

2006 Arcadian Pinot Noir Pisoni Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands
Taupe-hued lighter garnet color of a wine that's left childhood behind. Strawberry nose with tomato skin and a touch of minerals on the midpalate; peppery on the finish. Overall, a savory Pisoni that's also the most delicate and ethereal Pisoni I've ever tasted, which is not at all a failure unless one hates wines that demand contemplation. Or Burgundy. I would suspect that's not Joe's usual customer.

2008 Chelan Estate Merlot Estate Vineyard Columbia Valley
Bought because the 2007 was one of the most ridiculous bargains in Washington wine I've encountered and is still going strong, but this 2008 is already heading OTH.

2010 Soos Creek Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Red Mountain Red Bordeaux Blend
Very pretty nose that celebrates the floral side of Cabernet Sauvignon. Medium bodied, more red fruit than black, with a bit of spice and sandalwood. Good now but needs to develop some secondary nuances to show everything it was made to offer. Would target 2016-2018 for a next bottle.

2012 Maison Bleue Jaja Yakima Valley Red Rhone Blend
Nicely balanced and obviously a well made wine, but too young (read: grapey) for my tastes at this time.

2012 Savage Grace Wines Cabernet Franc Rattlesnake Hills
This is a super-hot new winery in WA. Based in Woodinville, his whites have been getting lots of buzz, in particular a riesling I've been trying (unsuccessfully) to get a bottle of for David Bueker that apparently had all the ITB guys at the recent Taste of Washington tipping off each other to go try. After that kind of build-up, I was actually disappointed in this CF. It's soft and easy in a way that disguises the edginess I love about cabernet franc. Baby fat?

I'd never heard of Savage Grace - interesting name! - so thanks for the heads up.

It's interesting that I have both the 2005 and 2007 Arcadian Pisoni, but no 2006. I don't know how that happened.

[Jenise]

Diane, did you buy other 06's? I'm sorry, I can't recall, though I know we've discussed the vintage before. Oh yes--it was the Fiddlestix, which I was disappointed in. You may or may not have caught my note from a few months later on the Hitching Post 06 Fiddlestix, but it was more complete than the Arcadian though still suggesting a cool vintage. You're more experienced than I with Arcadian wines, but I've had various Arcadians from 00 through 06 now, and Pisoni only from 01 and 00. This 06 was much lighter and quite delicious, it was just not at all what I would expect based Joe's 00 and 01, and most Pisoni's from other vintages I've had from other winemakers.

I drank 2 bottles of 2006 Arcadian Dierberg in 2011 and and a 2006 Jill's Cuvée in 2010, and I enjoyed them all. I have 2 bottles of 2006 Francesca and am now tempted to open one - so, sometime in the next couple of months, I'll drink a Francesca's Cuvée.