Dirty and dank, a sweet culmination of all things lovely. Woody graciousness and toe jam and edgy fruit, musty herbaceousness of grandeur and spot-on syrah goodness: HOW do you NOT equate this in the realms of absolute aged Rhone perfection? Magically dreary and disgustingly bright, an achievement of complexity goals SOOOO exceeding the also-rans around here: the never-ending From and Krankl clones, the myriad of supposed *restrained* upper Edna Valley offerings, the Ballard Canyon Bros, and frankly MOST of the young guns of Syrah production. This shows the absolute 1% glow on a plethora of levels almost impossible to quantify with words. Leather and lace, tobacco and sweet liqueur, so alive, so not over, despite an age at which most Santa Barbara reds are long past feeling spry.
I know this guy probably speaks to most on Burgundian terms–especially from his heritage–but as I often say: whenever you find a great Pinot & Chard producer, look for their Syrahs, and you’ll almost ALWAYS find something quite exceeding the norm. This is no exception.
Holy shit this is a gorgeous wine–one I’ve enjoyed many many times in the past decade and it just gets better and better. The purposeful release by this producer with long barrel & bottle age is not accidental. Find it. Buy it. Drink it.
2006 ARCADIAN WINERY Syrah Westerly Vyd Happy Canyon Santa Ynez Valley Santa Barbara Co. 14.9
Stephen McConnell 