Arcadia Roze: Changing Minds & Hearts
Some months ago, I had the chance to re-taste a number of Arcadia wines with winery owner Zeynep Arca Şallıel and US importer, Sharap Imports. Among the wines was one I’d not ever tried before, the Arcadia Roze. Why hadn’t I tried it? Well, we know I don’t love rosé. Additionally, for better or worse, my focus remains firmly on the native grapes of Turkey. It takes something pretty extraordinary to get me to drink anything Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot (especially the latter).
Folks, I am a convert! Not to all Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, or rosé. But to this wine? Yes!
shameless self promotion!
Arcadia Roze, 2021
For this rosé, Arcadia blend Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with a small amount of the wine having some skin contact and the bulk direct press. The pale, onion-skin pink color showed clean and brilliant in the glass.
Very pale straw color with green highlights with aromatic white peach, nectarine, lemon, honeysuckle, wet stone and a hint of petrichor. On the palate it’s dry and very fresh with white peach, nectarine, honey, Meyer lemon flavors accented with a wet stone minerality and citrusy long finish
Lightly aromatic with red plums, currant, honey, linden, and black current leaf. The palate was full-bodied, weighty, and dry with 14% abv and really nice acidity. Red fruits upfront followed by a breath of flowers and tropical notes like guava and loquat.
This was really nice. Something I would definitely buy again and freely recommend!
Zeynep told us that there are records of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot being grown in Erenköy “for the palace” as long ago as the 17th century. I’d love to see those records.