Heater week; 3/8/2024-3/17/2024 (Chicago, IL): I liked this more than the 2003 -- it was lighter and more balanced, with more of a red-fruit profile that was pronounced and also more lifted.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Balanced and elegant still showing some nice cherry and floral notes but buttressed by wood, tea, and olive. Still nice but definitely with tertiary characteristics.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I've been a fan of the older ex cellar releases from Cayuse (I've also had the 2000 Coccinelle) precisely because they allow those of us who only got on the list within the last 10 years an opportunity to see what extended age does for these wines.
To my palate they age beautifully and I'm coming to the view that their syrahs really do need 10 - 15 years to settle into themselves. The "funk" has become beautifully integrated and the wine has lovely depth and richness without being heavy. Plenty of acidity to balance the fruit, the bottle was a great match with grilled pork kebabs.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Another Cayuse syrah that doesn't disappoint. PnP, it was rich with meaty funk, olive, dark fruit, and tobacco. Tannins have completed rounded out and fully integrated. I love aged Washington syrahs and it is hard to find a better example of why outside of this bottle. It's definitely still in its peak drinking window, but I don't see it declining for several more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was a confusing bottle. It tasted just ok after about an hour decant but nothing special - maybe 88. We moved on to a 2010 Dominus which was far superior and left the Cayuse for a night. Day two it had evolved tremendously into a spectacular bottle - maybe 95. We decided against finding out what happened on day three.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Short decant. Consumed with steak with Gary and K after a day of tasting at JC (meatball) and Latta. Fragrant, full of life, balanced, smooth. A bit too jammy and sticky.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep garnet in color with slight bricking edges. Nose of cherries, tobacco, and hint of iron. Tastes of cherries, leather, dark chocolate, and black pepper with hint of iron. Lovely mouthfeel, nice balance, and great fruit for 15 years. Drink over the next 5-7 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is still drinking incredibly nicely. Pretty similar to my earlier notes. There is a lot of complexity here -- some nice subtle barnyard, dark fruits, all nicely integrated. Drank over an evening with neighbors so did not take more detailed notes. But my sense is that this will last a while yet -- indicating again that these wines can age for a while. (Or at least some of them can!)
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Cayuse dinner: Another excellent bottle. This shows complex aromas of olives, smoke, sweet barbecue sauce, pork belly, soy, roasted red peppers, on top of blueberries and plums. The palate is velvety and dusty, and the balance is lovely, as the blueberries and plum fruit coats the palate I get tons of tobacco, smoke, leather, beef, barbecue sauce, soy, roasted peppers, all sorts of green and black olives. Still so much time ahead, but a lovely showing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The nose smacks of just post-mid-life-crisis, it’s audaciously, if not hesitantly, refined. On the massive side it delivers blackberry and cured pork. Pot purri, iron and blood orange privide a strong backbone. It’s medium bodied, plush, velvety and oh-so-smooth. Integration is immaculate. Flavors hit on big doses of menthol and chili spice that drive cherry, mulberry, strawberry and raspberry. The background features Five Spice, sherried cherry and Açaí. The depth of this wine surpasses many limits.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very savory without any of the Cayuse funk. Black pepper, olive, blackberry, some iron and game notes as well. Very pleasant acids, tannins are silky, nice expression of Syrah.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine is stank. A couple of hours in the decanter helped to mitigate the stank a little, but it never completely disappeared. I've read about the barnyard style of Cayuse wines in general, and bought a few bottles on the premise that I would love it. Not sure if what I describe as an unpleasant stank is the same that others describe as a desirable earthy barnyard, but if so I'm stuck with stank wine. Could have been an off bottle, or maybe just not my style. Have a few newer vintages that I'll try before I throw in the towel. Not rating this wine in hopes it was flawed.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Really enjoyed the nose on this wine with it's huge black pepper aromatics intermixed with exotic spice, olives and black fruit. The palate was a little less interesting and seems to be getting tired.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I've bought a load of Cayuse recently, as boy do I love it. This was my benchmark 'older wine' to see how it aged. Answer - pretty well. This drank well, still with lots of fruit. However the second night it was not as bright - I think this is nearing the end of its life. Still a great, stanky wine, with cherry / plum.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wow, this so smelled of nasty ass when it hit the decanter that I was worried it might be flawed. Just nasty, vegetal, day after eating too much bell pepper ass. But, over the first hour the berries popped. Less ass, more fruit. Second hour, meat came to town. Now we've got bacon berry ass (BBASSS). And I'm all about the BBASSS in a cool climate Syrah.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Probably the best domestic syrah I've ever had. PnP, full of bacon and wild sage but also endowed blue, black and red fruits that manage to be generous without going over the top. Incredibly silky mouthfeel.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted and poured. Vigorous nose of wildflowers, meat, and cotton candy. Lots of dark fruit, perhaps slightly faded. Long finish dominated by basalt/graphite, a little overpowering IMO. Not sure if this was better balanced when it was younger. Didn't change much over four hours.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Performed well on first night in particular. Meat, fruit and tobacco present on the nose and palate, and nicely balanced. On the second night the fruit notes subsided leaving more prominent meat aromas and flavor. Likely an indication that its time has come.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Had this at Canlis in Seattle and it was absolutely singing. Beautiful Syrah. Complex, well balanced, with soft tannins. There was a good mixture of savory and sweet aspects to this. On the nose, I got some blueberries, some cherries, some meat, and some black/green olives (like a tapenade). On the palate, the savory aspects shine in my opinion. There was a good amount of fruits but the more predominant notes came from its savory aspects. Like to nose, the palate had some black/green olives, some meat (kind of like smoked meat), maybe a little of charcoal, and some blackberry/cherry/blueberry fruits. Very good acidity here with a long finish. I really enjoyed this wine! I would not wait if you have more bottles of this. It seems to me like this is currently as good as it is going to get.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
My first Cayuse.....and it did not disappoint. Tasting notes similar to Radboy. What a great (and unique) combination of flavors. Overall, very well integrated and balanced. At 11 years old, it is just starting to show some age in the color and on the nose. Drinking great right now. Glad I have a variety of years and vineyards of this producer in my cellar.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
[Tasted blind from my cellar but I didn't know that] Jerky, tapenade, liquid smoke, cherry, faintly feral scents. Pretty clearly cool climate Syrah here. I'm finding a lot to like and dislike here; the sappy sweet/savory is interesting but I also feel like there's a streak of underripeness that gives the smoked meat an almost cigarette vibe. Revisiting this later and it had a candy, syrupy character to it. Weird, but I think everyone felt like it was clearly a SOnoma Coast or Washington Syrah. Interesting wine to pick apart but not something I'll buy at the current value.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Monday Night at Ripple (Ripple - Cleveland Park - Washington, DC): More than a year since my last tasting, and this one is still kicking. I get beef jerky, tons of green and black olives, as well as pickled beet and soy on the nose, not to mention the blueberry and bright cherry fruit. The blueberry, blackberry and wild cherry fruit is juicy and creamy, but the non-fruit flavors steal the show: green olive, smoked meat, crispy pork belly, roasted peppers, did I mention olives? Still showing dusty tannic structure and the acid helps tame the velvety mouthfeel a bit. Just a gorgeous wine.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
94. Drinking so nicely. Wonderful olive brine. Still dark and intense. Even a little brooding. The flavors go on and on. Lots of complexity here. Not overly funky. Very savory, some violets, grilled meat, roasted fat. Opened for some of Jen's midwife friends. One or two could really appreciate it. Will definitely improve with age. I wish I had saved some for the next day to try!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
In a real sweet spot right now. Beautiful balance between earthy fruit and intricately delineated tannins. I see no reason to not drink my last few bottles near term.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Our last one :( This bottle had plenty of life left in it, but I'm not sure I see it getting much better. Really enjoying the cayuse wines with a few years under their belt as the funk diminishes and you are left with some fascinating juice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
In a good spot right now. Earthy, olives, dark blood fruit (whatever the hell that is). Basically really good shit. The nose is ethereal and worthy of nose hits!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Yet again, a simply stunning Cayuse - bl olives, pork crackling, soy, a bloody saline element - great freshness and tension on entry, perfectly balanced - I'm not sure I'm even going to more than splash decant this, it seems geared up and ready for action - blood orange, red cherries, cocoa, tar, smoke, blood, choke cherries etc etc. Impressive.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Complex and interesting, but becoming a little flabby. Middle aged and out of shape maybe... Looks pretty dark, some bricking at rim, and there is a brick note through the robe. Nose is rocking, intense and powerful, sweet, but almost too sweet, sweaty, meaty aroma over lots of sweet ripe blackberry. Palate is only good, a little soft, nicely ripe, certainly very tasty, blackberry cherry fruit, with a vegetal green olive note on the finish. Also has some of that meaty, sweaty note. Decently long finish. I would say this should be drunk soon. Very interesting though.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose was strong with olive, seared meat, funk, strawberry, and blackberry. On the palate there was blueberry, and strawberry, olive, seared meat, and funk. The finish was long and the mouthfeel was great. The bottles get so much better with age on them.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
30th Birthday Party: My wine of the night, but it's Cayuse, so that's not surprising. One of my initial "Aha!" wines, and it proves itself again. So much beef jerky, olive, charcoal and loam mixing in with the aromas of blueberry and fresh strawberry. Full and creamy on the palate, with intense bursts of blueberry, strawberry and blackberry, mixed in with tons of olive tapenade, peppered steak, BBQ sauce and roasted red pepper. Pure, complex and downright sexy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
While I have loved this wine in the past, it didn't fare well in a blind 24 bottle syrah tasting. Finished 8th behind a joseph phelps syrah(?!?), 2009 no girls, 2004 enchamberlin, and a K 2003 morrison lane to name a few. Will drink my last bottle soon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very intense wine, sweet jammy fruit at first then this melange of flavors with bloody meat and dried fruit being the strongest. The finish had surprising tartness, and went on and on. There was a residual of brown spice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Brought to a restaurant, finsihed at home several hours later. Plum, dark blue fruits, meaty, iodine are all words that come to mind but somehow I think it is missing the funk or rather the funk takes a back seat to everything else. Really well balanced and tannins are fully integrated. Nice smooth long finish. Drinking exceptionally well right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The Cailloux Syrah is co-fermented with 4% Viognier. 15.5% ABV. Blood red in color with some bricking around the edges. A soaring nose of plums, cherries, flowers and grilled meats. The palate is awash with blood, iodine, sausage, game, dark cherries, minerals and cabbage. The finish is long and supple. Great depth and complexity. The wine is literally a meal in and of itself. Unmistakably and unapologetically Cayuse. Aging beautifully. Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Enjoyed with a prime rib dinner and tasted the wine over a six hour period throughout the evening. I found the wine very opulent, to an extreme level that made it an absolute fruit bomb with too little structure. I liked the nose as it continued to develop throughout the evening but the palate became softer to the point of trying to chill it to tighten it up and tone down the alcohol impression. Blue and black fruits dominated the flavours with lots of cream soda and flat coca-cola notes. The tannins were too soft and the super ripe fruit tasted extracted rather than finessed. I was looking for much more complexity and tertiary tones and found even food wasn't taming this fruit bomb. I'm glad I opened it when I did as I would think it would only get more flabby from here?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
In a very good zone right now. Decanted but not sure that it needed it. Remarkably fruit driven with notes of plum and plethora of red and black fruits. Underneath the fruit are layers of underbrush, smoked meats, gravel and hoisin sauce that add a level of depth. While powerful and palate staining, seems to retain a rather lithe feel. Drink up!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Hate to do this as one of the biggest Cayuse fans in the US, but this one is past its prime. Direct from winery & cellared at 55 since. Poepped & poured...better initially, but this lost its stuffing pretty quickly, within 2 hours. Has much of the great Cayuse nose & palate, but something is missing. Towards the end, thefinish stay withyou, but it is almost sour. I do not think this gets better with age, but I'll leave 1 more bottle to chance.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A perfect example of the older profile of Cayuse that has more or less smack dab in the middle of maturity. By older profile, I mean the strong vegetal and funk characteristics that can be off putting to some, but I have always been ok with, well, maybe a little more than just ok ;0 Anyway, a strong constant of bitter chocolate provided a nice counter balance to the classic grilled veggie and ox blood flavors, low acidity but plenty of mysterious structure, very expansive on the back half and finish. A unique and wonderful experience, but I am far more excited about how the 07 and 08 Cailloux’s will be at the same age of around 8 years of bottle age. At peak, I can see this hold for another 3 to 5 years, but not improving any.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
An amazing nose that has bacon, dirt, mocha and lead. This one goes on for days on the finish. Super balanced. Cayuse wines always justify the hype. I've a couple more and will hold for a few more years. Drank after the 2003.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Started drinking with a shorter then usual 30 minute decant. Fantastic, in your face-slap your hiney fruit bomb. Finally started to let go at about the 90 minute mark . One of the better Cailloux releases I have had.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Quite eccentric, a great mix of both new and old world.
Color: Dark red with maroon edges
Nose: Dark chocolate, olive, pepper, meaty stew, cookie dough (yes), and pepper aromas meld with fruits like cassis and blackberry
Palate: Brisk minerality comes through the sappy and ripe dark red fruits like raspberry and blackberry, savory olive and meaty flavors accent the fruit, and a little spice tops it all of.
Solid with rack of lamb!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
What else can be said except for the food pairing. Had this with a salad. Yes, a salad. Mixed greens with a vinegrate topped with fried goat chees, pears, and pine nuts served with grilled olive bread. It was the bomb.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Classic Cayuse nose of smoked meats, spices and berries. Silky and seductive, the wine is like velvet on the palate with ultra fine tannis. The fruit starts with tart blackberries that morphs over several seconds into cranberries and a hint of melon. Ethereal fumes abound for over a minute. Will continue to develop for 2-3+ years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Spectacular, wonderful nose with a very characteristic earthy barnyard smell, after some air an amazing fruit forward taste with some oh so well integrated cedar notes. Perfect finish, hints of vanilla. An absolute circus of well integrated flavors. Wow.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bring on the funk. According to Hollowine this had been slow-oed about 11 hours. Great funky nose, black and red fruits, leather, anise, herb, and that burnt rubber mixed with barnyard funk I usually get from Northern Rhones. On the palate rich deep black fruit, red, raspberry, mint, leather, melted black licorice, herbs, spice. Finishes with great acidity. Tremendous silky mouthfeel and tons of structure. Great showing for this bottle. Outstanding. Drink with short decant or hold. At winery release price, this is a great value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened at 8 am and did a slow-o until I recorked and brought to dinner. First sips/glass were all kinds of Cayuse funk - some barnyard elements, a cool-eucalyptus, creosote, vanilla oak, cedar. We hit half the bottle and then moved on, it needed more time.
Coming back at the end of the night, 2 hours later, it was singing. Bright red fruits, all of the above elements and more with added rubber, smoke, just beautiful Cayuse funk. Only allocated one of these when I first made the list, sad to drink it up but very happy to share with CT friends. 50+5+13+16+10=94
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The nose was full of burnt rubber, raw meat and a sexiness that just drew your nose to the glass. On the palate, the entry was smooth, full of cherry, and a smokiness that I would associate with a fireplace inthe winter in Stowe VT as ooposed to the smoke from a Marlboro light. There was a vegetal greenness that I had trouble getting my arms around. A bit of green pepper as well as pine tress and moss. This wine is a thoughtful wine: every sip forces you to stretch your sensory limits. I think the extra bottle age helped smooth out the front end. Maybe with a little more time, the back end will come through as well. I would also descibe tis wine as chewy, unctuous and primal. This was my last bottle of this vintage. A funeral for a friend that I wish I had gotten to know better before the last one ran out.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
wow, for a freeze year in Walla Walla, Cayuse really put out another gem. The nose is so distinct, earthy spice with a cherry aroma. I do not consider myself to have a refined palate but I do think I could pick out a Cayuse syrah out of any line up. The taste was a well integrated cherry taste with a killer finish. Oh my goodnes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Final wine of the night. Dark purple and gorgeous nose of red fruit, floral notes. Quite weighty but very well balanced. Acidity present so the wine didn't feel jammy in any way. Delicious. wish i had more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Great wine - a hint of heat, but very well integrated & balanced. Signature nose, which blew off with some time. Initially popped & poured - the wine evolved in amazing ways in the glass. Just love these wines!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I absolutely love the 2004 Cayuse lineup. Christophe was able to take full advantage of the freeze in Walla Walla and turn these wines into something truly unique. Very funky to be sure. I have always preferred the 2004 En Chamberlin, but this is definitely right in the same league. loads of red fruits on this one for me, especially bing cherries. Bright fruit with the barnyard, blood meat behind. Can't wait to revisit in a year or so.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
DECANTED FOR THREE HOURS, HAD LOTS OF FLOWERY PERFUMY NOTES IN THE NOSE WITH BIG BERRY FRUIT. RICH FLAVORS OF BLUEBERRIES AND BLACK CHERRIES. ELEGANT COMPLEX WINE WITH A LONG FINISH.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted one hour. Shared with Russell From & McPrice Myers to celebrate Russell's birthday. This wine was beautiful, earthy, fragrant, minerally, delicious. Tremendous complexity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Boy is this a great wine. Wonderful melding of old and new world styles that builds on strength of both. Animal flavors and bacon but plenty of rich, ripe fruit. I will try to get on this list.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Weekend wines in 2 shifts (Issaquah, WA): Dark purple color. The nose had candied red fruit aromas, with a note of canned corn. With some air the nose took on a black-eyed peas type aroma that was really cool. The palate had nice dark fruit flavors with some spice and earth notes. The mouthfeel was lighter than I expected at first, but this put on some weight with air time. Medium-long finish with a very nice spicy earth note. Not funky in that Cayuse way, but still a very nice bottle, and my WOTN.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
quick notes from the wine dinner. funky town, cabbage, radishes, young, hay, anise, mineral, huge finish. Although this didn't show as well as the 01 I think it has more to offer with a few more years in the bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I was predisposed to like this wine since I have been wanting to taste a wine from Cayuse for some time now. With that caveat stated, this wine absolutely melted my face off with its awesomeness. On the nose, initially this was an earthy, mineral-driven, jar of black olives; by far the briniest nose I have ever had the pleasure of smelling. Over time, the black olive shifted to a greener smell (cabbage maybe) and then turned bloody. By the last sniff, this smelled like the best roast-beef sandwich in the world. The palate was fully gorgeous, with minerals and spice and everything nice. Lots of red fruit and acid, and just a hint of smooth, well-integrated tannins. One of the best wines I have ever tasted.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wow! This has improved a lot since tasting at HdR in 07...What was, at that time, overly bretty, is now melded together with with dark lush fruit, beautiful floral overtones and that great meaty characteristic. Definitely has improved with time in the bottle and looks to last quite some time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
In a word, Wow. Deep, dark, brooding, sexy, plushy aromatics that with the 15% alcohol on the label you'd think would foretell something overly powerful and extracted. Not so! Deep and dark berry fruit with woodsy, toasty notes and elegant tannins that drop in to an long and balanced finish. Perfect on a chilly night with a storm coming in.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ok, ok, so I was so gonna wait to open this cuz the older cayuse wines i've had are oh so good.....but I couldn't help myself and I have the 05 and 06's coming in november!! Yes, I'm not a patient man! haha
Color - light ruby lighter then most syrahs altho it seemed to darken as it sat in the decanter for 5yrs.
Nose - mineral, mineral, MINERAL! The vineyard really pulls up the earth for me and not loam like so may others. Some plums and cherries, black olive brine, saltines and some spices too.
Palate - again hit huge with the mineral but it fell back into the fray as it decanted. Everything from the nose transcended to the palate. But after 4-5hrs it took on a lot more vegetal qualities. Baked tomato slices to some beef stew qualities. A lil wood on the finish but not oaky in any way. I love, love, love this wine. Some times you can hone in on the cherries or plums, then the mineral and earthy qualities then out of now where BOOM a burst of spices! It's balanced but makes my palate have ADD!!!
I continue to say it, but once they produce more Grenache, mourvedre, cincult they are gonna KILL at cdp blends!!!!!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
needed some time to open up. upon opening, it was very tarry and smoky with the fruit somewhat hidden. 24hrs later the fruit was more upfront...dark, dark, dark berry, showing a bit too much extraction but not overboard. in the 24hrs it had been open, things had integrated nicely. loooonnngg finish. a great wine that is drinking nicely.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
WOW! Absolutely delicious! Crushed wet stone & berry aromas and flavors on the palate with oaky notes. Chewy tannins and a LONG finish highlight a wonderful syrah!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dropped by the wine store around the corner from my office and they had two bottles of this wonderful syrah sitting on the shelf so naturally I took both. This is the third time this has happened in the last year..a good reason to visit your local wine shop frequently! Very fruit forward.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Intense black olive/saline aromas right out of the box. A bit of the pickle character I experienced with the previous bottle as well as with bottles at a summer offline. With time in the glass, sweet fruit emerged along with a toasty oaky vanillin. I was surprised at the subtlety of intensity of the fruit, expecting more richness and concentration, even in a freeze year such as 2004. The wine did pair well, though, with the braised short ribs and celery-root puree.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
3/17/2024 - acyso wrote: 90 Points
Heater week; 3/8/2024-3/17/2024 (Chicago, IL): I liked this more than the 2003 -- it was lighter and more balanced, with more of a red-fruit profile that was pronounced and also more lifted.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/2/2024 - knorthrip Likes this wine: 93 Points
Balanced and elegant still showing some nice cherry and floral notes but buttressed by wood, tea, and olive. Still nice but definitely with tertiary characteristics.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/11/2020 - PJRONeill wrote: 94 Points
I've been a fan of the older ex cellar releases from Cayuse (I've also had the 2000 Coccinelle) precisely because they allow those of us who only got on the list within the last 10 years an opportunity to see what extended age does for these wines.
To my palate they age beautifully and I'm coming to the view that their syrahs really do need 10 - 15 years to settle into themselves. The "funk" has become beautifully integrated and the wine has lovely depth and richness without being heavy. Plenty of acidity to balance the fruit, the bottle was a great match with grilled pork kebabs.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/22/2020 - Winning_Wines Likes this wine: 94 Points
Another Cayuse syrah that doesn't disappoint. PnP, it was rich with meaty funk, olive, dark fruit, and tobacco. Tannins have completed rounded out and fully integrated. I love aged Washington syrahs and it is hard to find a better example of why outside of this bottle. It's definitely still in its peak drinking window, but I don't see it declining for several more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/25/2019 - dederer wrote:
This was a confusing bottle. It tasted just ok after about an hour decant but nothing special - maybe 88. We moved on to a 2010 Dominus which was far superior and left the Cayuse for a night. Day two it had evolved tremendously into a spectacular bottle - maybe 95. We decided against finding out what happened on day three.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/19/2019 - rinnocenzi Likes this wine: 95 Points
Fantastic wine. Drinking beautiful right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/2/2019 - tjross Likes this wine: 93 Points
Short decant. Consumed with steak with Gary and K after a day of tasting at JC (meatball) and Latta. Fragrant, full of life, balanced, smooth. A bit too jammy and sticky.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/21/2019 - efeldhake@yahoo.com Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep garnet in color with slight bricking edges. Nose of cherries, tobacco, and hint of iron. Tastes of cherries, leather, dark chocolate, and black pepper with hint of iron. Lovely mouthfeel, nice balance, and great fruit for 15 years. Drink over the next 5-7 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/20/2019 - Ron Slye wrote: 93 Points
This is still drinking incredibly nicely. Pretty similar to my earlier notes. There is a lot of complexity here -- some nice subtle barnyard, dark fruits, all nicely integrated. Drank over an evening with neighbors so did not take more detailed notes. But my sense is that this will last a while yet -- indicating again that these wines can age for a while. (Or at least some of them can!)
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/5/2019 - isaacjamesbaker Likes this wine: 94 Points
Cayuse dinner: Another excellent bottle. This shows complex aromas of olives, smoke, sweet barbecue sauce, pork belly, soy, roasted red peppers, on top of blueberries and plums. The palate is velvety and dusty, and the balance is lovely, as the blueberries and plum fruit coats the palate I get tons of tobacco, smoke, leather, beef, barbecue sauce, soy, roasted peppers, all sorts of green and black olives. Still so much time ahead, but a lovely showing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/5/2019 - goodvitis.com wrote: 96 Points
The nose smacks of just post-mid-life-crisis, it’s audaciously, if not hesitantly, refined. On the massive side it delivers blackberry and cured pork. Pot purri, iron and blood orange privide a strong backbone. It’s medium bodied, plush, velvety and oh-so-smooth. Integration is immaculate. Flavors hit on big doses of menthol and chili spice that drive cherry, mulberry, strawberry and raspberry. The background features Five Spice, sherried cherry and Açaí. The depth of this wine surpasses many limits.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/26/2017 - Bellissimo wrote:
Very savory without any of the Cayuse funk. Black pepper, olive, blackberry, some iron and game notes as well. Very pleasant acids, tannins are silky, nice expression of Syrah.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/26/2017 - bobadopolis Does not like this wine:
This wine is stank. A couple of hours in the decanter helped to mitigate the stank a little, but it never completely disappeared. I've read about the barnyard style of Cayuse wines in general, and bought a few bottles on the premise that I would love it. Not sure if what I describe as an unpleasant stank is the same that others describe as a desirable earthy barnyard, but if so I'm stuck with stank wine. Could have been an off bottle, or maybe just not my style. Have a few newer vintages that I'll try before I throw in the towel. Not rating this wine in hopes it was flawed.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/6/2017 - KenK wrote: 91 Points
Good but showing early signs of age. Drink
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/5/2017 - Nanda wrote: 90 Points
Really enjoyed the nose on this wine with it's huge black pepper aromatics intermixed with exotic spice, olives and black fruit. The palate was a little less interesting and seems to be getting tired.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/23/2016 - Winevestor Likes this wine: 93 Points
I've bought a load of Cayuse recently, as boy do I love it. This was my benchmark 'older wine' to see how it aged. Answer - pretty well. This drank well, still with lots of fruit. However the second night it was not as bright - I think this is nearing the end of its life. Still a great, stanky wine, with cherry / plum.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/20/2016 - Filerimos Likes this wine: 95 Points
Wow, this so smelled of nasty ass when it hit the decanter that I was worried it might be flawed. Just nasty, vegetal, day after eating too much bell pepper ass. But, over the first hour the berries popped. Less ass, more fruit. Second hour, meat came to town. Now we've got bacon berry ass (BBASSS). And I'm all about the BBASSS in a cool climate Syrah.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/11/2016 - Neecies Likes this wine: 95 Points
Probably the best domestic syrah I've ever had. PnP, full of bacon and wild sage but also endowed blue, black and red fruits that manage to be generous without going over the top. Incredibly silky mouthfeel.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/22/2016 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted and poured. Vigorous nose of wildflowers, meat, and cotton candy. Lots of dark fruit, perhaps slightly faded. Long finish dominated by basalt/graphite, a little overpowering IMO. Not sure if this was better balanced when it was younger. Didn't change much over four hours.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/17/2016 - eszencia wrote:
Performed well on first night in particular. Meat, fruit and tobacco present on the nose and palate, and nicely balanced. On the second night the fruit notes subsided leaving more prominent meat aromas and flavor. Likely an indication that its time has come.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/30/2015 - Sanfoan Likes this wine: 94 Points
Had this at Canlis in Seattle and it was absolutely singing. Beautiful Syrah. Complex, well balanced, with soft tannins. There was a good mixture of savory and sweet aspects to this. On the nose, I got some blueberries, some cherries, some meat, and some black/green olives (like a tapenade). On the palate, the savory aspects shine in my opinion. There was a good amount of fruits but the more predominant notes came from its savory aspects. Like to nose, the palate had some black/green olives, some meat (kind of like smoked meat), maybe a little of charcoal, and some blackberry/cherry/blueberry fruits. Very good acidity here with a long finish. I really enjoyed this wine! I would not wait if you have more bottles of this. It seems to me like this is currently as good as it is going to get.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/11/2015 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Was a bit musty on opening, but that blew off with a bit of time and then this was classic cayuse - rocks and meat and bacon. Very enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/9/2015 - wine4ever Likes this wine: 93 Points
My first Cayuse.....and it did not disappoint. Tasting notes similar to Radboy. What a great (and unique) combination of flavors. Overall, very well integrated and balanced. At 11 years old, it is just starting to show some age in the color and on the nose. Drinking great right now. Glad I have a variety of years and vineyards of this producer in my cellar.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/10/2015 - andtheodor wrote:
[Tasted blind from my cellar but I didn't know that] Jerky, tapenade, liquid smoke, cherry, faintly feral scents. Pretty clearly cool climate Syrah here. I'm finding a lot to like and dislike here; the sappy sweet/savory is interesting but I also feel like there's a streak of underripeness that gives the smoked meat an almost cigarette vibe. Revisiting this later and it had a candy, syrupy character to it. Weird, but I think everyone felt like it was clearly a SOnoma Coast or Washington Syrah. Interesting wine to pick apart but not something I'll buy at the current value.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/16/2015 - Radboy wrote: 94 Points
Black olives, brine, soy, dark berry fruit well integrated with the softest of tannins...another Christophe gem bites the dust.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
12/25/2014 - waibeans Likes this wine: 91 Points
Better on the second night, more red fruit coming through. First night it tasted rather green.
Rich smooth mouthfeel. Enjoyed it.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/15/2014 - manonthemoon wrote: 93 Points
Had at a wine dinner.
N cherry, herbs, soy
P blackberry, cherry fruit, olives, meat
F above average finish, good mouthfeel
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/15/2014 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 94 Points
Monday Night at Ripple (Ripple - Cleveland Park - Washington, DC): More than a year since my last tasting, and this one is still kicking. I get beef jerky, tons of green and black olives, as well as pickled beet and soy on the nose, not to mention the blueberry and bright cherry fruit. The blueberry, blackberry and wild cherry fruit is juicy and creamy, but the non-fruit flavors steal the show: green olive, smoked meat, crispy pork belly, roasted peppers, did I mention olives? Still showing dusty tannic structure and the acid helps tame the velvety mouthfeel a bit. Just a gorgeous wine.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/8/2014 - Ron Slye Likes this wine: 94 Points
94. Drinking so nicely. Wonderful olive brine. Still dark and intense. Even a little brooding. The flavors go on and on. Lots of complexity here. Not overly funky. Very savory, some violets, grilled meat, roasted fat. Opened for some of Jen's midwife friends. One or two could really appreciate it. Will definitely improve with age. I wish I had saved some for the next day to try!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/26/2014 - Radboy wrote: 94 Points
In a real sweet spot right now. Beautiful balance between earthy fruit and intricately delineated tannins. I see no reason to not drink my last few bottles near term.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/19/2014 - lirvingham Likes this wine: 94 Points
Our last one :(
This bottle had plenty of life left in it, but I'm not sure I see it getting much better. Really enjoying the cayuse wines with a few years under their belt as the funk diminishes and you are left with some fascinating juice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/18/2014 - Radboy wrote: 94 Points
In a good spot right now. Earthy, olives, dark blood fruit (whatever the hell that is). Basically really good shit. The nose is ethereal and worthy of nose hits!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/13/2013 - blackcat38 wrote: 91 Points
Showed some age, but opened up nicely. All the depth and flavor of his Syrahs
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/30/2013 - winot Likes this wine: 94 Points
Yet again, a simply stunning Cayuse - bl olives, pork crackling, soy, a bloody saline element - great freshness and tension on entry, perfectly balanced - I'm not sure I'm even going to more than splash decant this, it seems geared up and ready for action - blood orange, red cherries, cocoa, tar, smoke, blood, choke cherries etc etc. Impressive.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/2/2013 - thebonnydooner wrote: 92 Points
Complex and interesting, but becoming a little flabby. Middle aged and out of shape maybe...
Looks pretty dark, some bricking at rim, and there is a brick note through the robe. Nose is rocking, intense and powerful, sweet, but almost too sweet, sweaty, meaty aroma over lots of sweet ripe blackberry. Palate is only good, a little soft, nicely ripe, certainly very tasty, blackberry cherry fruit, with a vegetal green olive note on the finish. Also has some of that meaty, sweaty note. Decently long finish.
I would say this should be drunk soon. Very interesting though.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/25/2013 - manonthemoon wrote: 93 Points
Nose was strong with olive, seared meat, funk, strawberry, and blackberry.
On the palate there was blueberry, and strawberry, olive, seared meat, and funk.
The finish was long and the mouthfeel was great.
The bottles get so much better with age on them.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/25/2013 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 94 Points
30th Birthday Party: My wine of the night, but it's Cayuse, so that's not surprising. One of my initial "Aha!" wines, and it proves itself again. So much beef jerky, olive, charcoal and loam mixing in with the aromas of blueberry and fresh strawberry. Full and creamy on the palate, with intense bursts of blueberry, strawberry and blackberry, mixed in with tons of olive tapenade, peppered steak, BBQ sauce and roasted red pepper. Pure, complex and downright sexy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/25/2013 - lirvingham wrote: 91 Points
While I have loved this wine in the past, it didn't fare well in a blind 24 bottle syrah tasting. Finished 8th behind a joseph phelps syrah(?!?), 2009 no girls, 2004 enchamberlin, and a K 2003 morrison lane to name a few. Will drink my last bottle soon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/30/2013 - skifree wrote: 93 Points
Very intense wine, sweet jammy fruit at first then this melange of flavors with bloody meat and dried fruit being the strongest. The finish had surprising tartness, and went on and on. There was a residual of brown spice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/28/2013 - Bellissimo wrote:
Brought to a restaurant, finsihed at home several hours later. Plum, dark blue fruits, meaty, iodine are all words that come to mind but somehow I think it is missing the funk or rather the funk takes a back seat to everything else. Really well balanced and tannins are fully integrated. Nice smooth long finish. Drinking exceptionally well right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/4/2013 - tomlee wrote: 95 Points
The Cailloux Syrah is co-fermented with 4% Viognier. 15.5% ABV. Blood red in color with some bricking around the edges. A soaring nose of plums, cherries, flowers and grilled meats. The palate is awash with blood, iodine, sausage, game, dark cherries, minerals and cabbage. The finish is long and supple. Great depth and complexity. The wine is literally a meal in and of itself. Unmistakably and unapologetically Cayuse. Aging beautifully. Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/25/2013 - ocperu wrote: 95 Points
Glorious just like Elizabethy! 9 year old bottle for 9 years I marriage.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/25/2013 - ocperu wrote: 95 Points
Glorious just like Elizabethy! 9 year old bottle for 9 years I marriage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2012 - hungrysommelier wrote: 89 Points
Enjoyed with a prime rib dinner and tasted the wine over a six hour period throughout the evening. I found the wine very opulent, to an extreme level that made it an absolute fruit bomb with too little structure. I liked the nose as it continued to develop throughout the evening but the palate became softer to the point of trying to chill it to tighten it up and tone down the alcohol impression. Blue and black fruits dominated the flavours with lots of cream soda and flat coca-cola notes. The tannins were too soft and the super ripe fruit tasted extracted rather than finessed. I was looking for much more complexity and tertiary tones and found even food wasn't taming this fruit bomb. I'm glad I opened it when I did as I would think it would only get more flabby from here?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/17/2012 - manga wrote: 94 Points
In a very good zone right now. Decanted but not sure that it needed it. Remarkably fruit driven with notes of plum and plethora of red and black fruits. Underneath the fruit are layers of underbrush, smoked meats, gravel and hoisin sauce that add a level of depth. While powerful and palate staining, seems to retain a rather lithe feel. Drink up!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/1/2012 - Easter Everywhere wrote: 94 Points
Superb! Profusive fruit, complex, earthy, smooth
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/12/2012 - gbbwino wrote: 88 Points
Hate to do this as one of the biggest Cayuse fans in the US, but this one is past its prime. Direct from winery & cellared at 55 since. Poepped & poured...better initially, but this lost its stuffing pretty quickly, within 2 hours. Has much of the great Cayuse nose & palate, but something is missing. Towards the end, thefinish stay withyou, but it is almost sour. I do not think this gets better with age, but I'll leave 1 more bottle to chance.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/4/2012 - mlawren1 wrote: 95 Points
Strawberries just burst out of the glass then give way to plums and cherries. Nice earthy core.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/13/2012 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION Likes this wine: 94 Points
Dusty vegetal earthiness and blackberry jam. Not much funk. Light purple color with a translucent rim. The best Cayuse I’ve had to date.
See more detail at
http://maximumsatisfaction.tumblr.com/post/29163145565
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/12/2012 - Dale M wrote: 93 Points
A perfect example of the older profile of Cayuse that has more or less smack dab in the middle of maturity. By older profile, I mean the strong vegetal and funk characteristics that can be off putting to some, but I have always been ok with, well, maybe a little more than just ok ;0 Anyway, a strong constant of bitter chocolate provided a nice counter balance to the classic grilled veggie and ox blood flavors, low acidity but plenty of mysterious structure, very expansive on the back half and finish. A unique and wonderful experience, but I am far more excited about how the 07 and 08 Cailloux’s will be at the same age of around 8 years of bottle age. At peak, I can see this hold for another 3 to 5 years, but not improving any.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/25/2011 - mlawren1 wrote: 95 Points
Absolutely sublime wine. Perfect balance of fruit and earth. Layers of plums and cherries and currants. Finishes with a hint of chocolate.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/10/2011 - skifree wrote: 92 Points
Lazy, just sat on the deck and enjoyed with two dinners. Noticeably smoother and more complex on day 2. No hurry on this.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/6/2011 - ThatReeder wrote: 95 Points
An amazing nose that has bacon, dirt, mocha and lead. This one goes on for days on the finish. Super balanced. Cayuse wines always justify the hype. I've a couple more and will hold for a few more years. Drank after the 2003.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/30/2011 - Radboy wrote: 94 Points
Started drinking with a shorter then usual 30 minute decant. Fantastic, in your face-slap your hiney fruit bomb. Finally started to let go at about the 90 minute mark . One of the better Cailloux releases I have had.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/30/2011 - tkoby11 wrote: 92 Points
Quite eccentric, a great mix of both new and old world.
Color: Dark red with maroon edges
Nose: Dark chocolate, olive, pepper, meaty stew, cookie dough (yes), and pepper aromas meld with fruits like cassis and blackberry
Palate: Brisk minerality comes through the sappy and ripe dark red fruits like raspberry and blackberry, savory olive and meaty flavors accent the fruit, and a little spice tops it all of.
Solid with rack of lamb!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/21/2010 - rben_mvp wrote: 94 Points
What else can be said except for the food pairing. Had this with a salad. Yes, a salad. Mixed greens with a vinegrate topped with fried goat chees, pears, and pine nuts served with grilled olive bread. It was the bomb.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/13/2010 - sinebubble wrote:
What happened? This did not show well. Thin with little of the Cayuse funk. First Cayuse I've had that disappointed. Crap.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/5/2010 - last chance wrote: flawed
slightly corked - just enough to seem off in context of a 3 year vertical.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/1/2010 - pjhr wrote: 94 Points
A killer syrah! A bit more mellow than 3 years ago, but still incredibly delicious!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/16/2010 - phenricsson wrote: 92 Points
Animals, blood but still good fruit. Very good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/8/2010 - GA_Seattle wrote: 92 Points
Classic Cayuse nose of smoked meats, spices and berries. Silky and seductive, the wine is like velvet on the palate with ultra fine tannis. The fruit starts with tart blackberries that morphs over several seconds into cranberries and a hint of melon. Ethereal fumes abound for over a minute. Will continue to develop for 2-3+ years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/1/2010 - Saul wrote: 94 Points
Spectacular, wonderful nose with a very characteristic earthy barnyard smell, after some air an amazing fruit forward taste with some oh so well integrated cedar notes. Perfect finish, hints of vanilla. An absolute circus of well integrated flavors. Wow.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/16/2010 - GalvezGuy wrote: 94 Points
Bring on the funk. According to Hollowine this had been slow-oed about 11 hours. Great funky nose, black and red fruits, leather, anise, herb, and that burnt rubber mixed with barnyard funk I usually get from Northern Rhones. On the palate rich deep black fruit, red, raspberry, mint, leather, melted black licorice, herbs, spice. Finishes with great acidity. Tremendous silky mouthfeel and tons of structure. Great showing for this bottle. Outstanding. Drink with short decant or hold. At winery release price, this is a great value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/16/2010 - Hollowine wrote: 94 Points
Opened at 8 am and did a slow-o until I recorked and brought to dinner. First sips/glass were all kinds of Cayuse funk - some barnyard elements, a cool-eucalyptus, creosote, vanilla oak, cedar. We hit half the bottle and then moved on, it needed more time.
Coming back at the end of the night, 2 hours later, it was singing. Bright red fruits, all of the above elements and more with added rubber, smoke, just beautiful Cayuse funk. Only allocated one of these when I first made the list, sad to drink it up but very happy to share with CT friends. 50+5+13+16+10=94
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/21/2010 - rdsboca wrote: 93 Points
The nose was full of burnt rubber, raw meat and a sexiness that just drew your nose to the glass. On the palate, the entry was smooth, full of cherry, and a smokiness that I would associate with a fireplace inthe winter in Stowe VT as ooposed to the smoke from a Marlboro light. There was a vegetal greenness that I had trouble getting my arms around. A bit of green pepper as well as pine tress and moss. This wine is a thoughtful wine: every sip forces you to stretch your sensory limits. I think the extra bottle age helped smooth out the front end. Maybe with a little more time, the back end will come through as well. I would also descibe tis wine as chewy, unctuous and primal. This was my last bottle of this vintage. A funeral for a friend that I wish I had gotten to know better before the last one ran out.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/15/2010 - Saul wrote: 94 Points
wow, for a freeze year in Walla Walla, Cayuse really put out another gem. The nose is so distinct, earthy spice with a cherry aroma. I do not consider myself to have a refined palate but I do think I could pick out a Cayuse syrah out of any line up. The taste was a well integrated cherry taste with a killer finish. Oh my goodnes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/11/2010 - rhalbert wrote: 94 Points
consistent with previous note. Wonderful!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/22/2010 - mye wrote: 93 Points
Final wine of the night. Dark purple and gorgeous nose of red fruit, floral notes. Quite weighty but very well balanced. Acidity present so the wine didn't feel jammy in any way. Delicious. wish i had more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/17/2010 - phantphant wrote: 91 Points
Very intense....just like I remember it. Unique earthy crunch...only way I can describe it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/17/2010 - gbbwino wrote: 93 Points
Great wine - a hint of heat, but very well integrated & balanced. Signature nose, which blew off with some time. Initially popped & poured - the wine evolved in amazing ways in the glass. Just love these wines!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/2/2010 - rhalbert wrote: 94 Points
I absolutely love the 2004 Cayuse lineup. Christophe was able to take full advantage of the freeze in Walla Walla and turn these wines into something truly unique. Very funky to be sure. I have always preferred the 2004 En Chamberlin, but this is definitely right in the same league. loads of red fruits on this one for me, especially bing cherries. Bright fruit with the barnyard, blood meat behind. Can't wait to revisit in a year or so.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/22/2009 - buckeye76 wrote: 95 Points
DECANTED FOR THREE HOURS, HAD LOTS OF FLOWERY PERFUMY NOTES IN THE NOSE WITH BIG BERRY FRUIT. RICH FLAVORS OF BLUEBERRIES AND BLACK CHERRIES. ELEGANT COMPLEX WINE WITH A LONG FINISH.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/20/2009 - NomadicEntrepreneur wrote:
took a while to open up, but was totally great when it did
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/17/2009 - blondon wrote:
Decanted one hour. Shared with Russell From & McPrice Myers to celebrate Russell's birthday. This wine was beautiful, earthy, fragrant, minerally, delicious. Tremendous complexity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/23/2009 - Mr T wrote:
Boy is this a great wine. Wonderful melding of old and new world styles that builds on strength of both. Animal flavors and bacon but plenty of rich, ripe fruit. I will try to get on this list.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/20/2009 - last chance wrote: 93 Points
Weekend wines in 2 shifts (Issaquah, WA): Dark purple color. The nose had candied red fruit aromas, with a note of canned corn. With some air the nose took on a black-eyed peas type aroma that was really cool. The palate had nice dark fruit flavors with some spice and earth notes. The mouthfeel was lighter than I expected at first, but this put on some weight with air time. Medium-long finish with a very nice spicy earth note. Not funky in that Cayuse way, but still a very nice bottle, and my WOTN.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/3/2008 - Jared wrote: 93 Points
Deep purple. Nose of minerals, pepper, flowers, smoke. Fresh fruit and spices in the mouth. Damn good. 93pts.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/15/2008 - bajayngo wrote: 94 Points
quick notes from the wine dinner. funky town, cabbage, radishes, young, hay, anise, mineral, huge finish. Although this didn't show as well as the 01 I think it has more to offer with a few more years in the bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/7/2008 - zitarell wrote:
I was predisposed to like this wine since I have been wanting to taste a wine from Cayuse for some time now. With that caveat stated, this wine absolutely melted my face off with its awesomeness. On the nose, initially this was an earthy, mineral-driven, jar of black olives; by far the briniest nose I have ever had the pleasure of smelling. Over time, the black olive shifted to a greener smell (cabbage maybe) and then turned bloody. By the last sniff, this smelled like the best roast-beef sandwich in the world. The palate was fully gorgeous, with minerals and spice and everything nice. Lots of red fruit and acid, and just a hint of smooth, well-integrated tannins. One of the best wines I have ever tasted.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/25/2008 - tskrueger wrote: 92 Points
Wow! This has improved a lot since tasting at HdR in 07...What was, at that time, overly bretty, is now melded together with with dark lush fruit, beautiful floral overtones and that great meaty characteristic. Definitely has improved with time in the bottle and looks to last quite some time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/1/2008 - noiregonian wrote: 93 Points
In a word, Wow. Deep, dark, brooding, sexy, plushy aromatics that with the 15% alcohol on the label you'd think would foretell something overly powerful and extracted. Not so! Deep and dark berry fruit with woodsy, toasty notes and elegant tannins that drop in to an long and balanced finish. Perfect on a chilly night with a storm coming in.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/20/2008 - bajayngo wrote: 95 Points
Ok, ok, so I was so gonna wait to open this cuz the older cayuse wines i've had are oh so good.....but I couldn't help myself and I have the 05 and 06's coming in november!! Yes, I'm not a patient man! haha
Color - light ruby lighter then most syrahs altho it seemed to darken as it sat in the decanter for 5yrs.
Nose - mineral, mineral, MINERAL! The vineyard really pulls up the earth for me and not loam like so may others. Some plums and cherries, black olive brine, saltines and some spices too.
Palate - again hit huge with the mineral but it fell back into the fray as it decanted. Everything from the nose transcended to the palate. But after 4-5hrs it took on a lot more vegetal qualities. Baked tomato slices to some beef stew qualities. A lil wood on the finish but not oaky in any way. I love, love, love this wine. Some times you can hone in on the cherries or plums, then the mineral and earthy qualities then out of now where BOOM a burst of spices! It's balanced but makes my palate have ADD!!!
I continue to say it, but once they produce more Grenache, mourvedre, cincult they are gonna KILL at cdp blends!!!!!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2007 - b.f wrote: 91 Points
needed some time to open up. upon opening, it was very tarry and smoky with the fruit somewhat hidden. 24hrs later the fruit was more upfront...dark, dark, dark berry, showing a bit too much extraction but not overboard. in the 24hrs it had been open, things had integrated nicely. loooonnngg finish. a great wine that is drinking nicely.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/17/2007 - pjhr wrote: 94 Points
WOW! Absolutely delicious! Crushed wet stone & berry aromas and flavors on the palate with oaky notes. Chewy tannins and a LONG finish highlight a wonderful syrah!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/6/2007 - JasonNYC1 wrote:
Thought this was great. Had power and finesse w/o being tannic. Great nose - very enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/5/2007 - trankin wrote:
Hospice du Rhone; 5/3/2007-5/6/2007 (Paso Robles, CA): I've liked prior vintages - this didn't do it for me, at least at this tasting
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/31/2007 - Gadwall wrote: 91 Points
Dropped by the wine store around the corner from my office and they had two bottles of this wonderful syrah sitting on the shelf so naturally I took both. This is the third time this has happened in the last year..a good reason to visit your local wine shop frequently! Very fruit forward.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/9/2006 - cdlater wrote:
Intense black olive/saline aromas right out of the box. A bit of the pickle character I experienced with the previous bottle as well as with bottles at a summer offline. With time in the glass, sweet fruit emerged along with a toasty oaky vanillin. I was surprised at the subtlety of intensity of the fruit, expecting more richness and concentration, even in a freeze year such as 2004. The wine did pair well, though, with the braised short ribs and celery-root puree.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment