Decanted and poured a glass immediately, partly because I was excited to drink it and partly because I knew it would change in the glass. Nose: dried blueberries, wet stones, cranberry (some really similar notes to a great OR PN), a hint of forest floor, pine, leather, black pepper and a note that is reminiscent of aged wine that’s hard to describe otherwise. Man this thing kept developing from sip to sip. Palate: Initially it seemed somewhat easy drinking, but it almost seemed to get more tense for a moment and was dominated by black pepper with a subtle blueberry flavor. Alcohol was noticeable on the finish despite being 13.5% abv. I had only tasted Cayuse a few times before and they were never more than a few years in bottle. If you like old wines, this wine, usually described as a lighter vintage, is tasty now, but could go for a decade or more. It had no sediment and still very tense, primary, and tight. I only have one more bottle of this, so it’s going to be difficult, but I’m going to try and hold on to it for a while. Enjoyed with lamb T bones, beer-braised onions and crispy truffle potatoes.
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Decanted for 2 hours - meaty and rich, with flavors of plum and dark berry. Very smooth but delivers that earthy, funky counter to fruit that Cayuse is known for...should be good for years to come.
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Last tasted Feb. 2020, rated it 100. This bottle was less impressive, more one-dimensional. It still had the typical roasted meats, smoky, blackberry aromas and flavors, just not as intense, rich or complex as before. Possibly some bottle variation, but last bottle of this vintage, so I'll never know! Ric
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Nose was good on opening but the palate was off balance with an iodine bitter finish. With about 30 min of air the wine showed more dark red fruit, ham, olive juice, bacon grease, fairly light in style and still has a slightly off balance finish with an iodine lingering taste. I’m not thrilled with the wine for the price and producer… I don’t think it’s going to get any better at this point.
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Crimson in color. 13.5% ABV. Sublime nose of red and black fruits, bacon fat, smoke and olive brine. Medium to full bodied with healthy acidity. Rich and savory with some telltale Cayuse funk. Black cherry, olives, game and minerals on the palate. Tremendous length on the finish. Stunning Syrah at the peak of its powers. Best over the next several years.
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I didn't get the funk. mostly pepper with some fruit notes. smooth tannins and plenty of red fruit. decent but way below expectations. decanted for 30 minutes and drank over 2 hours. no material improvement
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Decanted for four hours and then rebottled for a short drive to dinner. Consumed over another 2-3 hours. Not at all the in your face primary wine that this was in its youth. Amazingly smooth and lithe for such a complement of dark fruited, smoky and meaty complex flavors. Texturally composed, well integrated, this wine is in a very nice place with all the flavors contributing to the whole and no particular component stealing the show. Such unique Syrahs… Drink and hold with plenty of decanting for near term drinking.
Recent TN are consistent with our tasting. Popped 5hrs + decanted 2hrs before tasting. Tiny tasting after pop vs. after decant = night vs. day. Splendid wine.
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Opened last night, aired overnight with just a cork. Absolutely stunning wine. Not really showing much age on the rim, but the nose is super-expressive with sweaty, cheesy, meaty, smoky notes galore over ripe blackberry fruit. Palate is more of the same, full bodied, smooth tannins, nice acidity, sweet blackberry fruit with some cherry notes. Lovely long length on this with smoky meaty notes on the finish. Really a fantastic wine drinking at peak. Amazing how consistent these wines are.
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The nose is deep and plush, filling the glass with blueberries, black cherries, raspberries, licorice, olive tapenade, crushed rocks, violets, herbs, tobacco, and some leather notes. The Full bodied feel is balanced and polished with crisp, medium+ acidity and resolved, Medium tannins. This is drinking beautifully and feels like it's right in the window. This is able to show a deft and slightly refined side while still showing off rich and bolder tones. It's wines like this that consistently make me a fan of Cayuse.
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This is really in a good place right now. A bit lighter on its feet due to the cooler year, this is nicely balanced, just not as dense as I find the typical Armada’s. Drank at the three hour mark and it continued to open as went. Dark purple in color, flavors of bramble berry, earth, and lightly “olived”. It seems at its peak and should hold for a few years anyways.
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Color: Dark Ruby with orange edges Nose: Game, barnyard funk, olive brine, mushrooms, red fruit Palate: Deep red and black fruit, blood, slate Medium+ Acidity Medium-Full Body Long finish Exceptional.
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Crimson in color with some bricking at the edge of the glass. 13.5% ABV. Brilliant nose of red fruits, smoke, bacon fat and plums. Medium body with ample acidity. Supple, plush and funky. Cherries, game, blood and minerals on the palate. Nice length on the finish. Perhaps not as concentrated as the best vintages of Armada but definitely lots to like here. Best over the next 2-4 years.
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Special Clubs and Cayuse for the 4th of July (Highland Park, IL): Nose: And here we are back to our regularly scheduled programming of Cayuse. This is what I expect as it fills the glass with black cherries, plums, raspberries, embers, licorice, tobacco, crushed rocks, spice notes, and violets. There is a lot of depth and class with a balanced richness to the fruit.
Taste: The feel is full bodied with silky, medium+ tannins and crisp, medium acidity. There is a lot of class, balance, and length with black cherries, plums, raspberries, licorice, crushed rocks, spice notes, tobacco, and violets.
Overall: There is a great amount of black and blue fruits that is backed up with a lot of balance and depth. The feel shows a lot of density and layering that is in a great place right now.
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Pretty similar showing to the one I had in February, delicious, lighter style but still expressive Cayuse. This was probably not showing quite so well, would only give this 92 points tonight, we'll see where this goes tomorrow.
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Drank from Riedel Syrah stem, 2 hour decant, initially a bit of funk and did not enjoy the finish. This improved after decanting. Garnet purple to rim Classic Cayuse nose of cherry, roasted meats, tar, olive, smoke, and floral. Also a bit of graphite/darkness. Intense, but not as big as some vintages, and the Armada is quite refined. Palate is also very restrained for a Cayuse, black/red fruits, smoke, meat, olive, tar, medium+ acid, medium alcohol, medium tannin. 20-30 second finish. Some might criticize this vintage, but it comes off as very restrained and low alcohol at 13.5%. Actually keeps great balance because of this. Can drink now with a decant or in next 5 years, maybe 10.
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Decanted 6 hours; drunk solo over the next 4. Lighter and less structured than most label offerings. This was a bit off-putting on first taste, all iodine/bacon/iron/smoke with no fruit, and definitely needed food accompaniment. NY strip pairing.. ok now that's more like it. Later, it eased into the evening, becoming softer as the secondary cranberry & olive notes came to the fore.. and ended up singing its aria by the final sip.
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Beautiful wine. A little lighter than usual due to the cool vintage, but not lacking in aromatics or flavour. Loads of meaty, smokey, blackberry and dark cherry fruit. Medium to full bodied, ripe and complex with a long fine finish. Not a tonne of tannins but some bright cranberry and red cherry acidity over the blackberry and dark cherry fruit. Not a slam dunk like most of the Cayuse wines, but the lighter vintage does give this a nice lift and great complexity.
Updating note to 2/22/20 - probably even better. Gained some smooth complexity overnight and the aromatics became even more pronounced. Just so tasty as well. Easy 94 points.
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Went well with halibut lunch. A perfect Cayuse, maybe my favorite of his syrahs. It's the biggest and takes longest to come around but this had all the classic aromas and flavors of Baron's best syrahs, with perfect balance of fruit, acid, and tannin. Powerful complex aromas of smoke, tar, roasted meats, flavors to match. Very long aftertaste. Perfectly ready but should easily last at this plateau another few years. Ric
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Showed like pinot noir at first, but the cherries gave way to plums and the earthy, meaty aspects of syrah showed up. Perfect for current drinking and it's another example of the greatness from cool, difficult vintages.
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Nose had the typical Cayuse funk. Palate was nicely structured and full without being over bearing. Lots of syrahs try to overpower you. This one seduces you with its flavors and structure. Lovely notes of olives, savory, spice, with a very smooth, silky mouth feel and finish. Very nice and was gone before we knew it. Would buy again.
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Aromatically this wine was really backwards and weird. Tire rubber, charred wood, lots of reduction. There was massive power to the palate though. Elegant, slightly floral and Tahitian vanilla in the finish. Great longevity. It has the makings of a solid wine, but needs a lot of air.
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Almost can simply cut and paste notes when it comes to Cayuse. One has to start with the obligatory comment on the Cayuse funk, which certainly exists in spades in this bottling. Not off putting at all to me, adds a bunch on interest. Good mouthfeel and density, comes across bigger than it actually is. The bottle went quite quickly. I cannot say it was extremely memorable, more 'just another Cayuse' in that it is very good, individualistic, but not great. Went well with a pork tenderloin.
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Magenta in color. 13.5% ABV. Savory nose of red fruits, olive brine, bacon fat and smoke. Medium to full bodies with perfect acidity. Plush and well structured. Cherries, tapenade, gamey meat, blood and minerals on the palate. Lots going on here. Tremendous length on the finish. A great bottle from an average vintage that perhaps just lacks the concentration I typically expect from Armada. Best over the next 2-4 years.
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Dark red. The funkiness has receded somewhat. Plush plum and red currant notes. Lots of savory classic bacon and black olive flavors on long finish. This has opened up significantly in the past year or so and if it’s positive development to continue.
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Paired with elk steaks. Good pairing. Nose is funky with lots of olive brine and mineral notes Palate has that olive tapenade note with lots of minerality and some nice dark fruit Finish is long and interesting
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Needs at the least a 90 minutes decant, and some hearty food (game particularly recommended). In spite of the fine tannins, this is a wine that's heavy, bloody, tomatoey, and irony. Extensive aeration will also bring out black pepper notes. 13.5% ABV. 90-91
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Black olives on the nose. Black cherry, olive tapenade, and notes of bacon, dill, and green pepper on the medium to long finish, with good acidity. This evolved over a few hours, with the green pepper notes fading. Excellent, but only an average to good value at about $80.
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Part of the Cayuse Syrah 2008/2011 tasting of the Seattle wine group. Sweeter and more floral nose. Also some brett. Very smooth and drinking nicely. Good acid and a nice finish.
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similar to my last note from a few months back... tomato, red plum, hoisin sauce, iron, mineral. well structured with fresh acidity. long finish mixes the mineral and iron in a sanguine way, with just a touch of fruit sitting above.
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Very nice Rhone style Syrah from Cayuse. Medium full bodied. Savory and briney with notes of soy sauce, black olive juice, and charcoal briquette. Very long finish, 30 seconds+. A real winner in my book.
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Nose is funky with lots of olive brine and mineral notes Palate has that olive tapenade note with lots of minerality and some nice dark fruit Finish is long and interesting Will buy again
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Similar notes. Gorgeous Cayuse qualities. Funny red fruit, Forest floor, mushrooms and lots of truffle and pepper. Lovely restrained palate. Stewed red vegetables, touches of iron and crushed herbs Exceptional wine.
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this has got the funk! tomato, blood, iron, peat, wet rock. great acid with a mineral/ baked tomato palate. not much fruit here, but still, this is delicious. acid profile makes this easy to drink. nice spicebox finish. paired with Flannery NY Strip.
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Dark fruit, Olives and a bit of Cayuse funk of course. This is really not a fruit forward wine though...Medium body really. Glorious Funkyuse, then fruit, then the structure. Old world could apply here, but I'm sure get rejected upon minutiau...good no matter what camp say
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Color: transparent, translucent light/medium ruby core -> light ruby rim; certainly lighter than other Cayuse Armadas and lighter than expected. Bouquet belied the light appearance however as it unfurled beautifully over the course of 90+ minutes then held. Saddle leather, roasted meat, fig, olive tapenade and a reasonably low dose of C-funk. Palate shows leather again, minerality, black fruit, a little smoke and a touch of brown sugar. Long, well-balanced and delicious now, I find this to be very finessed and feminine at this stage in its development. Looking forward to seeing how this progresses in the future.
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Decanted for about five hours. Paired well with rare ribeye. Normal Cayuse funk on nose and palate. A bit thin (relative to other Cayuse Syrahs) on finish. Solid, but not a blockbuster.
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Way too green tasting; well crafted, aromas, complex flavors, long finish, but not to my liking. Too green and green pepper like; does not fit my pallet. Could be due to the 2011 vintage; 2011 was not the best year for Washington grapes. Not worth the $$$ I paid for this wine. Amending my original assessment; 3 & 4 days after opening this wine it really came around. Base on that, the wine needs at least 4 to 6 more years of cellaring.
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Nose was very strong with funk initially, strong capers, pepper, jeans, then green green green, bell peppers, sage, etc. But the most profound similarity I got on the nose with this wine was it smelled like an IPA beer. Strong 7.0%+ IPA. Weird.
On the palate, very thin almost like a Pinot Noir. Surprised at how much this under-performed on the palate relative to its price range of $140+. Are you freaken kidding me? No this was not a flawed bottle. 13.5% ABV can maybe explain why. Second day it got even thinner and flatter. I was very offended. If this was a $12 wine, sure. But $140? I'm done.
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Pretty shut down at this point, but does start to come around with a few hours of air. This is probably one of the more focused and intense of the Cayuse wines, however, I tend to lead more to his other Syrahs.
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Really nice nose, Northern Rhone aspects with New World Syrah thrown in, loads of bacon grease and oil form a ham, cherry, strawberry and other medium red fruits, Cigar and vegetation, amazing nose. Palate has an initial attack of bright red fruits, cooking spices, rhubarb, meat and a fairly sour bitter finish. Hopefully with some air or age that finish improves as it's all good until that.
Decanted for 2 hours. This wine has certainly grown and picked up complexity since I drank it last year. Much better wine, to be honest, and it wasn't a slouch last year. The wine has developed a bit more palate weight and is bursting with fig, tea, dark cherry, mushroom, underbrush, olive, camphor, and black raspberries. Very firm, which I suspect is from some whole cluster that was not as present a year ago and lends a nice balance to the fruit. After drinking this bottle, I can see this wine peaking in about 3-5 years with even a few more points of potential lurking inside. Excited to follow the progress. 95pts++.
Nose of dark fruit black pepper and allspice with a hint of leather. The taste is big and bold. Not subtle in any way. This has a long life ahead. Needs some time or a long decant. Dark fruit with a hint of sharpness (raspberry?). There is also an element of plants, much like thistle. Be patient with this wine and I think the ratings will improve.
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Decanted for roughly an hour. Much lighter than any Armada I've had to date both in color and texture/weight. Cold year in Washington has left many wines bereft of intensity and lacking that je ne sais quoi. I would say this wine is not entirely in that camp as it still exudes that meaty savoriness that Armada syrahs are know for, albeit in a smaller package. Lots of plum and currants mashed with roasted game meats. Fairly open but would benefit from 3-5 more years of neglect. 93pts.
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Wines With A View (Capitol Grille Tasting Event) (The Spire): This was my first time having a wine from Cayuse, and it did not leave a good first impression. Both nose and palate were completely overwhelmed by black pepper and capers. Really thin bodied, notes of cranberries. This tasted like a $20 Oregon Pinot Noir. Which isn’t to say that there aren’t a lot of good $20 Oregon Pinots out there. But this masquerading as a $100+ Syrah just seemed a little offensive.
Guys Dinner (Wildfire Chicago): Greg brought to Wildfire Chicago with the guys. So insanely stinky. Literally attacks your senses the moment your nose enters the glass. Dirty blue jeans, pungent dark raspberries and earth. Black olive, briney and salty. Layered massive Cayuse funk. Super young and tight on the finish.
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Popped and poured, moderate ruby hue, vibrant. Memorizing, tension-filled aromas of vegetal funk, crushed raspberries, smoke and an intense impression of minerals. Medium to medium-light body. Such a purity to the expressive flavors of red fruits and saline minerals, wonderful. Moderate-plus acidity and chalky tannins on the lengthy close. Great now, will be even better in 2-3 years and should age effortlessly for 2-3x longer.
Quick comment: Serve this blind to your AFWE friend, 13.5% abv and elegantly structured.
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Tasted at Release party at winery. My favorite of the day. Complex, and very long on the finish. Wonderfully complex flavor profile that I recall showing lots of the Cayuse funk as well as minerality and fruit.
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4/8/2023 - Wingmann Likes this wine: 97 Points
Decanted and poured a glass immediately, partly because I was excited to drink it and partly because I knew it would change in the glass. Nose: dried blueberries, wet stones, cranberry (some really similar notes to a great OR PN), a hint of forest floor, pine, leather, black pepper and a note that is reminiscent of aged wine that’s hard to describe otherwise. Man this thing kept developing from sip to sip. Palate: Initially it seemed somewhat easy drinking, but it almost seemed to get more tense for a moment and was dominated by black pepper with a subtle blueberry flavor. Alcohol was noticeable on the finish despite being 13.5% abv. I had only tasted Cayuse a few times before and they were never more than a few years in bottle. If you like old wines, this wine, usually described as a lighter vintage, is tasty now, but could go for a decade or more. It had no sediment and still very tense, primary, and tight. I only have one more bottle of this, so it’s going to be difficult, but I’m going to try and hold on to it for a while. Enjoyed with lamb T bones, beer-braised onions and crispy truffle potatoes.
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3/18/2023 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted for 2 hours - meaty and rich, with flavors of plum and dark berry. Very smooth but delivers that earthy, funky counter to fruit that Cayuse is known for...should be good for years to come.
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12/27/2022 - IanAltman Likes this wine: 93 Points
Definite cayuse barnyard funk. Behaves more like old world than new world. Worked great after 60 minute decant. Leather, smoke, dark cherry.
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12/25/2022 - Black Mikan wrote: 91 Points
The fruit has dimished over time. Lots of secondary. Rocks funk, fermented soy, etc. still really interesting, but wish we’d drank earlier.
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10/11/2022 - Ex-Ray Likes this wine: 92 Points
Last tasted Feb. 2020, rated it 100. This bottle was less impressive, more one-dimensional. It still had the typical roasted meats, smoky, blackberry aromas and flavors, just not as intense, rich or complex as before. Possibly some bottle variation, but last bottle of this vintage, so I'll never know!
Ric
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7/10/2022 - Roentgen Ray wrote: 93 Points
Massive fruit and acidity with some funk.
Still young in its evolution.
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6/19/2022 - Radboy wrote: 94 Points
Balance and depth.
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6/4/2022 - PMHouser Likes this wine: 95 Points
This wine has aged very nicely. Really enjoyed the wine with lamb kababs.
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4/15/2022 - pakabear wrote: 89 Points
Nose was good on opening but the palate was off balance with an iodine bitter finish. With about 30 min of air the wine showed more dark red fruit, ham, olive juice, bacon grease, fairly light in style and still has a slightly off balance finish with an iodine lingering taste. I’m not thrilled with the wine for the price and producer… I don’t think it’s going to get any better at this point.
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1/30/2022 - tomlee wrote: 95 Points
Crimson in color. 13.5% ABV. Sublime nose of red and black fruits, bacon fat, smoke and olive brine. Medium to full bodied with healthy acidity. Rich and savory with some telltale Cayuse funk. Black cherry, olives, game and minerals on the palate. Tremendous length on the finish. Stunning Syrah at the peak of its powers. Best over the next several years.
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1/26/2022 - wiscgrad wrote: 87 Points
I didn't get the funk. mostly pepper with some fruit notes. smooth tannins and plenty of red fruit. decent but way below expectations. decanted for 30 minutes and drank over 2 hours. no material improvement
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9/18/2021 - pjhr Likes this wine: 94 Points
Crushed wet stone, blackberry, and Cayuse funk aromas which expand and develop beautifully on the silky palate with soft tannins on a long finish!
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7/19/2021 - PDX-S wrote:
Decanted for four hours and then rebottled for a short drive to dinner. Consumed over another 2-3 hours.
Not at all the in your face primary wine that this was in its youth. Amazingly smooth and lithe for such a complement of dark fruited, smoky and meaty complex flavors.
Texturally composed, well integrated, this wine is in a very nice place with all the flavors contributing to the whole and no particular component stealing the show.
Such unique Syrahs…
Drink and hold with plenty of decanting for near term drinking.
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6/10/2021 - djpo wrote: 95 Points
Recent TN are consistent with our tasting. Popped 5hrs + decanted 2hrs before tasting. Tiny tasting after pop vs. after decant = night vs. day. Splendid wine.
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6/9/2021 - djpo wrote: 95 Points
Consistent with recent tasting notes. Popped 5 hrs in advance; decanted 2 hrs in advance. Best wine of 2021
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5/2/2021 - thebonnydooner wrote: 95 Points
Opened last night, aired overnight with just a cork. Absolutely stunning wine. Not really showing much age on the rim, but the nose is super-expressive with sweaty, cheesy, meaty, smoky notes galore over ripe blackberry fruit. Palate is more of the same, full bodied, smooth tannins, nice acidity, sweet blackberry fruit with some cherry notes. Lovely long length on this with smoky meaty notes on the finish. Really a fantastic wine drinking at peak. Amazing how consistent these wines are.
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3/31/2021 - rfras Likes this wine: 93 Points
Seems to have mellowed with time, which just makes it more drinkable. Dark color, vibrant fruit and smooth finish.
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3/21/2021 - KeithAkers wrote: 93 Points
The nose is deep and plush, filling the glass with blueberries, black cherries, raspberries, licorice, olive tapenade, crushed rocks, violets, herbs, tobacco, and some leather notes. The Full bodied feel is balanced and polished with crisp, medium+ acidity and resolved, Medium tannins. This is drinking beautifully and feels like it's right in the window. This is able to show a deft and slightly refined side while still showing off rich and bolder tones. It's wines like this that consistently make me a fan of Cayuse.
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3/20/2021 - Twopawsup Likes this wine: 93 Points
Garnet color with medium legs. Olive, tea and tobacco on the nose. Black pepper, fig and plum on the palate. Medium leathery finish.
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3/5/2021 - johnnyo wrote: 94 Points
Fantastic and quintessentially Cayuse. Rich, deep and layered.
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1/16/2021 - redzins Likes this wine: 91 Points
decanted 1 hour before dinner. Drinking great now and recommend over the next 1-2 years.
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12/21/2020 - Radboy wrote: 93 Points
This is really in a good place right now. A bit lighter on its feet due to the cooler year, this is nicely balanced, just not as dense as I find the typical Armada’s. Drank at the three hour mark and it continued to open as went. Dark purple in color, flavors of bramble berry, earth, and lightly “olived”. It seems at its peak and should hold for a few years anyways.
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12/2/2020 - Stevenmlouie Likes this wine: 95 Points
Color: Dark Ruby with orange edges
Nose: Game, barnyard funk, olive brine, mushrooms, red fruit
Palate: Deep red and black fruit, blood, slate
Medium+ Acidity
Medium-Full Body
Long finish
Exceptional.
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8/15/2020 - tomlee wrote: 93 Points
Crimson in color with some bricking at the edge of the glass. 13.5% ABV. Brilliant nose of red fruits, smoke, bacon fat and plums. Medium body with ample acidity. Supple, plush and funky. Cherries, game, blood and minerals on the palate. Nice length on the finish. Perhaps not as concentrated as the best vintages of Armada but definitely lots to like here. Best over the next 2-4 years.
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7/4/2020 - KeithAkers wrote: 93 Points
Special Clubs and Cayuse for the 4th of July (Highland Park, IL): Nose: And here we are back to our regularly scheduled programming of Cayuse. This is what I expect as it fills the glass with black cherries, plums, raspberries, embers, licorice, tobacco, crushed rocks, spice notes, and violets. There is a lot of depth and class with a balanced richness to the fruit.
Taste: The feel is full bodied with silky, medium+ tannins and crisp, medium acidity. There is a lot of class, balance, and length with black cherries, plums, raspberries, licorice, crushed rocks, spice notes, tobacco, and violets.
Overall: There is a great amount of black and blue fruits that is backed up with a lot of balance and depth. The feel shows a lot of density and layering that is in a great place right now.
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6/26/2020 - thebonnydooner wrote: 92 Points
Pretty similar showing to the one I had in February, delicious, lighter style but still expressive Cayuse. This was probably not showing quite so well, would only give this 92 points tonight, we'll see where this goes tomorrow.
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5/7/2020 - cmbond Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drank from Riedel Syrah stem, 2 hour decant, initially a bit of funk and did not enjoy the finish. This improved after decanting.
Garnet purple to rim
Classic Cayuse nose of cherry, roasted meats, tar, olive, smoke, and floral. Also a bit of graphite/darkness. Intense, but not as big as some vintages, and the Armada is quite refined.
Palate is also very restrained for a Cayuse, black/red fruits, smoke, meat, olive, tar, medium+ acid, medium alcohol, medium tannin. 20-30 second finish.
Some might criticize this vintage, but it comes off as very restrained and low alcohol at 13.5%. Actually keeps great balance because of this.
Can drink now with a decant or in next 5 years, maybe 10.
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4/4/2020 - fitchbuck Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted 6 hours; drunk solo over the next 4. Lighter and less structured than most label offerings. This was a bit off-putting on first taste, all iodine/bacon/iron/smoke with no fruit, and definitely needed food accompaniment.
NY strip pairing.. ok now that's more like it. Later, it eased into the evening, becoming softer as the secondary cranberry & olive notes came to the fore.. and ended up singing its aria by the final sip.
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3/10/2020 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 93 Points
Pop and pour. Typical Cayuse with the sweet funky blackberry liqueur. More restrained than some vintages but still delicious.
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2/21/2020 - thebonnydooner wrote: 94 Points
Beautiful wine. A little lighter than usual due to the cool vintage, but not lacking in aromatics or flavour. Loads of meaty, smokey, blackberry and dark cherry fruit. Medium to full bodied, ripe and complex with a long fine finish. Not a tonne of tannins but some bright cranberry and red cherry acidity over the blackberry and dark cherry fruit. Not a slam dunk like most of the Cayuse wines, but the lighter vintage does give this a nice lift and great complexity.
Updating note to 2/22/20 - probably even better. Gained some smooth complexity overnight and the aromatics became even more pronounced. Just so tasty as well. Easy 94 points.
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2/5/2020 - Ex-Ray Likes this wine: 100 Points
Went well with halibut lunch. A perfect Cayuse, maybe my favorite of his syrahs. It's the biggest and takes longest to come around but this had all the classic aromas and flavors of Baron's best syrahs, with perfect balance of fruit, acid, and tannin. Powerful complex aromas of smoke, tar, roasted meats, flavors to match. Very long aftertaste. Perfectly ready but should easily last at this plateau another few years.
Ric
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12/3/2019 - Neecies Likes this wine:
Showed like pinot noir at first, but the cherries gave way to plums and the earthy, meaty aspects of syrah showed up. Perfect for current drinking and it's another example of the greatness from cool, difficult vintages.
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11/29/2019 - mlawren1 wrote: 95 Points
Wow, really amazing wine. Layers of plums, cherries and blackberries. Finishes with a thick irony earthy mouth full.
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6/4/2019 - hiker_guy Likes this wine:
Nose had the typical Cayuse funk.
Palate was nicely structured and full without being over bearing. Lots of syrahs try to overpower you. This one seduces you with its flavors and structure. Lovely notes of olives, savory, spice, with a very smooth, silky mouth feel and finish.
Very nice and was gone before we knew it.
Would buy again.
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5/18/2019 - DangerMouse81 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Aromatically this wine was really backwards and weird. Tire rubber, charred wood, lots of reduction. There was massive power to the palate though. Elegant, slightly floral and Tahitian vanilla in the finish. Great longevity. It has the makings of a solid wine, but needs a lot of air.
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3/15/2019 - Roentgen Ray Likes this wine: 93 Points
Surprising lite on its feet despite showing huge extraction on the palate. Blueberry-raspberry and licorice. Vibrant.
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3/10/2019 - jeffuncorked wrote: 93 Points
Big wine perfectly balanced but not heavy. No funk after 4 hour decant. Loved it
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3/10/2019 - cadamson Likes this wine:
Almost can simply cut and paste notes when it comes to Cayuse. One has to start with the obligatory comment on the Cayuse funk, which certainly exists in spades in this bottling. Not off putting at all to me, adds a bunch on interest. Good mouthfeel and density, comes across bigger than it actually is. The bottle went quite quickly. I cannot say it was extremely memorable, more 'just another Cayuse' in that it is very good, individualistic, but not great. Went well with a pork tenderloin.
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10/8/2018 - ravikalaga Does not like this wine: 85 Points
Funky and just offputting.
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10/1/2018 - tomlee wrote: 94 Points
Magenta in color. 13.5% ABV. Savory nose of red fruits, olive brine, bacon fat and smoke. Medium to full bodies with perfect acidity. Plush and well structured. Cherries, tapenade, gamey meat, blood and minerals on the palate. Lots going on here. Tremendous length on the finish. A great bottle from an average vintage that perhaps just lacks the concentration I typically expect from Armada. Best over the next 2-4 years.
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9/29/2018 - Gene_Mo wrote: 90 Points
Some amount of the usual Cayuse funk. A little tobacco, not much pepper. Overall not a stellar offering
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9/12/2018 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 92 Points
Dark red. The funkiness has receded somewhat. Plush plum and red currant notes. Lots of savory classic bacon and black olive flavors on long finish. This has opened up significantly in the past year or so and if it’s positive development to continue.
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8/26/2018 - mlawren1 wrote: 93 Points
Plums and cherries over an earthy core. Nice wine but finishes light.
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12/30/2017 - hiker_guy Likes this wine:
Paired with elk steaks. Good pairing.
Nose is funky with lots of olive brine and mineral notes
Palate has that olive tapenade note with lots of minerality and some nice dark fruit
Finish is long and interesting
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12/16/2017 - joraesque wrote: 90 Points
Needs at the least a 90 minutes decant, and some hearty food (game particularly recommended). In spite of the fine tannins, this is a wine that's heavy, bloody, tomatoey, and irony. Extensive aeration will also bring out black pepper notes. 13.5% ABV.
90-91
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11/30/2017 - RichardP wrote: 93 Points
Black olives on the nose. Black cherry, olive tapenade, and notes of bacon, dill, and green pepper on the medium to long finish, with good acidity. This evolved over a few hours, with the green pepper notes fading. Excellent, but only an average to good value at about $80.
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11/9/2017 - Ron Slye wrote: 93 Points
Part of the Cayuse Syrah 2008/2011 tasting of the Seattle wine group. Sweeter and more floral nose. Also some brett. Very smooth and drinking nicely. Good acid and a nice finish.
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10/21/2017 - tjross Likes this wine: 94 Points
Similar to previous notes. Decanted for only an hour, which was enough. . A very subtle Armada, but quite enjoyable.
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9/16/2017 - jkwoodward Likes this wine: 93 Points
Really closed at open, 3 hrs later had all the parts. The funk, the brine, the mineralogy. Very nice.
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9/3/2017 - jeffmudd wrote: 94 Points
As always with Cayuse, it's the funk and oh do I love it.
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8/26/2017 - ews3 wrote: 93 Points
similar to my last note from a few months back... tomato, red plum, hoisin sauce, iron, mineral. well structured with fresh acidity. long finish mixes the mineral and iron in a sanguine way, with just a touch of fruit sitting above.
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8/20/2017 - brown57 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very nice Rhone style Syrah from Cayuse. Medium full bodied. Savory and briney with notes of soy sauce, black olive juice, and charcoal briquette. Very long finish, 30 seconds+. A real winner in my book.
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8/11/2017 - hiker_guy Likes this wine:
Nose is funky with lots of olive brine and mineral notes
Palate has that olive tapenade note with lots of minerality and some nice dark fruit
Finish is long and interesting
Will buy again
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8/4/2017 - beezer6 wrote: 95 Points
Similar notes. Gorgeous Cayuse qualities. Funny red fruit, Forest floor, mushrooms and lots of truffle and pepper. Lovely restrained palate. Stewed red vegetables, touches of iron and crushed herbs Exceptional wine.
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5/8/2017 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 94 Points
Delicate, complex body but very subtle and restrained. Approachable now but not a fruit-forward wine for the masses. I loved it though.
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4/26/2017 - ews3 wrote: 91 Points
this has got the funk! tomato, blood, iron, peat, wet rock. great acid with a mineral/ baked tomato palate. not much fruit here, but still, this is delicious. acid profile makes this easy to drink. nice spicebox finish.
paired with Flannery NY Strip.
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4/15/2017 - Ekoostik wrote:
Dark fruit, Olives and a bit of Cayuse funk of course. This is really not a fruit forward wine though...Medium body really. Glorious Funkyuse, then fruit, then the structure. Old world could apply here, but I'm sure get rejected upon minutiau...good no matter what camp say
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2/12/2017 - lirvingham wrote: 93 Points
Better on the second day. Beautiful wine.
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2/6/2017 - BVal wrote: 93 Points
Color: transparent, translucent light/medium ruby core -> light ruby rim; certainly lighter than other Cayuse Armadas and lighter than expected. Bouquet belied the light appearance however as it unfurled beautifully over the course of 90+ minutes then held. Saddle leather, roasted meat, fig, olive tapenade and a reasonably low dose of C-funk. Palate shows leather again, minerality, black fruit, a little smoke and a touch of brown sugar. Long, well-balanced and delicious now, I find this to be very finessed and feminine at this stage in its development. Looking forward to seeing how this progresses in the future.
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1/1/2017 - winetherapy Likes this wine: 95 Points
Give it a least a 6 hr decant or let it age...
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12/31/2016 - tjross Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted for about five hours. Paired well with rare ribeye. Normal Cayuse funk on nose and palate. A bit thin (relative to other Cayuse Syrahs) on finish. Solid, but not a blockbuster.
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10/15/2016 - PMHouser Likes this wine: 94 Points
Way too green tasting; well crafted, aromas, complex flavors, long finish, but not to my liking. Too green and green pepper like; does not fit my pallet. Could be due to the 2011 vintage; 2011 was not the best year for Washington grapes. Not worth the $$$ I paid for this wine.
Amending my original assessment; 3 & 4 days after opening this wine it really came around. Base on that, the wine needs at least 4 to 6 more years of cellaring.
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8/24/2016 - Keeping It Real wrote: 84 Points
Nose was very strong with funk initially, strong capers, pepper, jeans, then green green green, bell peppers, sage, etc. But the most profound similarity I got on the nose with this wine was it smelled like an IPA beer. Strong 7.0%+ IPA. Weird.
On the palate, very thin almost like a Pinot Noir. Surprised at how much this under-performed on the palate relative to its price range of $140+. Are you freaken kidding me? No this was not a flawed bottle. 13.5% ABV can maybe explain why. Second day it got even thinner and flatter. I was very offended. If this was a $12 wine, sure. But $140? I'm done.
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8/20/2016 - jhieb Likes this wine: 93 Points
Pretty shut down at this point, but does start to come around with a few hours of air. This is probably one of the more focused and intense of the Cayuse wines, however, I tend to lead more to his other Syrahs.
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6/17/2016 - rhalbert wrote: 94 Points
Amazing. Needs a 6+ hour decant but well worth the wait.
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6/13/2016 - pakabear Likes this wine: 93 Points
Really nice nose, Northern Rhone aspects with New World Syrah thrown in, loads of bacon grease and oil form a ham, cherry, strawberry and other medium red fruits, Cigar and vegetation, amazing nose. Palate has an initial attack of bright red fruits, cooking spices, rhubarb, meat and a fairly sour bitter finish. Hopefully with some air or age that finish improves as it's all good until that.
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5/3/2016 - Jimywags wrote: 95 Points
Decanted for 2 hours. This wine has certainly grown and picked up complexity since I drank it last year. Much better wine, to be honest, and it wasn't a slouch last year. The wine has developed a bit more palate weight and is bursting with fig, tea, dark cherry, mushroom, underbrush, olive, camphor, and black raspberries. Very firm, which I suspect is from some whole cluster that was not as present a year ago and lends a nice balance to the fruit. After drinking this bottle, I can see this wine peaking in about 3-5 years with even a few more points of potential lurking inside. Excited to follow the progress. 95pts++.
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1/20/2016 - Bill Johnson Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nose of dark fruit black pepper and allspice with a hint of leather. The taste is big and bold. Not subtle in any way. This has a long life ahead. Needs some time or a long decant. Dark fruit with a hint of sharpness (raspberry?). There is also an element of plants, much like thistle. Be patient with this wine and I think the ratings will improve.
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10/11/2015 - shadow wrote: 97 Points
Fragrant nose, vanilla, smokey cheese.
First sip, refreshing and palate cleansing, rich fruit, leather and a hint of sour fruit.
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9/18/2015 - Don and Pam Likes this wine: 94 Points
decanted for a few hours. Very smokey (but in a good way). Taste was exceptional. The rest will be held for a long time
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5/12/2015 - Jimywags wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for roughly an hour. Much lighter than any Armada I've had to date both in color and texture/weight. Cold year in Washington has left many wines bereft of intensity and lacking that je ne sais quoi. I would say this wine is not entirely in that camp as it still exudes that meaty savoriness that Armada syrahs are know for, albeit in a smaller package. Lots of plum and currants mashed with roasted game meats. Fairly open but would benefit from 3-5 more years of neglect. 93pts.
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4/25/2015 - Doc90 Does not like this wine: 83 Points
Wines With A View (Capitol Grille Tasting Event) (The Spire): This was my first time having a wine from Cayuse, and it did not leave a good first impression. Both nose and palate were completely overwhelmed by black pepper and capers. Really thin bodied, notes of cranberries. This tasted like a $20 Oregon Pinot Noir. Which isn’t to say that there aren’t a lot of good $20 Oregon Pinots out there. But this masquerading as a $100+ Syrah just seemed a little offensive.
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4/2/2015 - beezer6 wrote: 95 Points
Guys Dinner (Wildfire Chicago): Greg brought to Wildfire Chicago with the guys.
So insanely stinky. Literally attacks your senses the moment your nose enters the glass.
Dirty blue jeans, pungent dark raspberries and earth. Black olive, briney and salty.
Layered massive Cayuse funk. Super young and tight on the finish.
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3/15/2015 - *Vine* wrote:
Popped and poured, moderate ruby hue, vibrant. Memorizing, tension-filled aromas of vegetal funk, crushed raspberries, smoke and an intense impression of minerals. Medium to medium-light body. Such a purity to the expressive flavors of red fruits and saline minerals, wonderful. Moderate-plus acidity and chalky tannins on the lengthy close. Great now, will be even better in 2-3 years and should age effortlessly for 2-3x longer.
Quick comment: Serve this blind to your AFWE friend, 13.5% abv and elegantly structured.
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4/14/2014 - hiker_guy Likes this wine:
Tasted at Release party at winery. My favorite of the day. Complex, and very long on the finish. Wonderfully complex flavor profile that I recall showing lots of the Cayuse funk as well as minerality and fruit.
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