Haven't had this in a while, resting in my cellar for ~8 years. Reading the notes, I heeded the advice on the decant, strained and open for 45 minutes prior to drinking. Drank over 2 hours.
Light, faded red, opaque, thin at the edges. Nose was definitely funky at the open as other point out, evolved to red fruit, baking spices, cinnamon and floral notes. Palate showing a dusted (aged) black cherry liqueur, tart red fruits, red licorice, spice, pepper. Spices persist through the mid palate. Medium body, medium/long finish.
I wasn't sure what to expect, thought I may have missed the window...but this was really in a good spot on this evening. Grenache outside of CdP can be unpredictable (in my experience), this was a great expression of varietal (with acknowledgement that there was some Syrah blended in). Great wine from a talented vintner...Decant is a must
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Zachys Holiday - Dec 2016 (Smith & Wollensky (48th & 3rd Ave)): Loved this. Opened and it was all sorts of funk and mustiness, but that calmed down a bit in the glass. Very meaty and stinky feet and bandaids at the beginning. With time the fruit started to come through as well. Just kept getting better in the glass. Prob should have decanted.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank over three nights. The first night it was oddly muted with notes of strawberries. The second night it had turned richer and brooding but still closed. On the third night it was open and delicately balanced. On the richer and opulent side but had just enough plum acid and gentle structure on the back.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Color: light, transparent ruby -> diffuse, light ruby rim with the barest touch of garnet; looks like Burgundy. Smells like the quintessential amalgamation of Chateauneuf-du-Pape and red Burgundy; beetroot, raspberries, strawberries, mushrooms, earthy Cayuse-funk and an alluring CDP-like spiciness. Spice, earth, red fruits and a lovely, not-over-the-top Cayuse garrigue on PnP that really blossomed to near perfection at about 60 minutes. Smooth, juicy palate showing beautiful acidity a nice hefty midpalate and long finish. Nice to see that this is still holding well. Think I'll opt to drink my last bottle within the next year or two.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Finished bottles at dinner at Tulio before heading to the symphony. It may have been that the stars were just aligned but it tasted markedly better than a few weeks earlier. Just a fantastic bottle. The last 10 days every bottle I have had has been fantastic.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
As delicious as the first bottle in 2010! Crushed wet stone & dark raspberry aromas and flavors on the palate with wonderful complexity and silky texture culminating in a long finish.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Last bottle, unfortunately the worst. Not as good as the 1st two I drank in 2009/2010. OK fruit, but then a somewhat metalic, iodine, bitter taste. Don't think this will get better with time but is past its time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Good wine but not exceptional. It sort of reminds me of a Pinot on steroids. It has red fruits notes reminiscent of Pinot Noir but with a heavier mouthfeel. Each sip starts with a taste like Pinot but then you get this black licorice mid-palate with a medium-to-full body. It isn't hot but between the body and finish you can kind of sense the alcohol levels are elevated but then again you should expect that with grenache. It has plenty of life in it but I don't see any reason to wait to drink it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Excellent wine. Difficult pairing with corned beef but it was a champ. Earthy with tastes of smoke, mushrooms and leather. Opened up nicely and everything kind of softened. Drank along with a Cayuse Syrah En Cerise and this was softer and more sophisticated. Great wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wow, what a wine. Never had a 100% Grenache. Drank this at Cafe Panache with Kobe Stedak. K had a veal chop. This was beautiful with both. refined and easy but powerful. Spectacular.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pop and poured. This was singing with the funk. But, also had some bright juicy red fruit to balance it out. Went extremely well with a charcuterie plate and perfectly with duck confit at our first visit to Sante (which is easily the best Restuarant in Spokane). Nose of olive, tar, leather, raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, pepper, sweet herbs. and iron. Most of the nose moved to the palate with peppered meat and berries hiting first followed by olive tapenade, thai basil, smoked bacon, moist earth, and tobacco. Moster finish with that gentle Cayuse mouthfeel calling for more food. My second pairing of Cayuse and duck...amazing combo!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The duality of God and Dog on the label are just subliminal warnings to the Heaven and Headonism that is in the bottle. Popped and poured a glass, sipping it over a couple hours, letting it go through all its crazy phases. From brine and iodine to smoke and bacon fat, tar, stones, and gobs of unctuous red fruits, this girl has it going tonight. At hour 2 it has settled down to a nose of olives, leather, and raspberries. The palate hits with a front of ripe berries, but finishes with a thick pass of tar, minerals, and those yummy pan drippings left over from Coq au Vin. It's taken me 10 minutes to type this note because I can't put the class down, soooo good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Flippin' insanely good juice! Once again Christophe stirs his magic and kicks out a deep raspberry and subtle strawberry gem with nice hints of earth with the typical Cayuse nose so funky one need naught worry about description. I need more of this stuff!!!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pop & pour. Distinctive Walla Walla trait on the nose. A bit funkier with sour fruit and heat on the finish - so less enjoyable than my last bottle exactly 1.5 years ago. Transition phase? Needs more time? Only finished 1/3 of bottle. 24 hours later it's still somewhat sour, but the heat is gone. More enjoyable but still not as good as last time. Hold on the last bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted at the winery out of Magnum. I had to guess twice to find out Grenache, should have looked better at the color of it. It does remind me of Southern Rhone, but with just much more Minerals and Green olives. However the Grenache will become better each year as Christophe is experimenting with it. Christophe took it to dinner at a local restaurant and he knew everyone in that place, so he made everyone taste it and guess what it was. One of the great wine evenings of my life! Thanks Christophe and Thanks Trevor!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Garnet colored with exotic nose of blueberries, black olives and leather. Palate is viscous; heavier than I remember, with a bit of heat at the back. The fruit is huge with an intriguing briary component; flavors of boysenberry and earth...a lot going on here.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Sweat on the nose, rich strawberry and raspberry flavors. Top it off with a great mouth feel and a nice long finish. I'm not normally a Grenache fan, but this one really worked for me.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Blind Grenache Tasting w/ Ben Smith, Dick Boushey, Bob Betz, and MrBigJ (Wild Ginger, Seattle, WA): (Group's #1 (my #3)) – 4 first place votes, 3 second place votes, 2 third place votes, 1 fourth place vote, 0 fifth place votes – It's hard to put a Cayuse wine in the lineup with this group and not have it get picked out and labeled as such fairly quickly. That was the case here. I think this was dubbed Cayuse even before everyone's glass had some in it... It did have that very distinctive Cayuse nose though, and I think that most of the tasters would have picked up on it right away also. The mixed red fruit flavors on the palate turned to slightly sour raspberries and strawberries during the medium-long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Absolutely delicious! Crushed wet stone & dark raspberry aromas and flavors on the palate with wonderful complexity and silky texture culminating in a long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Delicious, rich black raspberry fruit, much like eating a raspberry fruit roll, with earthy Walla Walla terrior and spice, excellent structure, long finish
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
OMG! Gorgeous aromas of earth, spice and tobacco. This wine is phenomenal - hands down the BEST Grenache I’ve ever had. Profound depth and lucious texture, strawberries and toffee notes with hints of espresso and smoke. The finish lasts for 30+ sec.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
9 Blind Mourvedre: Tasted blind. I was sure that this was a Cayuse by the nose, but I was was having a hard time figuring out which Cayuse wine would have this color and lighter body. I was obviously not thinking about the GOK Grenache. The palate had flavors of strawberry, raspberry and cherry. The mouthfeel is much bigger than you might expect from the lighter color. Very nice. The long finish also has some nice earthy flavors that come forward. This wasn't the first time that I had tasted this wine, but it was the first time that I really enjoyed it.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted 1hr. This wine has really filled in fleshed out since I had this last November. Though on a smaller scale, the Cayuse trademark was present on the nose, offering plenty of funk and animal fur. A round, almost spherical wine, great palate flavors of strawberry fruit, almost liquor like in its weight, but not over ripe or sweet, quite a balancing act. I really noted strong flavors of hot stones and white pepper, which give the wine its own unique identity and personality. Long, resonating finish. Should drink well today, and for a good 5 years ahead.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ruby colored with a huge nose of raspberry sorbet, creme de cassis and red fruit seeds. There may be some (brief) alcohol on the nose, but on the palate this is soft and surprisingly medium bodied, graceful even. I've never had a wine like this (not like CdP in any way.) The fruit is exuberant without being overwhelming, with lots of brambly flavors and cocoa overtones. Day two the tapenade flavors began to emerge. Intriguing, and the weight is just right for food pairing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Delicious, rich black raspberry and strawberry fruit with Walla Walla earthy terroir, drank the wine a few days after drinking the '05 Alban Grenache, the Alban was much hotter and the fruit was more closed, I rated the Alban 94 because it was a more complex wine but probably prefer the Cayuse
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted this vs. a '06 Alban Grenache. Scored both 94, but I liked Alban better at this point in time. Cayuse was less sweet, but still showed nice black and more red fruit. Loved the nose, with a distinctive Walla Walla terroir profile. Feminine style is a good description. Looking to give both the Cayuse and Alban more cellar time and see how they develop.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
If there ever could be a wine that can overwhelm yet be so restrained and understated, this is that wine. The best analogy I can come up with is this...You have just scored general admission seats to your all-time favorite band's gig (for me that would be Pearl Jam or Alice 'n Chains or Iron Maiden). You camp out a couple days in advance so you'll be one of the first people in and secure your rightful spot in front of the stage. The anticipation from everyone in the arena is palpable--we are about to have our ears drums blown out! The band finally saunters on stage without electric guitars and a huge drum kit but with acoustic guitars and a single drum. They announce tonight will be a special "unplugged" concert. You can tell everyone in the crowd is a bit shocked but once the show begins they are blown away by how powerful, amazing, and moving a stripped down "unplugged" show can be. that's how this wine made me feel.
A gorgeous meduim-dark red out of the bottle. Initial aromas of enriched red fruits, an ever so hint of smoke, rocks, and a floral component that I could never quite pin down. So lush and smooth in the mouth with crushed strawberries, raspberry ganache, and a little tobacco to leaven out the sweetness. All components seemed to be in perfect harmony. I can't mention enough how luxurious yet understated the mouth feel was, simply intriguing. It finishes very strong with some cocoa notes and sweet spice. I think this wine will continue to develop more complex flavors and undertones as it ages. 95 pts.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ahhhh what a wine! Had a nice lil dinner party planned and was looking forward to sharing this bottle but the friends cancelled and our frickin power went out. Couldn't resist opening a bottle anyways, they have been calling me from the cellar...open me...NOW! What a massive nose. Huge cherries, thai basil, sage, violets, green buds with purple hairs, raspberries, tar, olive tapenade, and on and on. No one flavor really stood out, a well balanced nose. Same with the palate. Copious amounts of Kirsch, strawberries, orange rind, anise, sweet and dired herbs, vanilla extract, lightly smoked rare meat, sage, cinnamon, and once again on and on. A different flavor with each sip. A fun wine with a huge nose and huge flavors but was extremely light and gentle on the palate, feminine. Reminded me of a Rayas Reserve, mouthfeel wise, not flavor wise. Enormously long finish. May benefit with some more cellar dust, but why wait.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
the first vintage of this wine and what a kickin' wine it was. Mary Jane, stinky cheese, strawberries, and cherries on the nose. So delicate in the mouth but also possessing a presence. Very feminine and silky. Angelina Jolie comes to mind. 95pts.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I'm pretty much on board with bajayngo's tasting note and score on this gem of a grenache, sooooo silky yet complex. Burgungy comparisons are more than appropriate. I'll have a very hard time keeping away from my remaining two bottles and cant wait to try that 06 version again after the Cayuse release tasting a few weeks ago.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
quick notes from the wine dinner. perfect cayuse funk! So may red fruits and spices. And the "mysterous herb". Just a monster of a wine that was drinking well now but will be just a classic down the road.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
12/18/2020 - walkerjfw wrote: 93 Points
Haven't had this in a while, resting in my cellar for ~8 years. Reading the notes, I heeded the advice on the decant, strained and open for 45 minutes prior to drinking. Drank over 2 hours.
Light, faded red, opaque, thin at the edges. Nose was definitely funky at the open as other point out, evolved to red fruit, baking spices, cinnamon and floral notes. Palate showing a dusted (aged) black cherry liqueur, tart red fruits, red licorice, spice, pepper. Spices persist through the mid palate. Medium body, medium/long finish.
I wasn't sure what to expect, thought I may have missed the window...but this was really in a good spot on this evening. Grenache outside of CdP can be unpredictable (in my experience), this was a great expression of varietal (with acknowledgement that there was some Syrah blended in). Great wine from a talented vintner...Decant is a must
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/21/2017 - Zachnew wrote:
Very funky, thought it was bad at first. Opened nicely, paired very well with steak and potatoes. Should have been drank several years ago.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/3/2016 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Zachys Holiday - Dec 2016 (Smith & Wollensky (48th & 3rd Ave)): Loved this. Opened and it was all sorts of funk and mustiness, but that calmed down a bit in the glass. Very meaty and stinky feet and bandaids at the beginning. With time the fruit started to come through as well. Just kept getting better in the glass. Prob should have decanted.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/7/2016 - pdxwineguy wrote: 89 Points
Drank over three nights. The first night it was oddly muted with notes of strawberries. The second night it had turned richer and brooding but still closed. On the third night it was open and delicately balanced. On the richer and opulent side but had just enough plum acid and gentle structure on the back.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/10/2016 - BVal wrote: 93 Points
Color: light, transparent ruby -> diffuse, light ruby rim with the barest touch of garnet; looks like Burgundy. Smells like the quintessential amalgamation of Chateauneuf-du-Pape and red Burgundy; beetroot, raspberries, strawberries, mushrooms, earthy Cayuse-funk and an alluring CDP-like spiciness. Spice, earth, red fruits and a lovely, not-over-the-top Cayuse garrigue on PnP that really blossomed to near perfection at about 60 minutes. Smooth, juicy palate showing beautiful acidity a nice hefty midpalate and long finish. Nice to see that this is still holding well. Think I'll opt to drink my last bottle within the next year or two.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/1/2016 - jenapple Likes this wine: 93 Points
Loved this wine, will definitely be getting more bottles.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/26/2015 - Vinsant wrote:
Lots of veggie funk, red fruit, smoked meat, saline, and fresh herbs. Opened up a little with about an hour of air but stills lots of funk.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/23/2015 - rhalbert wrote: 94 Points
Finished bottles at dinner at Tulio before heading to the symphony. It may have been that the stars were just aligned but it tasted markedly better than a few weeks earlier. Just a fantastic bottle. The last 10 days every bottle I have had has been fantastic.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/8/2015 - rhalbert wrote: 92 Points
Coravined off a taste to check in. Integrating nicely... finally! Had with Wallis.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/4/2015 - pjhr Likes this wine: 95 Points
As delicious as the first bottle in 2010! Crushed wet stone & dark raspberry aromas and flavors on the palate with wonderful complexity and silky texture culminating in a long finish.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/22/2014 - RussK wrote: 90 Points
Russk WW@Mortons. SMELLS LIKE A CALI PINOT.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/2/2013 - patwjr wrote: 88 Points
Last bottle, unfortunately the worst. Not as good as the 1st two I drank in 2009/2010. OK fruit, but then a somewhat metalic, iodine, bitter taste. Don't think this will get better with time but is past its time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/25/2013 - Wine Gopher wrote: 91 Points
Good wine but not exceptional. It sort of reminds me of a Pinot on steroids. It has red fruits notes reminiscent of Pinot Noir but with a heavier mouthfeel. Each sip starts with a taste like Pinot but then you get this black licorice mid-palate with a medium-to-full body. It isn't hot but between the body and finish you can kind of sense the alcohol levels are elevated but then again you should expect that with grenache. It has plenty of life in it but I don't see any reason to wait to drink it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/17/2013 - mellison Likes this wine: 93 Points
Excellent wine. Difficult pairing with corned beef but it was a champ. Earthy with tastes of smoke, mushrooms and leather. Opened up nicely and everything kind of softened. Drank along with a Cayuse Syrah En Cerise and this was softer and more sophisticated. Great wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/8/2012 - Radboy wrote: 94 Points
Once again a terrific drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/1/2012 - Easter Everywhere wrote: 84 Points
Decent flavors but hot & ends bitter?, incredible nose
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/17/2011 - RussK wrote: 90 Points
RUSSK WW at Il Mulino in Surfside. GSM no BB. Minty/menthal. complex.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/1/2011 - Easter Everywhere wrote: 92 Points
Beautiful, spicy, fruits, superb balance, way good
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/14/2011 - pjhr wrote: 94 Points
As delicious as the last bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/9/2011 - Jmartin wrote:
Wow, what a wine. Never had a 100% Grenache. Drank this at Cafe Panache with Kobe Stedak. K had a veal chop. This was beautiful with both. refined and easy but powerful. Spectacular.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/2/2011 - Vinsant wrote: 95 Points
Pop and poured. This was singing with the funk. But, also had some bright juicy red fruit to balance it out. Went extremely well with a charcuterie plate and perfectly with duck confit at our first visit to Sante (which is easily the best Restuarant in Spokane). Nose of olive, tar, leather, raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, pepper, sweet herbs. and iron. Most of the nose moved to the palate with peppered meat and berries hiting first followed by olive tapenade, thai basil, smoked bacon, moist earth, and tobacco. Moster finish with that gentle Cayuse mouthfeel calling for more food. My second pairing of Cayuse and duck...amazing combo!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/27/2011 - Hollowine wrote: 95 Points
The duality of God and Dog on the label are just subliminal warnings to the Heaven and Headonism that is in the bottle. Popped and poured a glass, sipping it over a couple hours, letting it go through all its crazy phases. From brine and iodine to smoke and bacon fat, tar, stones, and gobs of unctuous red fruits, this girl has it going tonight. At hour 2 it has settled down to a nose of olives, leather, and raspberries. The palate hits with a front of ripe berries, but finishes with a thick pass of tar, minerals, and those yummy pan drippings left over from Coq au Vin. It's taken me 10 minutes to type this note because I can't put the class down, soooo good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/17/2011 - Radboy wrote: 95 Points
Flippin' insanely good juice! Once again Christophe stirs his magic and kicks out a deep raspberry and subtle strawberry gem with nice hints of earth with the typical Cayuse nose so funky one need naught worry about description. I need more of this stuff!!!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/23/2010 - patwjr wrote: 93 Points
Pop & pour. Distinctive Walla Walla trait on the nose. A bit funkier with sour fruit and heat on the finish - so less enjoyable than my last bottle exactly 1.5 years ago. Transition phase? Needs more time? Only finished 1/3 of bottle. 24 hours later it's still somewhat sour, but the heat is gone. More enjoyable but still not as good as last time. Hold on the last bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/15/2010 - G_H wrote: 94 Points
Tasted at the winery out of Magnum. I had to guess twice to find out Grenache, should have looked better at the color of it. It does remind me of Southern Rhone, but with just much more Minerals and Green olives. However the Grenache will become better each year as Christophe is experimenting with it. Christophe took it to dinner at a local restaurant and he knew everyone in that place, so he made everyone taste it and guess what it was. One of the great wine evenings of my life! Thanks Christophe and Thanks Trevor!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/30/2010 - Deb293 wrote: 92 Points
Garnet colored with exotic nose of blueberries, black olives and leather. Palate is viscous; heavier than I remember, with a bit of heat at the back. The fruit is huge with an intriguing briary component; flavors of boysenberry and earth...a lot going on here.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/1/2010 - smcintosh wrote: 94 Points
Sweat on the nose, rich strawberry and raspberry flavors. Top it off with a great mouth feel and a nice long finish. I'm not normally a Grenache fan, but this one really worked for me.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/5/2010 - last chance wrote: 93 Points
Blind Grenache Tasting w/ Ben Smith, Dick Boushey, Bob Betz, and MrBigJ (Wild Ginger, Seattle, WA): (Group's #1 (my #3)) – 4 first place votes, 3 second place votes, 2 third place votes, 1 fourth place vote, 0 fifth place votes – It's hard to put a Cayuse wine in the lineup with this group and not have it get picked out and labeled as such fairly quickly. That was the case here. I think this was dubbed Cayuse even before everyone's glass had some in it... It did have that very distinctive Cayuse nose though, and I think that most of the tasters would have picked up on it right away also. The mixed red fruit flavors on the palate turned to slightly sour raspberries and strawberries during the medium-long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/4/2010 - pjhr wrote: 95 Points
Absolutely delicious! Crushed wet stone & dark raspberry aromas and flavors on the palate with wonderful complexity and silky texture culminating in a long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/3/2010 - rdsboca wrote: 95 Points
Really intersing nose: Unusual. Sweaty socks, earthy with a touch of goat. Minty, menthol, eucalyptus. Roasted kirsch, rich red fruit.
Palate: Cherries, rasberries, rhubarb, white pepper, pomegranent with a touch of bloody meat. All with a little arm pit in the background.
This was a very intellectual, hedonistic wine and one I will remember for a long time. Lot's of talk around the table.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/13/2010 - Amerique wrote: 94 Points
Delicious, rich black raspberry fruit, much like eating a raspberry fruit roll, with earthy Walla Walla terrior and spice, excellent structure, long finish
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/28/2009 - GA_Seattle wrote: 95 Points
OMG! Gorgeous aromas of earth, spice and tobacco. This wine is phenomenal - hands down the BEST Grenache I’ve ever had. Profound depth and lucious texture, strawberries and toffee notes with hints of espresso and smoke. The finish lasts for 30+ sec.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/17/2009 - last chance wrote: 93 Points
9 Blind Mourvedre: Tasted blind. I was sure that this was a Cayuse by the nose, but I was was having a hard time figuring out which Cayuse wine would have this color and lighter body. I was obviously not thinking about the GOK Grenache. The palate had flavors of strawberry, raspberry and cherry. The mouthfeel is much bigger than you might expect from the lighter color. Very nice. The long finish also has some nice earthy flavors that come forward. This wasn't the first time that I had tasted this wine, but it was the first time that I really enjoyed it.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/13/2009 - fandj wrote: 80 Points
Very disappointing for the price. Nose not bad, but I must say we won't be buying the futures on this wine this year.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/7/2009 - Dale M wrote: 93 Points
Decanted 1hr. This wine has really filled in fleshed out since I had this last November. Though on a smaller scale, the Cayuse trademark was present on the nose, offering plenty of funk and animal fur. A round, almost spherical wine, great palate flavors of strawberry fruit, almost liquor like in its weight, but not over ripe or sweet, quite a balancing act. I really noted strong flavors of hot stones and white pepper, which give the wine its own unique identity and personality. Long, resonating finish. Should drink well today, and for a good 5 years ahead.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/7/2009 - Deb293 wrote: 92 Points
Ruby colored with a huge nose of raspberry sorbet, creme de cassis and red fruit seeds. There may be some (brief) alcohol on the nose, but on the palate this is soft and surprisingly medium bodied, graceful even. I've never had a wine like this (not like CdP in any way.) The fruit is exuberant without being overwhelming, with lots of brambly flavors and cocoa overtones. Day two the tapenade flavors began to emerge. Intriguing, and the weight is just right for food pairing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/4/2009 - Amerique wrote: 93 Points
Delicious, rich black raspberry and strawberry fruit with Walla Walla earthy terroir, drank the wine a few days after drinking the '05 Alban Grenache, the Alban was much hotter and the fruit was more closed, I rated the Alban 94 because it was a more complex wine but probably prefer the Cayuse
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/23/2009 - patwjr wrote: 94 Points
Tasted this vs. a '06 Alban Grenache. Scored both 94, but I liked Alban better at this point in time. Cayuse was less sweet, but still showed nice black and more red fruit. Loved the nose, with a distinctive Walla Walla terroir profile. Feminine style is a good description. Looking to give both the Cayuse and Alban more cellar time and see how they develop.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/30/2009 - Jared wrote: 95 Points
If there ever could be a wine that can overwhelm yet be so restrained and understated, this is that wine. The best analogy I can come up with is this...You have just scored general admission seats to your all-time favorite band's gig (for me that would be Pearl Jam or Alice 'n Chains or Iron Maiden). You camp out a couple days in advance so you'll be one of the first people in and secure your rightful spot in front of the stage. The anticipation from everyone in the arena is palpable--we are about to have our ears drums blown out! The band finally saunters on stage without electric guitars and a huge drum kit but with acoustic guitars and a single drum. They announce tonight will be a special "unplugged" concert. You can tell everyone in the crowd is a bit shocked but once the show begins they are blown away by how powerful, amazing, and moving a stripped down "unplugged" show can be. that's how this wine made me feel.
A gorgeous meduim-dark red out of the bottle. Initial aromas of enriched red fruits, an ever so hint of smoke, rocks, and a floral component that I could never quite pin down. So lush and smooth in the mouth with crushed strawberries, raspberry ganache, and a little tobacco to leaven out the sweetness. All components seemed to be in perfect harmony. I can't mention enough how luxurious yet understated the mouth feel was, simply intriguing. It finishes very strong with some cocoa notes and sweet spice. I think this wine will continue to develop more complex flavors and undertones as it ages. 95 pts.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/16/2009 - Vinsant wrote: 96 Points
Ahhhh what a wine! Had a nice lil dinner party planned and was looking forward to sharing this bottle but the friends cancelled and our frickin power went out. Couldn't resist opening a bottle anyways, they have been calling me from the cellar...open me...NOW! What a massive nose. Huge cherries, thai basil, sage, violets, green buds with purple hairs, raspberries, tar, olive tapenade, and on and on. No one flavor really stood out, a well balanced nose. Same with the palate. Copious amounts of Kirsch, strawberries, orange rind, anise, sweet and dired herbs, vanilla extract, lightly smoked rare meat, sage, cinnamon, and once again on and on. A different flavor with each sip. A fun wine with a huge nose and huge flavors but was extremely light and gentle on the palate, feminine. Reminded me of a Rayas Reserve, mouthfeel wise, not flavor wise. Enormously long finish. May benefit with some more cellar dust, but why wait.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/4/2009 - Amerique wrote: 94 Points
Rich, delicious, velvety smooth, viscious sweet strawberry fruit with spice and mineral flavors, excellent structure with good finish
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/1/2009 - Easter Everywhere wrote: 92 Points
Intense nose, bright red fruit, spices, hash, earth, med body, perfect balance, silky w/intense flavors, initial bitterness blows off
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/25/2009 - Cheryl wrote:
Peter Pratt's 2009 Cali Cab Table (Yorktown, NY): Earthy fruit. Okay, much more traditional than Pandora. Thanks for sharing this.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/3/2008 - Jared wrote: 95 Points
the first vintage of this wine and what a kickin' wine it was. Mary Jane, stinky cheese, strawberries, and cherries on the nose. So delicate in the mouth but also possessing a presence. Very feminine and silky. Angelina Jolie comes to mind. 95pts.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/22/2008 - Dale M wrote: 95 Points
I'm pretty much on board with bajayngo's tasting note and score on this gem of a grenache, sooooo silky yet complex. Burgungy comparisons are more than appropriate. I'll have a very hard time keeping away from my remaining two bottles and cant wait to try that 06 version again after the Cayuse release tasting a few weeks ago.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/15/2008 - bajayngo wrote: 97 Points
quick notes from the wine dinner. perfect cayuse funk! So may red fruits and spices. And the "mysterous herb". Just a monster of a wine that was drinking well now but will be just a classic down the road.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment