Fourth time tasted, last bottle. Probably the darkest, most concentrated and tannic of Baron's syrahs. Last tasted Sept. 2019, when it was still somewhat tannic. Completely dark and opaque but now some brown at the edge; very aromatic, typical Cayuse style of roasted meats, charred wood, pure blackberries. Full-bodied flavors to match; tannin has now completely resolved, and it's now fully mature. Very Northern Rhône style, time to drink. Ric
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2nd bottle. First was last night. This one apparently didn’t go over very well. The bottle was opened and I was informed that the tasting was full of sediment. The bottle was left open for 5 hours and abandoned. I decanted, strained and sealed it, maybe it can be salvaged.
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Another lovely experience with Armada - colour was a nice plum colour with just a little brick. Nose had a nice whiff of meat and smoke, overlaid on dark blackberry fruit with a hint of kirsch. Palate was deep and dark with more cherry and blackberry fruit but with a note of dark chocolate on the finish. Really long length, excellent.
With an extra days air this filled out a little more and became a little more rounded - still same complexity and finish. Delicious.
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No surprise this was a lovely bottle, drinking well. The complexity and depth, as well as some nice acidic balance that I find lacking in some earlier vintages. Now a day later I have opened the 2009 BF. Slightly more fruit but wow what balance and elegance. Where the armada is power, with sone elegance, the frog is more subtle, more dark bright fruit, and very elegant
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From our cellar, purchased from winery on release. PNP and drank over 3 hours. Beautiful complex bouquet of berries, plums, chocolate, truffle. Cloudy maroon color. Super smooth, full bodied, yet so elegant. Palate changes constantly over the evening, and only keeps getting better. Flavors match the bouquet adding additional notes of spices, olive, licorice, smoke, mineral. Incredibly long finish. So addictive and easy to drink. Excellent with Australian rack of lamb. A truly superb wine that should easily have another 5-10 years of longevity.
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Last of 6, purchased direct from winery & cellared since Had a bottle back in Jan 2023 with similar results. PNP & consumed 1/2, saving the other 1/2 for tomorrow hoping it improves. Heavy handed, heavy somewhat disjointed wine. Having had the 2010 & 2011 in the last few weeks, the 209 is less my style. Had the 2012 2 nights ago & that seemed similar to 2009. For some, this will be a wow experience but I am finding that the warmer vintages don’t age well (for my taste) past 10 years. The 2010 & 2011 were intoxicating.
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This 2009 Cayuse Armada Vineyard Syrah is an amazingly unique Syrah with the longest finish I have ever encountered from a rhone varietal. It has a depth of flavor that is a product of the volcanic soil which includes dark plum, blackberry, black currant, tobacco, and heavy earth flavors of all sorts. The wine was extremely well balanced and savory. It paired perfectly with a lightly spiced fusilli pasta. "taste the funk"!!!
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Somewhat odd wine. Initial taste had strong pine forest tones, not very pleasant. With time the wine opened up a bit and improved, but overall this makes me wonder what the Cayuse fuss is about.
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Probably the darkest, most concentrated and tannic of Baron's syrahs. Last tasted Sept. 2019, when it was still somewhat tannic. Completely dark and opaque but now some brown at the edge; very aromatic, typical Cayuse style of roasted meats, charred wood, pure blackberries. Full-bodied flavors to match; tannin has now completely resolved, and it's now fully mature. Very Northern Rhône style, will easily hold for five or more years.
Drinking quite well. Balanced fruit, a bit raisiny, smooth and polished. Forest floor, granite, polished stone and earth. It has peaked and going down the back side now.
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Drinking beautifully! Crushed wet stone, forest floor, and delicious ripe blackberry aromas and flavors which expand and develop beautifully on the silky palate with soft tannins on a long finish!
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It took a solid hour for the nose to show and drinking over the next couple was quite a treat. It continually evolves with each sip. Smoked orange rind one second, savory olive the next. Nice acidity. My first from Armada and loved every bit of it.
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Dark and inky. Perfumed noise of earth and black fruits. It tastes thick or seamless. Smokey olive notes and meat or raw bacon envelop your mouth. A surprisingly youthful masculine wine. It’s big and American.
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Shared with a group amidst many other good wines (of quite different varieties), so I didn't get a lot of time with it. It was good, however, with excellent complexity, not too much funk, and an overall high quotient of deliciousness.
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Crimson in color. 14.7% ABV. Savory nose of red fruits, olive brine, smoked meats and flowers. Medium body with perfect acidity. Crisp and fresh. Cherries, plums, olives and minerals on the palate. Exceptional length on the finish. Some of that Cayuse funk seems to have dissipated over the years and what is left is a sublime, pure, fruit driven Rocks District Syrah. Best over the next 2-4 years.
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This particular bottle had no nose and overall flat through to the finish. I thought like other Cayuses, needed to open up a breathe. 1 hour decent followed by a 1 hour dinner, this wine did not change. Personally drink this one much sooner than later.
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Previously bottles were among my favorite Cayuses, but this one, my last 2009 Armada, was heavy and flat. Disappointing! Cork was perfect and always well-stored at 57F. Chalk it up to bottle variation I suppose, but that's not typically an issue from this winery in my experience.
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Drinking beautifully! Crushed wet stone, forest floor, and delicious ripe blackberry aromas which expand and develop beautifully on the silky palate with soft tannins on a long finish!
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Decanted two hours. So many strong flavors, and every bottle is an adventure. This one showed dark fruit, hay, fusel oil, smoked meat, and wintergreen on the palate. I find the Armada the most interesting of the Cayuse wines as the flavor profile of the other vineyards is more same same. This one worked for me but probably not a crowd pleaser.
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For those of us who love to nose their wine, it’s always a fun ride drinking a bottle of Cayuse. Lots of meaty savory notes intermingle with spicy peppers & baking spices. Not much of the famous funk, and any fruit is secondary for sure, even more so on the palate. Well structured and nicely integrated at this point, with a fair amount of bricking. I’d say these are about halfway into the prime drinking window.
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This crimson wine (w/slight bricking) is in a fabulous spot. The cacophonic nose yields saddle, pepper, bacon fat, black olive, pepper & bilberry, and its nuances are ever-shifting. The palate is a blissful combination of the aforementioned with dark fruits & prune leading the way to an explosive finish. Wonderful.
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My first of these. WOW this wine was delicious. Concentrated fruit flavors enhanced by the elegance of age. Could not ask for more. thrilled to have a few more. Drink or hold.
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Crimson in color. 14.7% ABV. Gorgeous nose of red fruits, game, olive brine and flowers. Medium body with exceptional acidity. Rich and plush. Cherries, olives, barbecued meats and minerals on the palate. Tremendous length on the finish. Stunning Syrah that is aging brilliantly. Best over the next 2-4 years.
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First Cayuse ever. From the moment I open the bottle and put a few ounces in the glass I couldn’t stop burying my nose in it. I would never even think “funk” if it weren’t for all the people that bring it up. Honestly I don’t get it - the nose was killer, and the palate was both sexy and powerful. I get teriyaki, tekka maki in soy, olive, tart cherry and anise. Christopher says “more cowbell!”, but I say “more savory”. The mouthfeel was like silk and the finish was long and distracting. I love my WA Cabs (think Quilceda) but this is definitely the N, P, F experience I am looking for when I need a break from my cabs. I am horrible at describing the details of my experience but this ‘09 Armada was awesome. Subsequent Days: Wine mellowed but staying very earthy. Still silky smooth and enjoyable but it was best on day one upon opening.
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This got about 40 minutes of air. It was open for business immediately. Bright cherries, cracked pepper, that briny olive quality Cayuse wines all share. Oak far more integrated than the ladt time I tried this a few years ago. Everything is beautifully integrated and in balance. I think this is in its sweet spot. And how sweet it is. 96-97.
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Little bit of the Cayuse funk at opening but quickly disappeared. Dark plumb hue. End of bottle a little cloudy. Nice full bodied, dark berry, spicy graphite, smooth, velvety, long finish. Enjoying this vintage while I got them.
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Perfect cork, very slight bricking, deep opaque purple color. Decanted only 30 minutes but 3 trips through a Vinturi. Really impressive bottle tonight. All the elements you want from a premier Syrah—spiciness, deep dark fruits, minerals/graphite, all seamlessly integrated into a forever finish. Just a slight bit of the signature Cayuse funkiness—in my opinion better off for minimizing this feature. Maybe the best Cayuse I’ve ever had out of 30+ examples. In a spectacular place right now (why wait?) but easily 5 years left.
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Another great drink, had with the ‘11 Armada. On this night it tasted like it could easily go another 3-5 years. A mouthful of earth, brine, bramble berry and leather. This dwarfed the ‘11 in terms of the depth and body. The ‘11 is showing more polish and a less flamboyant flavor profile and has a wonderful intensity, yet lacking the typically insane Cayuse Rock’s flavors, which the ‘09 embodies. The ‘11 could easily have passed as something other than a Cayuse. It was quite good and it was generally a toss up on favorites.
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Totally enjoyed this bottle of syrah. Nice dark berry nose. Blackberry, black pepper, graphite, smooth, velvety, full bodied, long finish. Really terrific! Bravo!
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Pretty much the same as my earlier note. This just has so much going on. Like most wines of this style it usually takes center stage. We had a really amazing older CA pinot (Kalin 2000) that was so subtle and just lovely with the roast lamb. The Armada was also great with it -- just different. More of a strong bass note that almost takes you away from the food and makes you want to jump into the glass. The pinot is more subtle, and more balanced, and complemented the food nicely. Both were good -- just different experiences.
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Probably the darkest, most concentrated and tannic of Baron's single vineyard syrahs. Completely dark and opaque; very aromatic from the start, typical Cayuse style of roasted meats, charred wood, pure blackberries, some black pepper. Full-bodied flavors to match. Still noticeable tannins, which could resolve with more age. Very long, somewhat hot aftertaste. Still may be a bit closed and early, though very enjoyable. Definitely more power and less elegance than several other Cayuse syrahs. I'll hold back a few for another year or two.
Ric
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4th Saturday group "uptown" tasting (M&R's): Double blind. Fairly dark color with notes of dried herbs, spice,tar, pepper and black fruit. Red and black fruit on the palate, with peppery spice overtones. Nicely baalnced; medium tannin. Guessed syrah. 92-93 pts.
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Washington State Tasting (John's House Bloomington, MN): Roasted meats, white pepper, stone, blueberries, exotic spices and dust. Long and concentrated finish. An outstanding end to the Washington State Tasting today! Drink now to 2025.
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Tasty but did not hit the heights expected. Some smoke and meaty over the blackberry and black cherry fruit. Nice complexity but lacking a little of the funky notes that make Cayuse syrahs so interesting. Still excellent though.
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Wonderful Rocks aromatics: crushed rock, minerals, floral, cured meats. Ripe red fruit, green olive, umami character; long, lingering finish 45 seconds. Silky smooth mouthfeel, medium acid, in a very nice place currently, while it will likely keep for many more years recommend at least drinking some now while so enjoyable,
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A really nice bottle of wine. Dark dense creamy blackberry fruits with elements of graphite, slate, and black pepper. Full bodied and rich, yet nicely balanced with an impressive finish.
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Drank with a 12 hour decant just because. Great fruit but it seemed to lose some of the nuanced aroma and sophistication I love. I will stick with a 2 hour decant in the future.
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2hr decant. Classic baron style of barnyard funk but not over the top. the '09 armada amazing every bottle i drink. prime drinking now but also has years to go
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Typical Cayuse syrah aroma of smoke, plums, roasted meat, French oak, immediately pronounced. Completely dark and opaque, garnet-purple. Probably the most concentrated and dense of all their syrahs, with powerful flavor but also moderate tannin, more than usual for a Cayuse. I think this needs a couple more years in the cellar. Ric
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These Armadas are the most challenging Cayuse cuvees for me. On pop and pour there was a pungent ammonia smell and soapy taste, but they quickly disappeared, leaving pepper, roasted meats, a bit of tomato, and a thick palate. Perhaps in an intermediate stage? I do like these but this wasn't the easiest to drink.
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Another great evening with this wine. Its in a very good spot now. Held up and evolved over the course of a 4 hour dinner. Certainly plenty of herbal and savory elements but balanced with a nice touch of fruit.
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A wonderful experience. Decanted for roughly an hour. I was worried that the Cayuse funk might put off some of my dinner companions. However, although showing some lovely savory elements (roasted beef, tomato, smoke, herb) no funk was to be found in this wine and the savory flavors were quite in balance with a sweet red fruit.
A very smooth drinking experience with enough tannin and acid to be refreshing with our meal. We consumed this with the second half of the tasting menu at Blue Hill. Cayuse really contributed to a memorable, fun evening.
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Wow. Right off the bat this has a very telling nose. Quite feral, with layers of olives, boysenberry, brine, tomato – yes, there is lots of stuff here. Not jumpy; dense but approachable. Really dark in the glass. Very tight in the mouth – some roasted meets with a bit of a harder metallic bass note, a slight bitter note, then slowly leading to a wonderfully sweet finish. This needs a lot more time in the bottle I think.
After a little time in the glass, the nose and palate take on some hints of burnt wood, smoke, and more roasted meats, as well as some under ripe cherries. Very fine grained tannins that lightly coat the roof of the mouth.
I continue to think that Armada is my favorite vineyard of Cayuse’s syrahs, and this wine continues that trend.
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This was simply fantastic. This edition had more polish and less in your face flavors than most Armada’s. Drinking in a sweet spot right now, I can’t imagine it getting any better. Good times coming!
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Was in the mood for an Armada and pulled this. Bright red fruits on opening, which surprised me, but then the dark savory characteristics shown through after it got some air.
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Maroon in color. 14.7% ABV. Savory nose of red fruits, soy sauce, olive brine and smoke. Medium to full bodied with loads of acidity. Immense and concentrated. Plum sauce, warm cherry pie, barbecued meats and minerals on the palate. The finish is incredibly long. In a really nice spot now but this wine will certainly drink well for another 3-5 years. Fantastic Syrah that has a timeless quality to it.
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Decanted for six hours. Another pull from gdub (thanks Bono!). A nearly perfect wine and likely the best from Cayuse I've had. If anything, it highlights how much better CB's wines get with age. <A silent vow to myself to never pop another bottle early. At least the Horsepower is buried deep in the "cellar".>
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can't tell what's going on with this wine. bretty (i think) versus salty/briny w/ some beefy notes. the fruit is there, but the other notes were slightly off-putting. not sure if this wine was tainted or not, versus the house style. i feel like i have experienced this before w/ cayuse wines.
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This is an excellent wine, but is still quite reserved I think. The minerality just jumps out at you right now. Lots of dark fruit, blood, black tea along with the minerality, good acidity as well. I think this wine is very young, hopefully I remember to let my last bottle rest for another decade!
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One of the best wines of 2016. Rich and meaty, plush with a silky texture. Lovely notes of jammy black cherry, blueberry, black pepper and stoney mineral. Super long finish with near perfect acidity.
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This was outstanding. Savory meaty notes countered the plum and berry flavors and the floral aromas. A long finish with saline and mocha. Worth the tariff, this was a great wine.
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Courtesy of Dave, popped and poured during dinner. Brief notes. Deeply colored. Earth, pepper, black fruit in the bouquet. Firm, fine-grained tannins with a sweet edge supporting a melange of red and black fruit and peppery spice qualities. Remains firm through the lengthy finish. 92-93 pts, with plenty of upside, but I'd hold this one for now unless you're pairing it with a rich or fatty meal such as braised beef shanks or a ribeye.
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I needed therapy for this years allocation. This was lovely Smooth, Rich, savory, complexity in spades. Paired with a prime sirloin and it worked well. I'll buy more....
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2nd bottle. 2 hour decant. Very big syrah with heavy black pepper on the back end. A lot of interesting character i've only found in Rhone. Drank non-blind against '09 God Only Knows Granache and edged that out. In past beat '09 Guigal Chateau d'Ampuis blind.
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Please, but enjoyed throughout a 3 hour evening. I opened in my cellar and barely had the cork out and the whole cellar filled with funk - which I love. It was almost like the glass had a built in blower. The wine evolved greatly ove the next three hours - becoming more velvety and lovely. Hints of blueberry and candied cherries with a 30 second finish. Possibly the most enjoyable and complex Syrah I have ever enjoyed. I have two more bottles so my friends better be very nice.
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Rich, delicious, blackberry fruit, soil and saddle leather flavors, much more smooth, soft, and integrated, elegant, not as big and "in your face" with Walla Walla funk as past vintages, slight sweetness
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Decanted for 2 hrs then put back in the bottle & tasted hrs later, garnet, blueberry & spice, mod. tannins, medium-long finish; delicious, drink or hold
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Decanted for 30 minutes at 54 degrees. Notes of black cherry, blueberry, beef blood, sanguine, brick, saline, black olive brine, iron, iodine, terra-cotta, and red clay.
Initially fairly muted over the course of the first hour, but it emerged quite nicely with the aforementioned flavors after about two hours in the hopper. Could potentially use another couple of years of bottle integration. If it is any indication, the 2006 and 2007 Cayuse wines are starting to hit their strides now; so, the 2009s might be better suited for the 2017/2018 mark.
A very good and unique wine to be sure, with the usual array of Cayuse saline, sanguine, and iron notes indicative of the site, but ultimately possibly missing some of the deeper and more complex flavors often found in other Cayuse wines. A generous 93, wanting just a tad more from this wine, especially for the QPR.
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Nose isn't as funky as other vintages, but still typical Armada; blackberry, baking spice, hint of barnyard, eucalyptus. On the palate; dark cherry, chocolate ganache, iodine, tar. Lovely and better with 90 min decant. 92+
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Ch-ch-ch-cherry bomb! Lots of dark cherry, pepper, flowers, coffee, meat/iron, and a floral lift. Didn't budge much over the 1hr in the decanter and the hour it took to consume. Light on funk with a smooth mouthfeel. Lots of energy on the palate.
This is a big wine. Decanted for an hour. Despite the alcohol level there is plenty of fruit. Rhone style wine with berry flavors mixed with some earthy flavors. Paired very well with NY Steaks. Finish is long, smooth and silky.
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Sat in the decanter for about an hour. Notes of florals, peppered meat, stew, cherries, and dried herbs filled the room. Full palate of red fruit, smoked meat, minerals, coffee, underbrush, and earth. Paired nicely with rib-eye. Didn't budge flavor-wise from opening to end of the bottle a couple of hours later. Has lots of life ahead but no harm in popping one now.
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Decanted 90 minutes. Holy crap this is massive. It made a 2011 Cayuse Cailloux Syrah feel almost modest in scale by comparison. Huge fruit and savory notes, some brine, and a lot of vanilla oak. All in beautiful balance. This wine has decades of development ahead, and it is already gobsmacking. Wow. 97.
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Nose - earthy, herbal - fennel, licorice, chicory Mouth - herbal infused , celery, digestif-esque intermixed with ham, smoke, then luscious blueberry, with juicy acidity. A very interesting wine but quite complex and frankly not liked by the masses. I however am sold. For food, preferably.
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I could not score this wine. Wasn't sure if I loved it, hated it, or somewhere in the middle. Rich, dark, wild juice. Notes of soy sauce, mildew, roasting meat bones. Bizarre flavor and mouthfeel. What is going on here? I'm interested in my other two bottles, but not sure I'd buy more.
In a word, very spoofilated. Yes, I find some Northern Rhone like characteristics... but not in balance. Very ripe fruit, some nice olive tapenade and a touch of white pepper but in a flabby disjointed way. It did not seem to have the framework to carry this very ripe fruit into a balanced finish. Needs much more structure.... Interesting, but not for me. Does not seem to be worth near the pricetag.
Great combo of Northern Rhone and new world styles, very cool climate Syrah with bright fruit, silky palate and medium complexity. Drinks well right out of the gate and will drink well for the next 10 years easy.
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Popped and slow o'ed for an hour. When one harkens back to the days of yore with yearnings for middle age styled wine, this is that wine. I imagine this wine sitting in an old Pegau or Rostaing barrel. An old witch, paddle in hand, stirring and dropping in pork shanks, racks of lamb, oxtail, wild mushrooms, smoked herbs, tea, wild raspberries, blackberries, and dark currants. Mumbling some unintelligible refrain as she cackles with delight. 96 pts.
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improved with aeration. a funky rotting vegetation and bacon nose. needs a serious decant. very savory but with air the dark fruit component shows through. the soy sauce quality demands an appropriate pairing such as pork chop or mushrooms
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Quick decant before consuming over 2 hours. Beautifully balanced, clean with fresh flavors. Layers emerged with more time in the glass. Very Cote Rotie like. Fruit was there but in a sneaky way, which surprised me given the 14.7 alcohol. Should age gracefully for a decade or more. These wines keep getting better!
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Decided it was time to open my first Armada. The wine surprised me, as it was full of dark fruits, black tea, and mineral, but I am not sure I could have picked it as a Cayuse in a blind line up. Consumed over two nights, similar notes. In a "dumb" phase? Still great, though.
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Opened, but not decanted about 30 minutes before tasting and then drank over two hours. Powerful, intoxicating aromatics right from the start. Ripe black cherry and berry, crushed rocks, charred meat, bacon fat, darker floral tones and dark spices. Ripe and powerful on the palate as well, but not in an over the top, extracted way. Quite structured with a firm mineral backbone running through it. Full bodied with a burst of acidity on the long gripping finish. Fantastic.
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Release weekend barrel sample: Easily my fav of the samples. Red and blue fruits, veggie funk, and dried herbs. Minerals, minerals, and minerals. Salty bacon fat. Bright and deep nose with a dark palate. Long finish with some kicking tannins. Nice acidity.
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3/17/2024 - Ex-Ray Likes this wine: 96 Points
Fourth time tasted, last bottle. Probably the darkest, most concentrated and tannic of Baron's syrahs. Last tasted Sept. 2019, when it was still somewhat tannic. Completely dark and opaque but now some brown at the edge; very aromatic, typical Cayuse style of roasted meats, charred wood, pure blackberries. Full-bodied flavors to match; tannin has now completely resolved, and it's now fully mature. Very Northern Rhône style, time to drink.
Ric
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12/31/2023 - Radboy wrote: 94 Points
Nice balance and fruit. Notes of earth, dark berries, a hint of olives and gravel. This is my last bottle and I see it slipping over its peak.
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12/25/2023 - Syrah4Me wrote:
2nd bottle. First was last night. This one apparently didn’t go over very well. The bottle was opened and I was informed that the tasting was full of sediment. The bottle was left open for 5 hours and abandoned. I decanted, strained and sealed it, maybe it can be salvaged.
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12/24/2023 - Syrah4Me Likes this wine:
Very impressive. Opens slowly. Big wine that continues to grow and evolve. Excellent.
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6/30/2023 - thebonnydooner wrote: 93 Points
Another lovely experience with Armada - colour was a nice plum colour with just a little brick. Nose had a nice whiff of meat and smoke, overlaid on dark blackberry fruit with a hint of kirsch. Palate was deep and dark with more cherry and blackberry fruit but with a note of dark chocolate on the finish. Really long length, excellent.
With an extra days air this filled out a little more and became a little more rounded - still same complexity and finish. Delicious.
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6/15/2023 - Ron Slye wrote: 94 Points
No surprise this was a lovely bottle, drinking well. The complexity and depth, as well as some nice acidic balance that I find lacking in some earlier vintages. Now a day later I have opened the 2009 BF. Slightly more fruit but wow what balance and elegance. Where the armada is power, with sone elegance, the frog is more subtle, more dark bright fruit, and very elegant
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5/11/2023 - wine4ever Likes this wine: 95 Points
From our cellar, purchased from winery on release. PNP and drank over 3 hours. Beautiful complex bouquet of berries, plums, chocolate, truffle. Cloudy maroon color. Super smooth, full bodied, yet so elegant. Palate changes constantly over the evening, and only keeps getting better. Flavors match the bouquet adding additional notes of spices, olive, licorice, smoke, mineral. Incredibly long finish. So addictive and easy to drink. Excellent with Australian rack of lamb. A truly superb wine that should easily have another 5-10 years of longevity.
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5/7/2023 - gbbwino wrote: 88 Points
Last of 6, purchased direct from winery & cellared since Had a bottle back in Jan 2023 with similar results. PNP & consumed 1/2, saving the other 1/2 for tomorrow hoping it improves. Heavy handed, heavy somewhat disjointed wine. Having had the 2010 & 2011 in the last few weeks, the 209 is less my style. Had the 2012 2 nights ago & that seemed similar to 2009. For some, this will be a wow experience but I am finding that the warmer vintages don’t age well (for my taste) past 10 years. The 2010 & 2011 were intoxicating.
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4/9/2023 - mlawren1 wrote: 95 Points
Chewy plums and cherries with a bit of earthy meat on the finish.
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2/6/2023 - Harbthewineguy Likes this wine: 96 Points
This 2009 Cayuse Armada Vineyard Syrah is an amazingly unique Syrah with the longest finish I have ever encountered from a rhone varietal. It has a depth of flavor that is a product of the volcanic soil which includes dark plum, blackberry, black currant, tobacco, and heavy earth flavors of all sorts. The wine was extremely well balanced and savory. It paired perfectly with a lightly spiced fusilli pasta. "taste the funk"!!!
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2/4/2023 - AMG4RPM wrote: 87 Points
Somewhat odd wine. Initial taste had strong pine forest tones, not very pleasant. With time the wine opened up a bit and improved, but overall this makes me wonder what the Cayuse fuss is about.
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2/2/2023 - Radboy wrote: 95 Points
This exquisite! Dark plums, gravel and leafy earth well balanced with a rich finish.
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10/21/2022 - mlawren1 wrote: 93 Points
Chewy and earthy, plums, cherries and berries. Great wine.
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3/17/2022 - Ex-Ray Likes this wine: 97 Points
Probably the darkest, most concentrated and tannic of Baron's syrahs. Last tasted Sept. 2019, when it was still somewhat tannic. Completely dark and opaque but now some brown at the edge; very aromatic, typical Cayuse style of roasted meats, charred wood, pure blackberries. Full-bodied flavors to match; tannin has now completely resolved, and it's now fully mature. Very Northern Rhône style, will easily hold for five or more years.
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3/3/2022 - Radboy wrote: 94 Points
Drinking quite well. Balanced fruit, a bit raisiny, smooth and polished. Forest floor, granite, polished stone and earth. It has peaked and going down the back side now.
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1/20/2022 - pjhr Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drinking beautifully! Crushed wet stone, forest floor, and delicious ripe blackberry aromas and flavors which expand and develop beautifully on the silky palate with soft tannins on a long finish!
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1/6/2022 - pjhr Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drinking beautifully with similar notes to previous bottle.
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11/26/2021 - dnddrinkwine Likes this wine:
It took a solid hour for the nose to show and drinking over the next couple was quite a treat. It continually evolves with each sip. Smoked orange rind one second, savory olive the next. Nice acidity. My first from Armada and loved every bit of it.
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11/5/2021 - mnoljo Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark and inky. Perfumed noise of earth and black fruits. It tastes thick or seamless. Smokey olive notes and meat or raw bacon envelop your mouth. A surprisingly youthful masculine wine. It’s big and American.
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10/19/2021 - SeaWine Likes this wine:
Shared with a group amidst many other good wines (of quite different varieties), so I didn't get a lot of time with it. It was good, however, with excellent complexity, not too much funk, and an overall high quotient of deliciousness.
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7/9/2021 - tomlee wrote: 96 Points
Crimson in color. 14.7% ABV. Savory nose of red fruits, olive brine, smoked meats and flowers. Medium body with perfect acidity. Crisp and fresh. Cherries, plums, olives and minerals on the palate. Exceptional length on the finish. Some of that Cayuse funk seems to have dissipated over the years and what is left is a sublime, pure, fruit driven Rocks District Syrah. Best over the next 2-4 years.
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7/4/2021 - redzins wrote: 89 Points
This particular bottle had no nose and overall flat through to the finish. I thought like other Cayuses, needed to open up a breathe. 1 hour decent followed by a 1 hour dinner, this wine did not change. Personally drink this one much sooner than later.
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6/26/2021 - Magnolian wrote:
Previously bottles were among my favorite Cayuses, but this one, my last 2009 Armada, was heavy and flat. Disappointing! Cork was perfect and always well-stored at 57F. Chalk it up to bottle variation I suppose, but that's not typically an issue from this winery in my experience.
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6/14/2021 - pjhr Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drinking beautifully! Crushed wet stone, forest floor, and delicious ripe blackberry aromas which expand and develop beautifully on the silky palate with soft tannins on a long finish!
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6/1/2021 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted two hours. So many strong flavors, and every bottle is an adventure. This one showed dark fruit, hay, fusel oil, smoked meat, and wintergreen on the palate. I find the Armada the most interesting of the Cayuse wines as the flavor profile of the other vineyards is more same same. This one worked for me but probably not a crowd pleaser.
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3/13/2021 - millerarner wrote: 94 Points
For those of us who love to nose their wine, it’s always a fun ride drinking a bottle of Cayuse. Lots of meaty savory notes intermingle with spicy peppers & baking spices. Not much of the famous funk, and any fruit is secondary for sure, even more so on the palate. Well structured and nicely integrated at this point, with a fair amount of bricking. I’d say these are about halfway into the prime drinking window.
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1/29/2021 - eszencia Likes this wine:
This crimson wine (w/slight bricking) is in a fabulous spot. The cacophonic nose yields saddle, pepper, bacon fat, black olive, pepper & bilberry, and its nuances are ever-shifting. The palate is a blissful combination of the aforementioned with dark fruits & prune leading the way to an explosive finish. Wonderful.
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11/28/2020 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 96 Points
consistent with notes of 12/9/2016 - outstanding
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10/11/2020 - johnnyo wrote: 95 Points
One of the best wines of the year so far.
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9/9/2020 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 98 Points
My first of these. WOW this wine was delicious. Concentrated fruit flavors enhanced by the elegance of age. Could not ask for more. thrilled to have a few more. Drink or hold.
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7/20/2020 - tomlee wrote: 95 Points
Crimson in color. 14.7% ABV. Gorgeous nose of red fruits, game, olive brine and flowers. Medium body with exceptional acidity. Rich and plush. Cherries, olives, barbecued meats and minerals on the palate. Tremendous length on the finish. Stunning Syrah that is aging brilliantly. Best over the next 2-4 years.
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5/17/2020 - JasonClapp Likes this wine: 94 Points
First Cayuse ever. From the moment I open the bottle and put a few ounces in the glass I couldn’t stop burying my nose in it. I would never even think “funk” if it weren’t for all the people that bring it up. Honestly I don’t get it - the nose was killer, and the palate was both sexy and powerful. I get teriyaki, tekka maki in soy, olive, tart cherry and anise. Christopher says “more cowbell!”, but I say “more savory”. The mouthfeel was like silk and the finish was long and distracting. I love my WA Cabs (think Quilceda) but this is definitely the N, P, F experience I am looking for when I need a break from my cabs. I am horrible at describing the details of my experience but this ‘09 Armada was awesome. Subsequent Days: Wine mellowed but staying very earthy. Still silky smooth and enjoyable but it was best on day one upon opening.
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4/12/2020 - renoprof Likes this wine: 93 Points
Beautiful Cayuse - dried prunes, smoke, fruit structure- drinking well and could still lay down.
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3/12/2020 - bigbass250 Likes this wine:
started last night waiting for it to open hopefully that will be tonight
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3/7/2020 - jmull Likes this wine: 96 Points
This got about 40 minutes of air. It was open for business immediately. Bright cherries, cracked pepper, that briny olive quality Cayuse wines all share. Oak far more integrated than the ladt time I tried this a few years ago. Everything is beautifully integrated and in balance. I think this is in its sweet spot. And how sweet it is. 96-97.
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2/17/2020 - williamswhine Likes this wine: 94 Points
Little bit of the Cayuse funk at opening but quickly disappeared. Dark plumb hue. End of bottle a little cloudy. Nice full bodied, dark berry, spicy graphite, smooth, velvety, long finish. Enjoying this vintage while I got them.
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1/18/2020 - Magnolian Likes this wine: 95 Points
Perfect cork, very slight bricking, deep opaque purple color. Decanted only 30 minutes but 3 trips through a Vinturi. Really impressive bottle tonight. All the elements you want from a premier Syrah—spiciness, deep dark fruits, minerals/graphite, all seamlessly integrated into a forever finish. Just a slight bit of the signature Cayuse funkiness—in my opinion better off for minimizing this feature. Maybe the best Cayuse I’ve ever had out of 30+ examples. In a spectacular place right now (why wait?) but easily 5 years left.
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12/25/2019 - Radboy wrote: 95 Points
Another great drink, had with the ‘11 Armada. On this night it tasted like it could easily go another 3-5 years. A mouthful of earth, brine, bramble berry and leather. This dwarfed the ‘11 in terms of the depth and body. The ‘11 is showing more polish and a less flamboyant flavor profile and has a wonderful intensity, yet lacking the typically insane Cayuse Rock’s flavors, which the ‘09 embodies. The ‘11 could easily have passed as something other than a Cayuse. It was quite good and it was generally a toss up on favorites.
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12/10/2019 - williamswhine Likes this wine: 95 Points
Totally enjoyed this bottle of syrah. Nice dark berry nose. Blackberry, black pepper, graphite, smooth, velvety, full bodied, long finish. Really terrific! Bravo!
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10/12/2019 - Ron Slye wrote: 94 Points
Pretty much the same as my earlier note. This just has so much going on. Like most wines of this style it usually takes center stage. We had a really amazing older CA pinot (Kalin 2000) that was so subtle and just lovely with the roast lamb. The Armada was also great with it -- just different. More of a strong bass note that almost takes you away from the food and makes you want to jump into the glass. The pinot is more subtle, and more balanced, and complemented the food nicely. Both were good -- just different experiences.
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9/1/2019 - Ex-Ray Likes this wine: 95 Points
Probably the darkest, most concentrated and tannic of Baron's single vineyard syrahs. Completely dark and opaque; very aromatic from the start, typical Cayuse style of roasted meats, charred wood, pure blackberries, some black pepper. Full-bodied flavors to match. Still noticeable tannins, which could resolve with more age. Very long, somewhat hot aftertaste. Still may be a bit closed and early, though very enjoyable. Definitely more power and less elegance than several other Cayuse syrahs. I'll hold back a few for another year or two.
Ric
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8/25/2019 - Vino Me wrote: 92 Points
Opened by Mark. I've had the 2007 and 2008 in the past and this falls somewhere in between the 2 in quality. No formal notes. 92 points.
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8/24/2019 - AllRed wrote: 92 Points
4th Saturday group "uptown" tasting (M&R's): Double blind. Fairly dark color with notes of dried herbs, spice,tar, pepper and black fruit. Red and black fruit on the palate, with peppery spice overtones. Nicely baalnced; medium tannin. Guessed syrah. 92-93 pts.
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8/24/2019 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 96 Points
consistent with notes of 12/9/2016
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7/26/2019 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 96 Points
Washington State Tasting (John's House Bloomington, MN): Roasted meats, white pepper, stone, blueberries, exotic spices and dust. Long and concentrated finish. An outstanding end to the Washington State Tasting today! Drink now to 2025.
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7/20/2019 - thebonnydooner wrote: 92 Points
Tasty but did not hit the heights expected. Some smoke and meaty over the blackberry and black cherry fruit. Nice complexity but lacking a little of the funky notes that make Cayuse syrahs so interesting. Still excellent though.
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4/7/2019 - GA_Seattle Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wonderful Rocks aromatics: crushed rock, minerals, floral, cured meats. Ripe red fruit, green olive, umami character; long, lingering finish 45 seconds. Silky smooth mouthfeel, medium acid, in a very nice place currently, while it will likely keep for many more years recommend at least drinking some now while so enjoyable,
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3/8/2019 - perlasteve Likes this wine: 94 Points
Much more fruit forward. Delicious. Time in glass let more earth elements to appear. Obvious full body. Went great with chicken larb
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2/2/2019 - KenK Likes this wine: 95 Points
A really nice bottle of wine. Dark dense creamy blackberry fruits with elements of graphite, slate, and black pepper. Full bodied and rich, yet nicely balanced with an impressive finish.
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1/6/2019 - Radboy wrote: 95 Points
Drank with a 12 hour decant just because. Great fruit but it seemed to lose some of the nuanced aroma and sophistication I love. I will stick with a 2 hour decant in the future.
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12/29/2018 - wineguy75 Likes this wine: 97 Points
2hr decant. Classic baron style of barnyard funk but not over the top. the '09 armada amazing every bottle i drink. prime drinking now but also has years to go
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12/28/2018 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Similar to prior notes after a 2 hr decant, less Cayuse funk; delicious & appears to be entering its prime drinking window, no rush
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9/22/2018 - cpsmith33 wrote: 91 Points
This one had too much of the soapy wild vibe but went away on second day. Kind of overwhelmed the amazing Cayuse elements.
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8/9/2018 - Radboy wrote: 96 Points
Excellent.
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6/14/2018 - Ex-Ray Likes this wine: 97 Points
Typical Cayuse syrah aroma of smoke, plums, roasted meat, French oak, immediately pronounced. Completely dark and opaque, garnet-purple. Probably the most concentrated and dense of all their syrahs, with powerful flavor but also moderate tannin, more than usual for a Cayuse. I think this needs a couple more years in the cellar.
Ric
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5/19/2018 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 93 Points
These Armadas are the most challenging Cayuse cuvees for me. On pop and pour there was a pungent ammonia smell and soapy taste, but they quickly disappeared, leaving pepper, roasted meats, a bit of tomato, and a thick palate. Perhaps in an intermediate stage? I do like these but this wasn't the easiest to drink.
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5/7/2018 - Vinomnivore Likes this wine: 95 Points
Another great evening with this wine. Its in a very good spot now. Held up and evolved over the course of a 4 hour dinner. Certainly plenty of herbal and savory elements but balanced with a nice touch of fruit.
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1/22/2018 - Vinomnivore Likes this wine: 95 Points
A wonderful experience. Decanted for roughly an hour. I was worried that the Cayuse funk might put off some of my dinner companions. However, although showing some lovely savory elements (roasted beef, tomato, smoke, herb) no funk was to be found in this wine and the savory flavors were quite in balance with a sweet red fruit.
A very smooth drinking experience with enough tannin and acid to be refreshing with our meal. We consumed this with the second half of the tasting menu at Blue Hill. Cayuse really contributed to a memorable, fun evening.
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1/7/2018 - Ron Slye wrote: 94 Points
Wow. Right off the bat this has a very telling nose. Quite feral, with layers of olives, boysenberry, brine, tomato – yes, there is lots of stuff here. Not jumpy; dense but approachable. Really dark in the glass. Very tight in the mouth – some roasted meets with a bit of a harder metallic bass note, a slight bitter note, then slowly leading to a wonderfully sweet finish. This needs a lot more time in the bottle I think.
After a little time in the glass, the nose and palate take on some hints of burnt wood, smoke, and more roasted meats, as well as some under ripe cherries. Very fine grained tannins that lightly coat the roof of the mouth.
I continue to think that Armada is my favorite vineyard of Cayuse’s syrahs, and this wine continues that trend.
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12/23/2017 - rfras wrote: 90 Points
This bottle was off. The fruit was muted, not vibrant. Certainly disappointing after the first 3 bottles I drank were excellent.
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11/23/2017 - gotsha wrote: 92 Points
Dried cherry raisinettes wrapped in smoked bacon. A little to on the hot side and medium bodied. I would drink sooner rather than later.
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11/16/2017 - Radboy wrote: 97 Points
This was simply fantastic. This edition had more polish and less in your face flavors than most Armada’s. Drinking in a sweet spot right now, I can’t imagine it getting any better. Good times coming!
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10/24/2017 - skifree wrote: 93 Points
Was in the mood for an Armada and pulled this. Bright red fruits on opening, which surprised me, but then the dark savory characteristics shown through after it got some air.
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9/17/2017 - Vinomnivore Likes this wine: 94 Points
Light Cayuse funk on the nose. Fruit in balance with many savory notes of black olive as red meat, black pepper, a slightly salty finish.
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8/11/2017 - rfras Likes this wine: 94 Points
Similar to my last note.
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7/30/2017 - tomlee wrote: 97 Points
Maroon in color. 14.7% ABV. Savory nose of red fruits, soy sauce, olive brine and smoke. Medium to full bodied with loads of acidity. Immense and concentrated. Plum sauce, warm cherry pie, barbecued meats and minerals on the palate. The finish is incredibly long. In a really nice spot now but this wine will certainly drink well for another 3-5 years. Fantastic Syrah that has a timeless quality to it.
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7/8/2017 - tjross Likes this wine: 97 Points
Decanted for six hours. Another pull from gdub (thanks Bono!). A nearly perfect wine and likely the best from Cayuse I've had. If anything, it highlights how much better CB's wines get with age. <A silent vow to myself to never pop another bottle early. At least the Horsepower is buried deep in the "cellar".>
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7/3/2017 - bonedoc wrote:
can't tell what's going on with this wine. bretty (i think) versus salty/briny w/ some beefy notes. the fruit is there, but the other notes were slightly off-putting. not sure if this wine was tainted or not, versus the house style. i feel like i have experienced this before w/ cayuse wines.
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5/29/2017 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 94 Points
PNP at Steppin' Up, deep ruby, blue & black fruit with a touch of pepper, mod. tannins, long finish; delicious, but benefits from more air/time
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5/6/2017 - fournet Likes this wine: 93 Points
Ready to drink but not rush to open. Tannins modest and integrated.
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3/9/2017 - skifree wrote: 92 Points
This is an excellent wine, but is still quite reserved I think. The minerality just jumps out at you right now. Lots of dark fruit, blood, black tea along with the minerality, good acidity as well. I think this wine is very young, hopefully I remember to let my last bottle rest for another decade!
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12/24/2016 - johnnyo wrote: 95 Points
One of the best wines of 2016. Rich and meaty, plush with a silky texture. Lovely notes of jammy black cherry, blueberry, black pepper and stoney mineral. Super long finish with near perfect acidity.
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12/9/2016 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 96 Points
This was outstanding. Savory meaty notes countered the plum and berry flavors and the floral aromas. A long finish with saline and mocha. Worth the tariff, this was a great wine.
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11/1/2016 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Similar to prior note; delicious, drink or hold
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10/27/2016 - AllRed wrote: 92 Points
Courtesy of Dave, popped and poured during dinner. Brief notes. Deeply colored. Earth, pepper, black fruit in the bouquet. Firm, fine-grained tannins with a sweet edge supporting a melange of red and black fruit and peppery spice qualities. Remains firm through the lengthy finish. 92-93 pts, with plenty of upside, but I'd hold this one for now unless you're pairing it with a rich or fatty meal such as braised beef shanks or a ribeye.
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10/16/2016 - cpsmith33 Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is great stuff. Perfect Cayuse style and favorite vineyard.
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8/26/2016 - hiker_guy Likes this wine:
I needed therapy for this years allocation.
This was lovely
Smooth, Rich, savory, complexity in spades. Paired with a prime sirloin and it worked well.
I'll buy more....
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8/10/2016 - wineguy75 Likes this wine: 97 Points
2nd bottle. 2 hour decant. Very big syrah with heavy black pepper on the back end. A lot of interesting character i've only found in Rhone. Drank non-blind against '09 God Only Knows Granache and edged that out. In past beat '09 Guigal Chateau d'Ampuis blind.
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7/30/2016 - creighc wrote: 96 Points
Please, but enjoyed throughout a 3 hour evening. I opened in my cellar and barely had the cork out and the whole cellar filled with funk - which I love. It was almost like the glass had a built in blower. The wine evolved greatly ove the next three hours - becoming more velvety and lovely. Hints of blueberry and candied cherries with a 30 second finish. Possibly the most enjoyable and complex Syrah I have ever enjoyed. I have two more bottles so my friends better be very nice.
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7/24/2016 - Amerique wrote: 95 Points
Rich, delicious, blackberry fruit, soil and saddle leather flavors, much more smooth, soft, and integrated, elegant, not as big and "in your face" with Walla Walla funk as past vintages, slight sweetness
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6/9/2016 - Justchrisb23 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Fantastic... Drinking very well!!!
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3/5/2016 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted for 2 hrs then put back in the bottle & tasted hrs later, garnet, blueberry & spice, mod. tannins, medium-long finish; delicious, drink or hold
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11/22/2015 - csimm wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for 30 minutes at 54 degrees. Notes of black cherry, blueberry, beef blood, sanguine, brick, saline, black olive brine, iron, iodine, terra-cotta, and red clay.
Initially fairly muted over the course of the first hour, but it emerged quite nicely with the aforementioned flavors after about two hours in the hopper. Could potentially use another couple of years of bottle integration. If it is any indication, the 2006 and 2007 Cayuse wines are starting to hit their strides now; so, the 2009s might be better suited for the 2017/2018 mark.
A very good and unique wine to be sure, with the usual array of Cayuse saline, sanguine, and iron notes indicative of the site, but ultimately possibly missing some of the deeper and more complex flavors often found in other Cayuse wines. A generous 93, wanting just a tad more from this wine, especially for the QPR.
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10/9/2015 - Hollowine wrote:
Nose isn't as funky as other vintages, but still typical Armada; blackberry, baking spice, hint of barnyard, eucalyptus. On the palate; dark cherry, chocolate ganache, iodine, tar. Lovely and better with 90 min decant. 92+
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10/8/2015 - mcustodio wrote:
Tony will pay thanksgiving 2015 $100
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8/31/2015 - Vinsant Likes this wine:
Ch-ch-ch-cherry bomb! Lots of dark cherry, pepper, flowers, coffee, meat/iron, and a floral lift. Didn't budge much over the 1hr in the decanter and the hour it took to consume. Light on funk with a smooth mouthfeel. Lots of energy on the palate.
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6/14/2015 - rfras Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is a big wine. Decanted for an hour. Despite the alcohol level there is plenty of fruit. Rhone style wine with berry flavors mixed with some earthy flavors. Paired very well with NY Steaks. Finish is long, smooth and silky.
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6/13/2015 - Vinsant Likes this wine:
Sat in the decanter for about an hour. Notes of florals, peppered meat, stew, cherries, and dried herbs filled the room. Full palate of red fruit, smoked meat, minerals, coffee, underbrush, and earth. Paired nicely with rib-eye. Didn't budge flavor-wise from opening to end of the bottle a couple of hours later. Has lots of life ahead but no harm in popping one now.
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4/17/2015 - frisbeedog Likes this wine: 94 Points
This wine is still a monster, big and intense. Going to try to let is sit for a while and open up more. :)
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4/5/2015 - jmull Likes this wine: 97 Points
Decanted 90 minutes. Holy crap this is massive. It made a 2011 Cayuse Cailloux Syrah feel almost modest in scale by comparison. Huge fruit and savory notes, some brine, and a lot of vanilla oak. All in beautiful balance. This wine has decades of development ahead, and it is already gobsmacking. Wow. 97.
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1/4/2015 - jhieb Likes this wine: 94 Points
More feminine than I was anticipating, and absolutely beautiful.
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11/24/2014 - soyhead wrote:
Nose - earthy, herbal - fennel, licorice, chicory
Mouth - herbal infused , celery, digestif-esque intermixed with ham, smoke, then luscious blueberry, with juicy acidity. A very interesting wine but quite complex and frankly not liked by the masses. I however am sold. For food, preferably.
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11/3/2014 - Brandon Sparks-Gillis Likes this wine:
Still young, but totally enjoyable now. Opened slowly over a few days, it showed best on day 3.
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10/25/2014 - GrandeSerataFuori wrote:
I could not score this wine. Wasn't sure if I loved it, hated it, or somewhere in the middle. Rich, dark, wild juice. Notes of soy sauce, mildew, roasting meat bones. Bizarre flavor and mouthfeel. What is going on here? I'm interested in my other two bottles, but not sure I'd buy more.
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10/5/2014 - gzim Does not like this wine: 86 Points
In a word, very spoofilated.
Yes, I find some Northern Rhone like characteristics... but not in balance.
Very ripe fruit, some nice olive tapenade and a touch of white pepper but in a flabby disjointed way. It did not seem to have the framework to carry this very ripe fruit into a balanced finish. Needs much more structure.... Interesting, but not for me.
Does not seem to be worth near the pricetag.
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7/5/2014 - pakabear Likes this wine: 94 Points
Great combo of Northern Rhone and new world styles, very cool climate Syrah with bright fruit, silky palate and medium complexity. Drinks well right out of the gate and will drink well for the next 10 years easy.
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5/2/2014 - Jimywags wrote: 96 Points
Popped and slow o'ed for an hour. When one harkens back to the days of yore with yearnings for middle age styled wine, this is that wine. I imagine this wine sitting in an old Pegau or Rostaing barrel. An old witch, paddle in hand, stirring and dropping in pork shanks, racks of lamb, oxtail, wild mushrooms, smoked herbs, tea, wild raspberries, blackberries, and dark currants. Mumbling some unintelligible refrain as she cackles with delight. 96 pts.
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4/27/2014 - soyhead wrote:
improved with aeration. a funky rotting vegetation and bacon nose. needs a serious decant. very savory but with air the dark fruit component shows through. the soy sauce quality demands an appropriate pairing such as pork chop or mushrooms
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12/26/2013 - gbbwino wrote: 94 Points
Quick decant before consuming over 2 hours. Beautifully balanced, clean with fresh flavors. Layers emerged with more time in the glass. Very Cote Rotie like. Fruit was there but in a sneaky way, which surprised me given the 14.7 alcohol. Should age gracefully for a decade or more. These wines keep getting better!
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9/29/2013 - djs wrote: 86 Points
Kinda green
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9/14/2013 - skifree wrote: 94 Points
Decided it was time to open my first Armada. The wine surprised me, as it was full of dark fruits, black tea, and mineral, but I am not sure I could have picked it as a Cayuse in a blind line up. Consumed over two nights, similar notes. In a "dumb" phase? Still great, though.
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9/4/2013 - shadow wrote: 97 Points
nose is packed full of meat, rubber , and thick tea. Flavors are up scale and attention getting, so yummy, smooth and meaty and dark fruit
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7/8/2013 - MatthewF wrote:
Opened, but not decanted about 30 minutes before tasting and then drank over two hours. Powerful, intoxicating aromatics right from the start. Ripe black cherry and berry, crushed rocks, charred meat, bacon fat, darker floral tones and dark spices. Ripe and powerful on the palate as well, but not in an over the top, extracted way. Quite structured with a firm mineral backbone running through it. Full bodied with a burst of acidity on the long gripping finish. Fantastic.
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4/11/2012 - Vinsant wrote:
Release weekend barrel sample: Easily my fav of the samples. Red and blue fruits, veggie funk, and dried herbs. Minerals, minerals, and minerals. Salty bacon fat. Bright and deep nose with a dark palate. Long finish with some kicking tannins. Nice acidity.
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4/7/2012 - manonthemoon wrote: 94 Points
Pacific Northwest Tasting Trip, Day 4; 4/4/2012-4/12/2012 (Milton-Freewater, OR & Walla Walla, WA, and Waitsburg, WA): Notes from the Open House tasting with Baron.
Nose was strong with blackberry, black cherry, herbs.
Palate of blackberry, black cherry, funky furr, earth.
Finish was long in length and major tannin.
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