Reminds me why BF is the crown of the cayuse jewels. Very elegant with lots of savory flavors. Everything seems well integrated now. Rich dark fruit. Reminds me of the La Las a bit (I can’t remember what distinguishes them enough to say which this is more like). But a lovely wine that went really well with grilled steak.
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Decanted for 4-hours. The pour was auspicious, inky dark letting no light through the glass. The brooding color was no match for the palate which was soft, and fruit forward until the alcohol-dominate finish. Juicy, dark plum dominated. Some spice and bramble in the mid palate. The finish smoothed over time as the alcohol dissipated. Very nice at that point in particular. Day 2 was unremarkable and flat fruit juice as the alcohol, and its related structure vanished. It’s time to drink up.
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For the first 15 minutes the alcohol was overwhelming but miraculously gradually receded. Massive concentration of dark plummy fruit with just the right amount of acidity and not as feral as I expected. A bit more tannin would be welcome. Nevertheless, this is a compelling Syrah in a new world style and more successful than the great majority of Aussie pretenders which are too ponderous without any redeeming sense of balance.
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Very nice, well made wine. Still a big fella but definitely in its sweet spot. Reminds me a bit of an Alban Syrah. This would be a great time to drink these.
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Interesting wine. Initially pretty closed (no decant) but opens up beautifully over a couple of hours. Only had a large glass and drank very nicely - well balanced, smoke, olive, meat and ripe blackberry in spades on both nose and palate. Really delicious Cayuse drinking very well. Very looking forward to another glass tomorrow.
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Third tasting since 2017, has definitely evolved. No longer dark garnet and opaque, but now ruby-garnet, slight brown edge, translucent. Pronounced smoky, roasted meat and black fruit aromas but elegant and complex. Still has good fruit but has softened, now more medium-bodied and more elegant. Went perfectly with roasted beef tenderloin. At its peak, would drink up over the next 1-2 years. For my taste, the "sweet spot" for this wine is about 8 years. Ric
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A big Syrah, very powerful. Big Black fruit bomb with very little spices one would expect from a Syrah from the west coast. Plum and dark fruit structure. Medium finish.
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Very dark purple, slight bricking. No capsule, and some seepage about halfway up the cork. My first BF, and probably suffered from high expectations. Good but not great, lacked the ooomph and sheer power of the Cayuse single-vineyard syrahs I've enjoyed so much throughout the years. Enjoyable palate, but lacking the sense of place from the vineyard designates. A bit tired? Hopefully just an off bottle.
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Wanted something special to pair with a dinner commemorating one year of lockdown, and this did the trick. Somewhat shy but pretty nose. This is a captivating salty mix of blueberry, smoke, pepper and olive. Like a great Grand Cru burgundy, it gives an impression of lightness but belies that with focus, power and persistence, finishing long. Ethereal and special. 97-98.
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A very good bottle of wine, BUT.... Not worth $200 I paid for it. I love cayuse wine and absolutely jump at the chance to drink it, but for me, this one probably was past its prime. I had such high hopes for that ethereal experience but it was not this bottle. Let's be clear it was very good but not amazing.
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I'm in a better mood than my last bottle. This was just terrific. This Frog had all the great stuff of Cayuse - the stank, the richness, the fruit (plum), the blood, the WA profile - but adds a sophistication and complexity which is amazing. Also this wine was not muddy at all. Very delineated. A really terrific bottle of wine.
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Part of a mixed bag, final flight, blind tasting. Against other similar grapes, hands down winner. However, it was in left field when comparing to other cabs. I'm a fan however.
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Had at a family dinner. N blueberries, floral, seared meat, smoke, tobacco P blueberries, cherry, olive brine, seared meat, spice, pepper, tobacco F long in length, good mouthfeel, went well with ox tails and potatoes
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Ski trip - Three wino familes; 2/14/2020-2/17/2020 (Wisp Resort): Expressive youthful nose displaying perfectly ripe black fruit with a hint of red, blackberry concentrate, cherry, tobacco, leather, dark spices, a hint of green, tapenade, black pepper and earth. Not showing much cannabis which I found in other vintages. Nicely integrated palate, very finely layered concentrated black fruit, silky and polished, perfect amount of acidity and mineral, and a long refined black fruit driven finish with tobacco and black pepper at the end. This remains very youthful. Very unique expression of Syrah.
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Drank over the course of 5 hours from the bottle. A touch bitter and green but subdued by Cayuse standards. Sweet borderline ripe dark fruit with accents of black tea, soy, milk chocolate, iodine, and smoke. With time the savory and black tea elements began to dominate. Enjoyable but likely too funky for most. No sharp edges here so not sure more time will help.
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The thing I found out today, was that you have to be in the mood to drink these big boys! This was a great drink after a tough week. But it needs more attention and a focus on the complexities that evolve over the evening. Great wine, drinking well, and still has much stuffing left. Lots of dark ripe plum, a bit of soy and the weird blood thing. The next bottle I'll make sure we're in a better mood.
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In a great drinking spot right now. This huge Shiraz always needs at least ten years of aging in my opinion. I decanted it for two hours. Huge body and structure, very round and well balanced. Great integrated but firm tannins. Dark berries, chocolate, sour cherry, raw meat and licorice on the palate. Long seductive finish. Amazing right now and can easily age another decade.
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At home with Glenn, for his birthday, opened spontaneously and consumed in about an hour. Dark garnet-purple, completely opaque. Aroma of blackberries and cassis, roasted meats, but subtle and opened slowly. Viscous. Very concentrated on the palate, dark fruits with charred wood, smooth, but high alcohol, persists into an extremely long finish. Outstanding, but still quite closed, probably from opening and drinking so quickly. Needs extensive airing now, and may still need a couple more years in the cellar. Ric
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I love Cayuse. But I really love Frog Cayuse. Often the different between a top cuvee and the one just below is minimal. Not in this case. But the general Cayuse Syrah cuvees are all fabulous. The '99 Frog just is so deep in fruit and complexity. It is all Cayuse stank (more restrained than the other Cayuse cuvees), deep, deep layered fruit - plum, cassis. Other flavors are soy, earth, a little vegetable - it of edamame. I had it using the Coravin (CV) and then couldn't help it but finished the bottle over the next two nights. One night in a tasting with a lot of other great wines where it was WOTN for me and my tasting buddy. All-in-all, this is a great wine, which is good - even for someone who usually prefers the more classic European wines. I do think this is the top wine of Washington Syrahs. I'd love to hear other recommendations.
WX Blind Rhone Varietal Tasting (Presidio - Chicago): Thanks Steve Ha! My man! Bionic Frog in the house! And my first one at that! A true treat. I guessed it was Chave blind. So super savory and funky. Bloody steak, bacon fat, smoke, dirty cherries. Iron ore. This was a wine of complexity yet was still on the medium bodied side. Great acidity and actually a food friendly wine. Lovely and so fun to try!
Tampa Spring Break III; 2/16/2018-2/18/2018 (Tampa FL): 3/17 wines tasted double blind. A very pretty floral nose (not the usual barnyard Cayuse - more perfumed). On the palate, red berries and cranberries, herbs and black tea. A bit of a candied note on the finish. Was really thinking this was grenache/syrah. Loved this wine - probably my WOTN
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Misc US Rhone wines (Palaegade): Very impressive and with lots of Cayuse funk. Plenty of dark fruit but also fresh acidity and a touch of sweetness. Great stuff!
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Dark garnet-purple, completely opaque. Pronounced aroma of blackberries and cassis, roasted meats, but opened slowly. Viscous. Very concentrated on the palate, dark fruits with charred wood, smooth, but high alcohol, persists into an extremely long finish. Outstanding, but still a bit closed, may still need a couple more years in the cellar. Ric
Black cherry, some raspberry, gentle but complex pepper spices and very silky. Decanted at least an hour and followed over another 2. This tasted almost too young to me - totally enjoyable and ready to drink now, so don't get me wrong - but I suspect it will improve.
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Yesterday with a friend, we opened a couple of bottles. Lucky for us we've had our share of drama for the night. This was also for 3 hours in the decanter and was not even entirely ready to rock and roll but already a mindblowing nose that kept changing en beautifully evolved during the 4 hours we've spend tasting and enjoying these wines. The palet was that obviously of a cool klimat wine with class could as well have been Rhône. This can easily age for a couple of decades, so no need to hurry although it already gives a lot of pleasure.
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Dark ruby color. Stewed raspberry, clove, and earth aromas. Red fruits, cranberry. A little tight to start but opens. Celebrating leaving work after 24 years
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If there are complaints about this wine, I can't fathom them. It is medium bodied, not a bruiser in any way, with a pure fruit expression that is enticing and approachable. It may not be the most profound wine you've ever had, but for sheer drinkability it is quite lovely. No barnyard funk to speak of...just an extremely tasty Syrah.
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Decanted for around 2 hours. A bit underwhelming. I argued that it might have been just a tad off. Everything just seemed slightly muted. Was the nose good? Yeah, but not as good as in the past. Did the wine taste good? Yeah, but just didn't have that Frog pop I'm used to. I'll chalk it up to that on this night, the Frog wasn't at its best. 91pts.
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Decanted 6 hrs or so. Just further proof that as I seem to slowly pull away from loud, boisterous new world reds, Cayuse is the exception. Equal parts intrigue and full on hedonistic delight, this still clearly is worth the scratch. While not the most wild of Frog's, this delivered on the merits of pure focus, poise, and steeled grip tenacity while still providing the trademark notes of blackberry, smoke, cured meats and the like. Still has years to go and clearly on a upward trajectory. yum.
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Rich, delicious, full-bodied blackberry fruit with meaty, earthy flavors, excellent structure, very smooth, sillky, still fruit is tightly restrained, finish is a bit short
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Decanted two hours. Wow. This is awesome. Just copious blue/red fruit framed by distinctive olive and briny character. Not quite as massive as the 2009 Armada, but a bit lighter on its feet. Just awesome stuff. Glad I have another bottle since it has the balance to age beautifully.
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An outstanding wine from a great producer. Smooth with plenty of backbone. Perfectly balanced with great fruit but not at all "fruity". Kind of like drinking liquid satin.
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After a double-decant and a few hours back in the bottle, this wine was still stiff as a board. With some additional time/swirling in the glass, it started to show the great potential underneath its youthful structure. Less "funk" and minerality than most Cayuse wines, but incredible blue fruits that keep going and going... A real classic. Glad have a couple of bottles left. This is a very young wine today, and I will probably hold off on opening the next one for a couple of years.
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I definitely do not "get" this wine. I coravined a glass from an 09 BF, and 2 glasses from 2 different bottles of the 10 BF (I had to try both 2010 bottles because I couldn't believe what the first one tasted like). All three were borderline undrinkable for me. Almost no fruit on the nose or palate. The nose was quite interesting - lots of tobacco and rubber, along with some meat, blood, earth, forest floor, licorice, smoke. But on the palate this tasted so strongly of tobacco that I couldn't get past it. I like a little funk, and a little tobacco, but when it tastes like you are drinking from a spittoon from an old west saloon, that's a bit much. With one bottle, I was assuming a bad bottle, but with three it seems like this must be the wine's characteristic profile. I understand that there is somewhat of a controversy over the famed Cayuse funk, and that their fruit level is supposed to be somewhat muted. But this is all funk and no fruit. Maybe my taste buds are overly sensitive to something in this wine (I am overly sensitive to acetone in wine, among other things), but I really find the taste quite revolting, and one that lingers for hours afterward, unfortunately. For my personal taste, I would rate this around 50 - seriously awful. But there is obviously a loyal fan base who loves it, so let's just say it's not my style. An expensive lesson for me....
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Part of Christmas dinner party cellar rade. Didn't take detailed notes but wished I did. Been wanting to try the famous Bionic Frog for a while and recall it was incredible but not much more than that.
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Zachy's Wine Auction - Winter 2014 (Smith & Wollensky (48th & 3rd Ave)): Double-decanted, rebottled, and left on the table for prob 3 or 4 hours before we first touched it. Drank over the course of more like 8 or 9 hours and even at the very end it was still evolving and coming together. Delicious wine - that great Washington funk. I still don't quite understand how Christophe takes a wine style that I consider to be more over the top and makes it feel subtle and elegant when those flavors are anything but. Wonderful wine, needs more time, but with the extra decanting/time was drinking very well. Not quite the Grange, Colgin or Hundred Acre, but still delicious.
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I double decanted this bottle and then let it breath. It was very nice. I liked that it had more earth and structure than many Washington Syrahs. I did not pick up as much barnyard funk as some reviewers describe. Having said that, I am not sure it is worth the hype; to each his own. This vintage seems completely ready to drink.
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All I can say is hmmm on this one.....nothing like any other frog I've tasted. This was my 1st '09' and I've had all back to the '04. Nothing on the nose upon opening and even after an hour decant or with the addition of food (bone in strip), this was still not what I have grown accustomed to, especially on the nose from Frog. Very restrained, slight and muted. There is fruit in there, but it was sleeping too. I was lost without the quintessential cayuse nose that I love so much. Still a very well made wine and interesting. Maybe I was off my game tonight....it's possible.
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In a very focused, subdued, mature, finesse driven stage. The nose was mature dark fruits mingled with cherries with a nice cured meat note, peppers, spices and flowers. The palate was very streamlined and focused with reduced berry notes, some spices, cured meats in a seamless palate pleasing package. The finish is resolved at this point. Was a great pairing with Turkey burgers stuffed with sautéed onions, goat cheese and basil. Stellar as usual!
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Dark purple, medium body, raspberry, blackberry, floral notes, wildly complex, long finish. Decanted 5 hours before dinner. Even so, it did not open up until another hour in the glass. Then it exploded with wild berry flavors, mint, tar, and others I can't place. Tasted alongside bottles of Alban Reva and Colgin IX. The BF managed to distinguish itself from these other amazing wines, but held true to the essence of the varietal.
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Velvety and supple after double decanting for 8 hours. Notes of smoke and a finish of rubber denoting its extreme youth. A great wine that will only age gracefully over the next 10+ years.
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Coravined: ONe glass, primal syrah smell. Not as much tar on the nose as I would have expected. Deep red fruit, meaty and volcanic soil. Young and brutish with purity in the fruit This is a big wine, especially on mid palate and finish. Cant wait to see how this young pup evolves.
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Super young but super fun. Every time I sniff a BF all I can think of is cornucopia. So...much...going...on! HUGE nose of reduced blue and blackberries with notes of those famous Rainer Cherries. Baking spices, soy, mineral, red cabbage and jerky meats. The palate showed its youth and was blocky at 1st but started to come together after a 2.5hr decant. Mineral attack at 1st moving to reduced black and blue fruits with a tannic finish. Had with roasted duck in a reduced soy sauce and what a pair. Really filled in the gaps in a young wine. On day 2 it was spicy and delicious. More anise, lavender, and cured meat. The next btl won't be touched for another 3-5yrs.....maybe.
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Paid the outragous mark up at Pappa's Steak House (our annual visit, this was a pitance to the mark-up we paid on the Sine Qua Non last year). It is very, very young - and we needed to sit on the bottle at least an hour. Once it opened up, I tasted massive blackberry and blueberry, white pepper, olive, grilled steak and smoke. It was all tied together with sweet tannins on the back end. When, o when, will I get on the allocation list (sigh)?
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Served single blind: I was dead sure this was the 08 No Girls Syrah, it just didn’t have the complexity or any of the usual traits I expect in modern Frog. YET I should have known better, as all of the reds in this flight were decanted for just a short period of time (1hr or less). And sure enough, after the reveal, and about two hours of sitting in the glass, all the trademark Bionic Frog scents and flavors came out. I’m going to rate this wine, as it simply wasn’t given enough air time to fully evaluate, but it certainly illustrated how fun and humbling blind tasting can be.
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Wednesday Night Blind - May 2012 (Peter Pratt's Inn): MF#1 - Blind - My second offering of the evening, and if I was including my own wines in my votes this would have been my favorite, especially after tasting it at the end of the night. Simply stunning wine. So pure, so pristine, so laser focused, rich velvety fruit, the classic Cayuse funk in abundance, mushrooms, forest floor, hemp, ocean spray, loads of black berries, blue berries, raspberries, cocoa, ground white pepper, just ridiculously complex and exotic. I feel blessed to get this off the mailing list.
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Barrel sample. Da bomb diggity! Definitely my favorite of the barrel samples. Nose of violets, black olive tapenade, asphalt, ripe dark fruit, meat, pepper, spices, smoke. Surprisingly silky mouthfeel with a nice tight core of dark fruit accented with heavy doses of minerality, smoked meat, iron, blood, everything a growing boy needs. I don't think I've had a more complete Bionic Frog at this stage. Everything for me was in total balance. Can I pick up my 6-pack right now? 97-99 pts.
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barrel sample at release party; SOB...this was good! Great acids, tight and bright, saline/minerals, deep dark red fruit, pepper, rhubarb, funk, light smoke, and rare meat. These Frogs just keep getting better. Great mouthfeel, huge/long finish, and a very floral nose. Can't wait to taste this in 3-5. This was leaps ahead of everything else. My fav of the barrel samples by far.
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barrel tasted at release party A favorite of the tasting, this had the most gorgeous nose followed by a velvet mouthfeel. Neglected to take any further notes, but this was definitely a stunner.
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Barrel sample at Private Release Weekend. This was hands-down my favorite wine that we tasted today. This Syrah had loads of dark red fruit flavors, and notes of olive and roasted meat. Not much of the funk in this wine either. The 09 Bionic Frog almost seemed "Californian" in style - even though I'm sure that Christophe would hate to hear that term used for this wine, I do mean it as a compliment. Just an amazing wine.
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quick 2011 release note - Massive wine! Pepper, massive cornicopia of blue, black and red fruits. Sweet meats, tart tannis, rhubarb, ash, and an acidic citrus and chalky tannin finish. Steller as usual.
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Barrel sample at the release party. This had so much depth. Tapenade, funk, pure blue berry, leather, tons of minerals, crushed rock, dark fruits, and earth all with laser beam focus. Pure heaven.
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9/23/2023 - Francophile1 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Tasted blind. Wow! I am amazed at how much this wine tastes like a great Allemand Cornas! To think this comes from Washington State. Kaboom!
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6/18/2023 - Ron Slye wrote:
Reminds me why BF is the crown of the cayuse jewels. Very elegant with lots of savory flavors. Everything seems well integrated now. Rich dark fruit. Reminds me of the La Las a bit (I can’t remember what distinguishes them enough to say which this is more like). But a lovely wine that went really well with grilled steak.
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1/23/2023 - Acohen wrote: 96 Points
Dark dark dark fruit with bacon, meat, olive tapenade and funk throughout the lingering finish
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1/20/2023 - eszencia Likes this wine:
Decanted for 4-hours. The pour was auspicious, inky dark letting no light through the glass. The brooding color was no match for the palate which was soft, and fruit forward until the alcohol-dominate finish. Juicy, dark plum dominated. Some spice and bramble in the mid palate. The finish smoothed over time as the alcohol dissipated. Very nice at that point in particular. Day 2 was unremarkable and flat fruit juice as the alcohol, and its related structure vanished. It’s time to drink up.
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1/6/2023 - Jzboxtas wrote: 96 Points
Pitch black. Fully integrated tannins. Full throttle alcohol. Excellent with a 2+ hour decant
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12/25/2022 - sdr Likes this wine: 94 Points
For the first 15 minutes the alcohol was overwhelming but miraculously gradually receded. Massive concentration of dark plummy fruit with just the right amount of acidity and not as feral as I expected. A bit more tannin would be welcome. Nevertheless, this is a compelling Syrah in a new world style and more successful than the great majority of Aussie pretenders which are too ponderous without any redeeming sense of balance.
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11/9/2022 - Topper wrote: 94 Points
Very nice, well made wine. Still a big fella but definitely in its sweet spot. Reminds me a bit of an Alban Syrah. This would be a great time to drink these.
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9/30/2022 - thebonnydooner wrote: 94 Points
Interesting wine. Initially pretty closed (no decant) but opens up beautifully over a couple of hours. Only had a large glass and drank very nicely - well balanced, smoke, olive, meat and ripe blackberry in spades on both nose and palate. Really delicious Cayuse drinking very well. Very looking forward to another glass tomorrow.
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9/4/2022 - Ex-Ray Likes this wine: 94 Points
Third tasting since 2017, has definitely evolved. No longer dark garnet and opaque, but now ruby-garnet, slight brown edge, translucent. Pronounced smoky, roasted meat and black fruit aromas but elegant and complex. Still has good fruit but has softened, now more medium-bodied and more elegant. Went perfectly with roasted beef tenderloin. At its peak, would drink up over the next 1-2 years. For my taste, the "sweet spot" for this wine is about 8 years.
Ric
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12/8/2021 - napasoutherner Likes this wine: 94 Points
A big Syrah, very powerful. Big Black fruit bomb with very little spices one would expect from a Syrah from the west coast. Plum and dark fruit structure. Medium finish.
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9/4/2021 - Radboy wrote: 95 Points
Smoke, dark berries, a hint of chocolate and earth. Great wine.
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4/8/2021 - Magnolian Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very dark purple, slight bricking. No capsule, and some seepage about halfway up the cork. My first BF, and probably suffered from high expectations. Good but not great, lacked the ooomph and sheer power of the Cayuse single-vineyard syrahs I've enjoyed so much throughout the years. Enjoyable palate, but lacking the sense of place from the vineyard designates. A bit tired? Hopefully just an off bottle.
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3/13/2021 - jmull Likes this wine: 97 Points
Wanted something special to pair with a dinner commemorating one year of lockdown, and this did the trick. Somewhat shy but pretty nose. This is a captivating salty mix of blueberry, smoke, pepper and olive. Like a great Grand Cru burgundy, it gives an impression of lightness but belies that with focus, power and persistence, finishing long. Ethereal and special. 97-98.
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1/31/2021 - TrevR Likes this wine: 91 Points
A very good bottle of wine, BUT.... Not worth $200 I paid for it. I love cayuse wine and absolutely jump at the chance to drink it, but for me, this one probably was past its prime. I had such high hopes for that ethereal experience but it was not this bottle. Let's be clear it was very good but not amazing.
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11/9/2020 - Winevestor Likes this wine: 95 Points
I'm in a better mood than my last bottle. This was just terrific. This Frog had all the great stuff of Cayuse - the stank, the richness, the fruit (plum), the blood, the WA profile - but adds a sophistication and complexity which is amazing. Also this wine was not muddy at all. Very delineated. A really terrific bottle of wine.
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8/16/2020 - BergerKing Likes this wine: 92 Points
Part of a mixed bag, final flight, blind tasting. Against other similar grapes, hands down winner. However, it was in left field when comparing to other cabs. I'm a fan however.
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2/16/2020 - manonthemoon wrote: 96 Points
Had at a family dinner.
N blueberries, floral, seared meat, smoke, tobacco
P blueberries, cherry, olive brine, seared meat, spice, pepper, tobacco
F long in length, good mouthfeel, went well with ox tails and potatoes
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2/15/2020 - dcwino wrote: 95 Points
Ski trip - Three wino familes; 2/14/2020-2/17/2020 (Wisp Resort): Expressive youthful nose displaying perfectly ripe black fruit with a hint of red, blackberry concentrate, cherry, tobacco, leather, dark spices, a hint of green, tapenade, black pepper and earth. Not showing much cannabis which I found in other vintages. Nicely integrated palate, very finely layered concentrated black fruit, silky and polished, perfect amount of acidity and mineral, and a long refined black fruit driven finish with tobacco and black pepper at the end. This remains very youthful. Very unique expression of Syrah.
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1/25/2020 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 93 Points
Drank over the course of 5 hours from the bottle. A touch bitter and green but subdued by Cayuse standards. Sweet borderline ripe dark fruit with accents of black tea, soy, milk chocolate, iodine, and smoke. With time the savory and black tea elements began to dominate. Enjoyable but likely too funky for most. No sharp edges here so not sure more time will help.
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12/9/2019 - Winevestor Likes this wine: 94 Points
The thing I found out today, was that you have to be in the mood to drink these big boys! This was a great drink after a tough week. But it needs more attention and a focus on the complexities that evolve over the evening. Great wine, drinking well, and still has much stuffing left. Lots of dark ripe plum, a bit of soy and the weird blood thing. The next bottle I'll make sure we're in a better mood.
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9/21/2019 - DrZett Likes this wine: 95 Points
In a great drinking spot right now. This huge Shiraz always needs at least ten years of aging in my opinion. I decanted it for two hours. Huge body and structure, very round and well balanced. Great integrated but firm tannins. Dark berries, chocolate, sour cherry, raw meat and licorice on the palate. Long seductive finish. Amazing right now and can easily age another decade.
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12/15/2018 - Radboy wrote: 96 Points
This is in a sweet spot right now. Killer depth and balance.
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10/21/2018 - Ex-Ray Likes this wine: 94 Points
At home with Glenn, for his birthday, opened spontaneously and consumed in about an hour. Dark garnet-purple, completely opaque. Aroma of blackberries and cassis, roasted meats, but subtle and opened slowly. Viscous. Very concentrated on the palate, dark fruits with charred wood, smooth, but high alcohol, persists into an extremely long finish. Outstanding, but still quite closed, probably from opening and drinking so quickly. Needs extensive airing now, and may still need a couple more years in the cellar.
Ric
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8/19/2018 - Winevestor Likes this wine: 96 Points
I love Cayuse. But I really love Frog Cayuse. Often the different between a top cuvee and the one just below is minimal. Not in this case. But the general Cayuse Syrah cuvees are all fabulous. The '99 Frog just is so deep in fruit and complexity. It is all Cayuse stank (more restrained than the other Cayuse cuvees), deep, deep layered fruit - plum, cassis. Other flavors are soy, earth, a little vegetable - it of edamame. I had it using the Coravin (CV) and then couldn't help it but finished the bottle over the next two nights. One night in a tasting with a lot of other great wines where it was WOTN for me and my tasting buddy. All-in-all, this is a great wine, which is good - even for someone who usually prefers the more classic European wines. I do think this is the top wine of Washington Syrahs. I'd love to hear other recommendations.
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7/31/2018 - beezer6 wrote: 95 Points
WX Blind Rhone Varietal Tasting (Presidio - Chicago): Thanks Steve Ha! My man!
Bionic Frog in the house! And my first one at that! A true treat.
I guessed it was Chave blind. So super savory and funky. Bloody steak, bacon fat, smoke, dirty cherries.
Iron ore. This was a wine of complexity yet was still on the medium bodied side. Great acidity and actually a food friendly wine.
Lovely and so fun to try!
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3/13/2018 - tp096255 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Spectacular showing with Nick's baby back ribs. The charred meat notes in the wine just resonated with the char on the ribs. Just wonderful.
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2/18/2018 - retired_and_roving Likes this wine:
Tampa Spring Break III; 2/16/2018-2/18/2018 (Tampa FL): 3/17 wines tasted double blind. A very pretty floral nose (not the usual barnyard Cayuse - more perfumed). On the palate, red berries and cranberries, herbs and black tea. A bit of a candied note on the finish. Was really thinking this was grenache/syrah. Loved this wine - probably my WOTN
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2/18/2018 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Tampa Spring Break (the third); 2/16/2018-2/18/2018 (Various Tampa locations (Seasons 52, Capital Grille, Berns etc.)): Wine #3: I am a very big fan of this wine. It's got this wonderful balance between the fruit and the funk and the meat and the spice. Blackberry and cracked black pepper and a hint of blood and soy and just overall a kick. Not the style for everyone (this wine got an 82 from someone), but works for me.
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10/22/2017 - canan wrote: 97 Points
Misc US Rhone wines (Palaegade): Very impressive and with lots of Cayuse funk.
Plenty of dark fruit but also fresh acidity and a touch of sweetness. Great stuff!
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10/1/2017 - Radboy wrote: 97 Points
One of the better Frogs I have tasted. Great depth and terrific fruit. This will be even better in another year or so me thinks.
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4/14/2017 - Ex-Ray Likes this wine: 98 Points
Dark garnet-purple, completely opaque. Pronounced aroma of blackberries and cassis, roasted meats, but opened slowly. Viscous. Very concentrated on the palate, dark fruits with charred wood, smooth, but high alcohol, persists into an extremely long finish. Outstanding, but still a bit closed, may still need a couple more years in the cellar.
Ric
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12/14/2016 - MV2007 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Black cherry, some raspberry, gentle but complex pepper spices and very silky. Decanted at least an hour and followed over another 2. This tasted almost too young to me - totally enjoyable and ready to drink now, so don't get me wrong - but I suspect it will improve.
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7/30/2016 - Dave77 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Yesterday with a friend, we opened a couple of bottles.
Lucky for us we've had our share of drama for the night.
This was also for 3 hours in the decanter and was not even entirely ready to rock and roll but already a mindblowing nose that kept changing en beautifully evolved during the 4 hours we've spend tasting and enjoying these wines.
The palet was that obviously of a cool klimat wine with class could as well have been Rhône.
This can easily age for a couple of decades, so no need to hurry although it already gives a lot of pleasure.
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5/27/2016 - Amerique wrote: 95 Points
Previous tasting notes apply, wine is much more open but still a very rich, smooth, and exquisitely made wine.
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5/13/2016 - redzins Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark ruby color. Stewed raspberry, clove, and earth aromas. Red fruits, cranberry. A little tight to start but opens. Celebrating leaving work after 24 years
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4/23/2016 - Deb293 wrote: 94 Points
If there are complaints about this wine, I can't fathom them. It is medium bodied, not a bruiser in any way, with a pure fruit expression that is enticing and approachable. It may not be the most profound wine you've ever had, but for sheer drinkability it is quite lovely. No barnyard funk to speak of...just an extremely tasty Syrah.
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3/21/2016 - Jimywags wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for around 2 hours. A bit underwhelming. I argued that it might have been just a tad off. Everything just seemed slightly muted. Was the nose good? Yeah, but not as good as in the past. Did the wine taste good? Yeah, but just didn't have that Frog pop I'm used to. I'll chalk it up to that on this night, the Frog wasn't at its best. 91pts.
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3/18/2016 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Tampa Spring Break (the abridged version); 3/17/2016-3/18/2016 (Various Tampa locations (Mise en Place, Ocean Prime, etc.)): Wine #11: Took the advice of some of the note writers and decanted this for close to 4 hours before rebottling and serving later. This is classic Frog to me - it's got all of that funk and rocks but it's done in such a subtle and elegant way. I guess you could say the structure is just fantastic. Blueberry and meat and olives. Beautiful wine. I really enjoyed it.
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2/15/2016 - Dale M wrote: 95 Points
Decanted 6 hrs or so. Just further proof that as I seem to slowly pull away from loud, boisterous new world reds, Cayuse is the exception. Equal parts intrigue and full on hedonistic delight, this still clearly is worth the scratch. While not the most wild of Frog's, this delivered on the merits of pure focus, poise, and steeled grip tenacity while still providing the trademark notes of blackberry, smoke, cured meats and the like. Still has years to go and clearly on a upward trajectory. yum.
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1/3/2016 - Amerique wrote: 94 Points
Rich, delicious, full-bodied blackberry fruit with meaty, earthy flavors, excellent structure, very smooth, sillky, still fruit is tightly restrained, finish is a bit short
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12/25/2015 - jpjvino Likes this wine: 96 Points
A superb new world production.....years of life ahead.
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6/21/2015 - jmull Likes this wine: 96 Points
Decanted two hours. Wow. This is awesome. Just copious blue/red fruit framed by distinctive olive and briny character. Not quite as massive as the 2009 Armada, but a bit lighter on its feet. Just awesome stuff. Glad I have another bottle since it has the balance to age beautifully.
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3/19/2015 - mellison wrote: 97 Points
An outstanding wine from a great producer. Smooth with plenty of backbone. Perfectly balanced with great fruit but not at all "fruity". Kind of like drinking liquid satin.
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12/25/2014 - ewsds wrote: 95 Points
After a double-decant and a few hours back in the bottle, this wine was still stiff as a board. With some additional time/swirling in the glass, it started to show the great potential underneath its youthful structure. Less "funk" and minerality than most Cayuse wines, but incredible blue fruits that keep going and going... A real classic. Glad have a couple of bottles left. This is a very young wine today, and I will probably hold off on opening the next one for a couple of years.
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12/24/2014 - budh wrote:
I definitely do not "get" this wine. I coravined a glass from an 09 BF, and 2 glasses from 2 different bottles of the 10 BF (I had to try both 2010 bottles because I couldn't believe what the first one tasted like). All three were borderline undrinkable for me. Almost no fruit on the nose or palate. The nose was quite interesting - lots of tobacco and rubber, along with some meat, blood, earth, forest floor, licorice, smoke. But on the palate this tasted so strongly of tobacco that I couldn't get past it. I like a little funk, and a little tobacco, but when it tastes like you are drinking from a spittoon from an old west saloon, that's a bit much. With one bottle, I was assuming a bad bottle, but with three it seems like this must be the wine's characteristic profile. I understand that there is somewhat of a controversy over the famed Cayuse funk, and that their fruit level is supposed to be somewhat muted. But this is all funk and no fruit. Maybe my taste buds are overly sensitive to something in this wine (I am overly sensitive to acetone in wine, among other things), but I really find the taste quite revolting, and one that lingers for hours afterward, unfortunately. For my personal taste, I would rate this around 50 - seriously awful. But there is obviously a loyal fan base who loves it, so let's just say it's not my style. An expensive lesson for me....
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12/8/2014 - tonysmith72 wrote: 93 Points
Next time I will try the double decant early and drink late. That works for some great wines and allows them to shine.
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12/6/2014 - bablues wrote: 98 Points
Part of Christmas dinner party cellar rade. Didn't take detailed notes but wished I did. Been wanting to try the famous Bionic Frog for a while and recall it was incredible but not much more than that.
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12/5/2014 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Zachy's Wine Auction - Winter 2014 (Smith & Wollensky (48th & 3rd Ave)): Double-decanted, rebottled, and left on the table for prob 3 or 4 hours before we first touched it. Drank over the course of more like 8 or 9 hours and even at the very end it was still evolving and coming together. Delicious wine - that great Washington funk. I still don't quite understand how Christophe takes a wine style that I consider to be more over the top and makes it feel subtle and elegant when those flavors are anything but. Wonderful wine, needs more time, but with the extra decanting/time was drinking very well. Not quite the Grange, Colgin or Hundred Acre, but still delicious.
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9/21/2014 - Redteeth wrote:
I double decanted this bottle and then let it breath. It was very nice. I liked that it had more earth and structure than many Washington Syrahs. I did not pick up as much barnyard funk as some reviewers describe. Having said that, I am not sure it is worth the hype; to each his own. This vintage seems completely ready to drink.
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7/12/2014 - gbbwino wrote: 90 Points
All I can say is hmmm on this one.....nothing like any other frog I've tasted. This was my 1st '09' and I've had all back to the '04. Nothing on the nose upon opening and even after an hour decant or with the addition of food (bone in strip), this was still not what I have grown accustomed to, especially on the nose from Frog. Very restrained, slight and muted. There is fruit in there, but it was sleeping too. I was lost without the quintessential cayuse nose that I love so much. Still a very well made wine and interesting. Maybe I was off my game tonight....it's possible.
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4/7/2014 - bajayngo wrote:
In a very focused, subdued, mature, finesse driven stage. The nose was mature dark fruits mingled with cherries with a nice cured meat note, peppers, spices and flowers. The palate was very streamlined and focused with reduced berry notes, some spices, cured meats in a seamless palate pleasing package. The finish is resolved at this point. Was a great pairing with Turkey burgers stuffed with sautéed onions, goat cheese and basil. Stellar as usual!
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3/18/2014 - scott w Likes this wine:
It seemed pretty tight, maybe closed down.
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3/9/2014 - cabber wrote: 96 Points
Dark purple, medium body, raspberry, blackberry, floral notes, wildly complex, long finish. Decanted 5 hours before dinner. Even so, it did not open up until another hour in the glass. Then it exploded with wild berry flavors, mint, tar, and others I can't place. Tasted alongside bottles of Alban Reva and Colgin IX. The BF managed to distinguish itself from these other amazing wines, but held true to the essence of the varietal.
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10/7/2013 - bonedocnine wrote: 96 Points
This wine delivers on all levels. Power, balance and finesse with amazing fruit and structure rarely found in new world syrah.
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9/22/2013 - jmetvoice wrote:
Velvety and supple after double decanting for 8 hours. Notes of smoke and a finish of rubber denoting its extreme youth. A great wine that will only age gracefully over the next 10+ years.
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8/22/2013 - rdsboca Likes this wine: 94 Points
Coravined: ONe glass, primal syrah smell. Not as much tar on the nose as I would have expected. Deep red fruit, meaty and volcanic soil. Young and brutish with purity in the fruit This is a big wine, especially on mid palate and finish. Cant wait to see how this young pup evolves.
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9/24/2012 - bajayngo wrote: 95 Points
Super young but super fun. Every time I sniff a BF all I can think of is cornucopia. So...much...going...on! HUGE nose of reduced blue and blackberries with notes of those famous Rainer Cherries. Baking spices, soy, mineral, red cabbage and jerky meats. The palate showed its youth and was blocky at 1st but started to come together after a 2.5hr decant. Mineral attack at 1st moving to reduced black and blue fruits with a tannic finish. Had with roasted duck in a reduced soy sauce and what a pair. Really filled in the gaps in a young wine. On day 2 it was spicy and delicious. More anise, lavender, and cured meat. The next btl won't be touched for another 3-5yrs.....maybe.
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7/27/2012 - danielbleier wrote: 96 Points
Paid the outragous mark up at Pappa's Steak House (our annual visit, this was a pitance to the mark-up we paid on the Sine Qua Non last year). It is very, very young - and we needed to sit on the bottle at least an hour. Once it opened up, I tasted massive blackberry and blueberry, white pepper, olive, grilled steak and smoke. It was all tied together with sweet tannins on the back end. When, o when, will I get on the allocation list (sigh)?
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6/2/2012 - Dale M wrote:
Served single blind: I was dead sure this was the 08 No Girls Syrah, it just didn’t have the complexity or any of the usual traits I expect in modern Frog. YET I should have known better, as all of the reds in this flight were decanted for just a short period of time (1hr or less). And sure enough, after the reveal, and about two hours of sitting in the glass, all the trademark Bionic Frog scents and flavors came out. I’m going to rate this wine, as it simply wasn’t given enough air time to fully evaluate, but it certainly illustrated how fun and humbling blind tasting can be.
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5/9/2012 - Vinomarcus wrote: 97 Points
Wednesday Night Blind - May 2012 (Peter Pratt's Inn): MF#1 - Blind - My second offering of the evening, and if I was including my own wines in my votes this would have been my favorite, especially after tasting it at the end of the night. Simply stunning wine. So pure, so pristine, so laser focused, rich velvety fruit, the classic Cayuse funk in abundance, mushrooms, forest floor, hemp, ocean spray, loads of black berries, blue berries, raspberries, cocoa, ground white pepper, just ridiculously complex and exotic. I feel blessed to get this off the mailing list.
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4/30/2011 - Jared wrote:
Barrel sample. Da bomb diggity! Definitely my favorite of the barrel samples. Nose of violets, black olive tapenade, asphalt, ripe dark fruit, meat, pepper, spices, smoke. Surprisingly silky mouthfeel with a nice tight core of dark fruit accented with heavy doses of minerality, smoked meat, iron, blood, everything a growing boy needs. I don't think I've had a more complete Bionic Frog at this stage. Everything for me was in total balance. Can I pick up my 6-pack right now? 97-99 pts.
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4/10/2011 - Vinsant wrote:
barrel sample at release party; SOB...this was good! Great acids, tight and bright, saline/minerals, deep dark red fruit, pepper, rhubarb, funk, light smoke, and rare meat. These Frogs just keep getting better. Great mouthfeel, huge/long finish, and a very floral nose. Can't wait to taste this in 3-5. This was leaps ahead of everything else. My fav of the barrel samples by far.
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4/10/2011 - tarheel17 wrote:
barrel tasted at release party
A favorite of the tasting, this had the most gorgeous nose followed by a velvet mouthfeel. Neglected to take any further notes, but this was definitely a stunner.
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4/9/2011 - last chance wrote:
Barrel sample at Private Release Weekend. This was hands-down my favorite wine that we tasted today. This Syrah had loads of dark red fruit flavors, and notes of olive and roasted meat. Not much of the funk in this wine either. The 09 Bionic Frog almost seemed "Californian" in style - even though I'm sure that Christophe would hate to hear that term used for this wine, I do mean it as a compliment. Just an amazing wine.
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4/9/2011 - bajayngo wrote:
quick 2011 release note - Massive wine! Pepper, massive cornicopia of blue, black and red fruits. Sweet meats, tart tannis, rhubarb, ash, and an acidic citrus and chalky tannin finish. Steller as usual.
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4/9/2011 - manonthemoon wrote: 95 Points
WA Tasting trip Day 2: Cayuse, Gramercy, Spring Valley, More Cayuse?? and Jim German; 4/9/2011-4/12/2011 (Walla Walla, WA): Tasted at the winery.
Nose of Floral, funk, blueberry, herb, meat, smoke.
Palate of boysenberry, blackberries, funk, spice, olive, minerals, pepper.
Finish was long good mouthfeel, tannin, and acidity noted. 94-96
Impressive now, but a notch below the En Chamberlin at this point IMO.
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4/9/2011 - emdub wrote: 97 Points
Barrel sample at the release party. This had so much depth. Tapenade, funk, pure blue berry, leather, tons of minerals, crushed rock, dark fruits, and earth all with laser beam focus. Pure heaven.
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