This was eye-opening stuff. It has aged so well and seems to have a while to go. Rich, buttery but vibrant. Creamy, white tea, peaches, apricot, with complex honeycomb, chalk dust, hay, underlying minerals. Really delicious stuff.
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Another killer bottle that is still holding its own 15 years on. Really beefy on the nose with black olives, menthol, on top of mulled blueberries. Smooth tannins, integrated really well, the acidity is moderate, no VA issues with this bottle. Pepper, menthol, barbecue sauce and charcoal pit elements complement the blueberry fruit, which has waned but is still going. Past its prime but holding well.
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
An impressive wine from a bad vintage, but the style works really well. Tangier aromas of wild blueberry and red currant, with violets, pepper and clove. Zippy on the palate with vibrant acidity and light, dusty tannins. Lots of spices, clove, pepper, rhubarb. Leaner but lovely.
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Wow, I was surprised by how totally excellent this wine was. So floral on the nose, all sorts of violets and lavender, along with complex pepper, mulling spices, leather, meanwhile plums and blueberries peek out from underneath. Vibrant on the palate with some dusty tannins still showing, while the acidity provides crispness and vibrancy. Blueberries and plums still going but the complexity of non-fruit elements is really something: tobacco, leather, menthol, pepper, violets, lavender, potpourri, beef drippings. So, so pretty.
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Another excellent bottle. This shows complex aromas of olives, smoke, sweet barbecue sauce, pork belly, soy, roasted red peppers, on top of blueberries and plums. The palate is velvety and dusty, and the balance is lovely, as the blueberries and plum fruit coats the palate I get tons of tobacco, smoke, leather, beef, barbecue sauce, soy, roasted peppers, all sorts of green and black olives. Still so much time ahead, but a lovely showing.
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
A real treat to taste this. Lovely aromas of currants and plums, with tons and tons of complex earth, charcoal, iron, some menthol and tobacco leaf. The palate is full but plush, integrated tannins and acidity provide seamless balance. Currant and cherry compote, with lots of complex tobacco, scorched earth, leather, smoky herbs. Big and still plenty of time ahead, but the complexity, integration and depth are really lovely.
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
This showed really well. A very plump, rich style but maturity has integrated other complex earthy and savory elements. The fruit is flat-out gorgeous, rich but tangy, plump but nuanced. Great way to end an awesome evening.
NV Lucien Albrecht Crémant d'Alsace Brut Rosé 86 Points
France, Alsace, Crémant d'Alsace
Similar notes to the many times I've had this before. Good way to start the evening.
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2013 DeLille Cellars Chaleur Estate Blanc 92 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
This was eye-opening stuff. It has aged so well and seems to have a while to go. Rich, buttery but vibrant. Creamy, white tea, peaches, apricot, with complex honeycomb, chalk dust, hay, underlying minerals. Really delicious stuff.
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2003 Copain Syrah Cailloux & Coccinelle 93 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Another killer bottle that is still holding its own 15 years on. Really beefy on the nose with black olives, menthol, on top of mulled blueberries. Smooth tannins, integrated really well, the acidity is moderate, no VA issues with this bottle. Pepper, menthol, barbecue sauce and charcoal pit elements complement the blueberry fruit, which has waned but is still going. Past its prime but holding well.
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2011 Cayuse Syrah Cailloux Vineyard 93 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
An impressive wine from a bad vintage, but the style works really well. Tangier aromas of wild blueberry and red currant, with violets, pepper and clove. Zippy on the palate with vibrant acidity and light, dusty tannins. Lots of spices, clove, pepper, rhubarb. Leaner but lovely.
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2000 Cayuse Syrah Coccinelle Vineyard 96 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Wow, I was surprised by how totally excellent this wine was. So floral on the nose, all sorts of violets and lavender, along with complex pepper, mulling spices, leather, meanwhile plums and blueberries peek out from underneath. Vibrant on the palate with some dusty tannins still showing, while the acidity provides crispness and vibrancy. Blueberries and plums still going but the complexity of non-fruit elements is really something: tobacco, leather, menthol, pepper, violets, lavender, potpourri, beef drippings. So, so pretty.
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2004 Cayuse Syrah Cailloux Vineyard 94 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Another excellent bottle. This shows complex aromas of olives, smoke, sweet barbecue sauce, pork belly, soy, roasted red peppers, on top of blueberries and plums. The palate is velvety and dusty, and the balance is lovely, as the blueberries and plum fruit coats the palate I get tons of tobacco, smoke, leather, beef, barbecue sauce, soy, roasted peppers, all sorts of green and black olives. Still so much time ahead, but a lovely showing.
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2008 Cayuse Cabernet Sauvignon The Widowmaker En Chamberlin Vineyard 94 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
A real treat to taste this. Lovely aromas of currants and plums, with tons and tons of complex earth, charcoal, iron, some menthol and tobacco leaf. The palate is full but plush, integrated tannins and acidity provide seamless balance. Currant and cherry compote, with lots of complex tobacco, scorched earth, leather, smoky herbs. Big and still plenty of time ahead, but the complexity, integration and depth are really lovely.
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2008 Abeja Syrah 94 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
This showed really well. A very plump, rich style but maturity has integrated other complex earthy and savory elements. The fruit is flat-out gorgeous, rich but tangy, plump but nuanced. Great way to end an awesome evening.
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