3/25/2020 - kuumies wrote:

The relatively dark yellow color hints at a certain level of ripeness. The nose is quite pungent with exotic fruits, spices and a tea-like note. On the palate it is surprisingly weighty and viscous. Quite concentrated and powerful with a spicy edge to it. Serious and demanding in character, this is no crowd-pleaser. I dare to say that it even feels a bit tannic, having some bite on the finish, which goes on for a good while. This is clearly no easygoing summer day sipper, it demands attention and evokes contemplation, even if it is not massively complex aromatically. That said it does have a rather nice stonefruit character and some bitterness towards the finish. I think for the price it provides quite a lot and as such I applaud the effort, even if this is not something I would consider drinking on a weekly basis.

2/8/2020 - kuumies wrote:

Slow ox’d for five hours. One cannot expect anything but primary fruit at this point and that is indeed what we have here on the nose. High pitch blackberry, ground black pepper, floral notes with hints of minerals and bouillon. Mid to full bodied on the palate with awfully attractive ripe blueberry and blackberry laden fruit. Superbly fresh, very bright in its expression. Excellently structured with tightly gripping tannins. Refined and just very pretty. Feels effortless and confident, nothing forced or clumsy about it. Remarkably juicy and joyful. I’ve been skeptical about the vintage early on but I just might buy some of this for the cellar.

2/2/2020 - kuumies wrote:

The nose provides Viognier’s youthful exuberance at its finest while managing to be supremely elegant with its apricot-driven fruits, some floral notes, moderate oak and slight smokiness. Immensely attractive and all class. On the palate wonderfully rich, just very opulent but still in no way over the top despite 15% ABV. An unbelievable combination of decadence and freshness. Some warmth and spiciness that fit in well. Probably would age like a champion but who cares when it offers such a pleasure right now.

12/30/2019 - Jimywags wrote:

Decanted for about an hour. It's no secret that the 2010 vintage is my favorite Washington vintage. Plenty of acidity from the cool year but also just enough fruit. This bottles screams 2010 to me. Bright red fruits and the structure to match. Slight undercurrent of the Rocks funk but not in an obtrusive way. Really fun bottle to drink! 94pts.

10/30/2019 - Jimywags wrote:

Popped, poured, and swirled for about 30 minutes. Love it when a wine does not disappoint and just shreds you as this puppy was on blast from the first sniff. Exhilarating aromas of lemon, apple, hazelnut, and a piercing stony minerality. The intensity continues in the mouth, where the stone and lively acidity lift the peach and baked apple spice notes. The mouthfeel is brilliant and the finish lingers for what seems like minutes. Top two or three domestic chardonnay, no doubt. 95pts.

5/22/2019 - Jimywags wrote:

Kelley Fox tasting. If anything in the world could transform me into Flavor Flav, this wine would be it as after each drink I was literally saying, "Boyyyyyyyyyy!" Gorgeous wine filled with strawberries, currants, hints of violet, and spices all in perfect balance. Supremely long finish. Kelley Fox wines have altered my perception of what I want in a wine. 95pts.

11/5/2018 - Jimywags wrote:

Decanted for two hours. This wine was everything I hoped it would be. Classic Cornas with aromas of scorched earth and dark black fruit followed by a palate filled with soy, game meats, and iron. So very savory which is exactly how I like my French syrah. Ecstatic that I own some of the 10, more 11, 14, and 15! 95pts.

10/29/2018 - Jimywags wrote:

Popped and poured. Absolutely gorgeous bottle of syrah. I think it has hit its peak and should drink well for another 5-7 years. Minimal funk, slightly gamy, with a nice core of dark black fruit. Do not hesitate to open one if you're holding. 94pts

6/15/2018 - Harley1199 wrote:

Los Sitios de Zaragoza (El Portal - Alicante): For hunters of stables, horse sweat and equine manure (pure balls of shit). Without any elegance unfortunately.
In the mouth wildly acid and short. It is not for me right now. It is very young and once open clearly needs airing.

Para buscadores de establos, sudor de caballos y mierda de equino. Sin elegancia alguna, desgraciadamente.
En boca desbocadamente ácido y corto. No es para mi ahora mismo. Es muy muy joven y una vez abierta necesita airearse.

4/23/2018 - Jimywags wrote:

Popped and poured. Can't rave about this bottle enough. My second, and it was just as good as the first. Really wooly, funky, broccoli nose. Absolutely loved it. Would have never guessed a Washington Chenin Blanc. A little juicy and cheek puckering with the tart quince and ginger notes. Smoothed out with a touch of ripe pear. Terrific bottle of wine. 92pts.

11/7/2017 - Jimywags wrote:

Decanted for an hour or so. So much potential with this wine. I've had tremendous success with young Dauvissat in the past (06, 07, 08, 10) but I honestly think this wine was just too young. Terrific building blocks of different shapes and in time they will all fit together perfectly and this could be the La Forest for the ages. 92+++++++++pts.

1/6/2017 - Jimywags wrote:

Decanted for two hours. This is a caveman's wine. This is a Paleo and Atkins diet wine. This is a wine crafted for a T-Rex. This wine is a 48oz. Peter Luger porterhouse steak. This is a Medieval Times eat your meat off a leg bone wine. A blood suckers wine. This is not a namby-pamby vegan or vegetarian's wine. This is not a suburban soccer mom pumpkin spice wine. This is not a 1999 98-point Parker Australian Shiraz ooze monster. This is a Pizza Hut meat lover's wine that should have a warning sticker on the label that reads, "Meat Only...No Fruits Allowed!" I'd love to hand a glass of this wine to a vegan/vegetarian and ask them to describe what they are smelling. I think they'd lack descriptors because this wine smells only like various types and preparations of meat. Grilled, smoked, sauteed, fried, even a la plancha. A carnivores delight, this wine is. This wine is not for the masses and I wouldn't presume to serve it to friends at a Saturday night dinner while playing Cards Against Humanity. This is an old school Cornas syrah lover's wine. Drink at your own risk. 98pts.

12/27/2016 - Jimywags wrote:

Popped and poured. Glorious bottle of beaujolais. Bright purple/magenta with red berries on the nose. Crunchy with acidity which created a happy feeling in my mouth that the bright cherry and raspberry flavors built upon. I could sit in a nice comfortable chair, turn on a favorite movie, and enjoy this entire bottle easily in one sitting. Not much experience with bojo but with weighted down cabs and blends on the outs with me, I can see this type of wine sliding into my stable of reds. Enjoyable! 92pts.

5/3/2016 - Jimywags wrote:

Decanted for 2 hours. This wine has certainly grown and picked up complexity since I drank it last year. Much better wine, to be honest, and it wasn't a slouch last year. The wine has developed a bit more palate weight and is bursting with fig, tea, dark cherry, mushroom, underbrush, olive, camphor, and black raspberries. Very firm, which I suspect is from some whole cluster that was not as present a year ago and lends a nice balance to the fruit. After drinking this bottle, I can see this wine peaking in about 3-5 years with even a few more points of potential lurking inside. Excited to follow the progress. 95pts++.

12/8/2016 - Jimywags wrote:

Popped and poured. Yowza! This was one spectacular BB from the peeps at PYCM. Can't even imagine how delicious their other 14's are if their base model is this stylin' and profilin'. This wine was electric from the get go with oodles of citrus on the nose with a funkiness in the background. Loaded with verve and energy in the mouth nicely accented by scrumptious apple and pear fruit. At $30, this is my QPR of the year! 91pts.

10/20/2016 - Jimywags wrote:

Popped and poured. Much better than the 12 version that I purchased two years ago. Still not worth the $28 + tax that I have to pay in Washington. Big fan of the 14 vintage for Chablis and this exhibits a few of those 14 characteristics. Citrus and steel, but not enough. R.O. Man kind of nailed it. 88pts.

8/22/2016 - Jimywags wrote:

Decanted for two hours. Screamin' from the moment the cork was pulled. I'm telling you, people, the 2010's from the state of Washington (not all producers, of course...) are damn fine wines. Specifically, the 10's from Cayuse are easily my tip top, favorite vintage of Christophe's wines. Perfect balance of carnivorous savoriness and complimentary fruitiness (not in the 1980's light in the loafer type...not that there is anything wrong with that!). Think Layne Staley and his growly, screaming vocals followed by Jerry Cantrell and his perfect harmonies. Fire-roasted meat and drippings intertwined with dark red and black fruits. Roasted mushrooms atop crushed blackberries. Dark plum lounging in bay leaf infused soy. I think you get the idea. 98pts.

5/10/2016 - Ron Slye wrote:

PnP. Some of the usual Cayuse funk at first, which steps back a bit after a few minutes in the glass. This has all of the rustic savory flavors that one associates with many of the Cayuse lineup. The nose has some nice red fruits, brown spices (hints of cinnamon, clove), with hints of chocolate, wet stone, and one can go on and on. Very meaty and sinewy on the nose, but paired with some nice fruit. The acid seems a bit low at first, making the palate slightly dull – soft flavor of chocolate, with some hints of berries. This evolves a bit, with some acid emerging to lift the flavors. The center seems a bit closed – suggesting this may need some more time in the bottle. Still very lovely to drink right now. 92

Update – days 2 and 3 (no refrigeration or vacuum or other preservation used, and with day 3 having perhaps ½ inch in the bottle) this got better and even a bit more nuanced. The last bit on day 4 was still very pleasant. Everything is nicely integrated and smooth. I can definitely distinguish this from the syrahs – there is more bright fruit here, which is perhaps fitting for a Grenache. Very impressive. I am upping the score to 94 based on this multi-day performance.

4/20/2016 - Jimywags wrote:

Decanted for an hour or so and then sat for 15 minutes in the glass. I've been complaining lately (mostly to myself) that the En Cerise is the one wine in the Cayuse line-up that I have the least experience with. Why is that? It's a highly thought of wine every vintage, earning praise left and right. It seems to possess the qualities I look for in a syrah...both savory characteristics and pure fruit. I realized that I don't have a good explanation other than I'm an idiot! Luckily for me my brother-in-law, Fred, gets an allocation and I set out to introduce myself once again to the En Cerise. Just by looking at the wine in the glass, you could tell it was leaning more in the red fruit camp. Initial aromas of cherry and raspberry fruit with the unmistakable undercurrent of funk. Maybe I've been drinking too many 10's and 11's recently because this wine seemed amped up. While I thought the 12's would be ready from the get go because of the perfect growing conditions, I really think this wine needs a bit of time to settle down. Definitely has everything I like in spades (red fruit, funk, earth, umami, soy, olives) and is a very good wine now but I would hold off for a year and let the amplification settle. 93++pts.

3/23/2016 - cnichelson Likes this wine:

Unctuous. Incredible nose of star anise (maybe black licorice more precisely), black cherry, pepper, charcuterie (like a dry salami kind of thing) and underbrush. For some people (maybe for me even) a little much. It's almost overpowering, and sort of has a too much of a good thing thing going. Drank over a couple of weeks with the coravin (one night with Zankou Chicken--if you're not from LA you might not understand--one night with roasted sweet potato and one night with nothing but an Aussie Shiraz) and then tonight popped the cork on the last third and had it with a weird meal of lentil soup, artichokes and dip, sopressata and provolone (but I caught the salami thing before from Coravin too.) This tastes fresh and young and powerful and I don't see any reason whatsoever that I couldn't wait until 2025 to drink my next bottle. But I probably won't...

2/29/2016 - Jimywags wrote:

Slow o'ed for roughly two hours. This wine is a reflection of the vintage, which I suspect suits Greg Harrington just fine as it was lean and juicy with just enough concentration to keep you coming back to the glass. Wonderful nose of blackberry, bacon fat, dark currants, woodsmoke, and pepper. Nice core of vibrant blackberry and dark cherry fruit balanced out by the acidity and tannins. Can certainly drink now or hold for 5-7 years. Really terrific wine! 93pts.

2/29/2016 - Jimywags wrote:

Popped and poured. Damn tasty $17.00 Chablis! Golden yellow out of glass, this wine had interesting aromas of lemon, apple, and even some flinty rocks. The palate was even a touch chalky but dominated more by a subtle richness from the apple and pear flavors framed nicely by an acidic cut. Absolute steal at sub-$20. 90pts.

1/22/2016 - Jimywags wrote:

Popped and poured. Another disappointing Kabinett in a long line of them. Not much structure and felt it was almost flabby enough to spread on toast. Bummer. 86pts.

11/21/2015 - darky999 Likes this wine:

This wine just gets better and better and better. I have never given anything 100 on CT but I genuinely feel that this wine is perfect Syrah.

It has the classic Cayuse nose that is super funky, even tropical. Deep fruit of course. Perfect balance.

Give this another 10 years if you can, but I bet you drink it as its so wonderful right now.

It's not Chave 90 or La Chapelle 78, it's Bionic 06. And it is that good.

10/3/2015 - andrewdodd86 Likes this wine:

From magnum, #4 of 16 made! Still tannic. Young. Vibrant. Years ahead of it. Red raspberry, forest floor, mushrooms, Cayuse funk in a good way. Blackberries, earthy, currant. Just unreal. Another level. Probably not 100 pointer for most people, but this is right in my wheelhouse. Consumed @ Bin 54

6/12/2015 - Jimywags wrote:

Decanted for two hours. Completely blown away by this wine. As good as domestic grenache can get. I have to be honest and say that I was much more excited about the Horsepower syrahs (those have been damn good, too!), but this wine has me rethinking that. Gorgeous nose of red fruits immediately makes the hair on your arms stand-up (for Dale...hairs on his back). Medium-bodied with that unmistakable Christophe structure (je ne sais quoi?) that harmoniously brings every component together. Can't wait to give the 12 a spin. 97pts.

5/12/2015 - Jimywags wrote:

Decanted for 2 hours. This unique domestic grenache has some stuffing. Not nearly as funky as the GOK can be, this wine was laser focused and lithe teaming with red currant and bright cherry fruit. A chalky minerality brought everything into focus while balancing out the fruit. Possessing a heightened complexity that distinguishes this wine from your ordinary, or even good domestic grenache. Will continue to improve in the coming years which is scary. 96pts.

3/1/2015 - gotfunk Likes this wine:

Attractive nose of strawberry, watermelon and pastry crust. The bottle would have disappeared in a flash if not for that nose. Concentrated flavors of fresh tart cherry and orange peel work nicely against a delicate frame. Harmonious acidity provides great lift. A soft glow of spice emerges on the long finish. Stellar pinko juice.

2/24/2015 - Dale M wrote:

Decanted 3 hrs. When I last had this in 2010, this was a pretty intense, in your face wine, even by Cayuse standards. Though it is always a matter of personal preference with these wines, the additional 5 years of bottle age has certainly mellowed the wild beast; less overt smoky blackberry fruit, more of a pronounced mineral edge, trademark low acidity, but exquisite structure and balance. A distinct note of fresh vanilla bean emerged on the mid palate, and while surprising, it was by no means over done or cloying, unusual though. Still, a very complex and cerebral wine, I’m guessing that while it will hold no real reason to age further.

2/21/2015 - Vinsant Likes this wine:

Vanilla bubbles with a quince and chalk aroma. Chalky spritz finish that cleared the palate from our clam linguine dinner. Retirement is a ways down the road for me...but if I could have a glass of this every morning with my omelet... all those years of work would be worth it :)

12/17/2014 - Vinsant Likes this wine:

A delish blend of funk and Franc! Lots of lead and chalk, red and blue fruit, thyme, meat juice, and dirt. And hour in the decanter dissipated the funk enough for the fruit and earth to shine through. Good now but guessing a little better in a few years.

12/31/2014 - Vinsant Likes this wine:

Could drink this everyday. Tart yet perfectly ripe red fruit, cigar ash, incense, rose, cured meat, citrus, and pepper. Long balanced finish.

12/4/2014 - Jimywags wrote:

Was so excited to find 5 375's of this wine at Half Wit last month. This wine blew me away earlier in the year with its chenin blanc in such a sec style. Have now had two from this lot and been disappointed both times. The bottles seemed way too advanced. Dark yellow color, honeyed flavors, and not nearly enough zing. Maybe they were damaged by heat? Not sure, but hope the remaining three break the streak. 85pts.

11/25/2014 - Kirk Grant wrote:

Color: Deep ruby with an almost opaque core
Smell: Olive, dried meats, and dark fruits (typical Cayuse funk)
Taste: Mocha, dark fruits, and obvious oak presence. About as primal as one would expect given that these were just released. Early...I know. Yet I really wanted something "new world" tonight and this fit the bill.
Overall: Medium body, high acidity, med+ fruit, med tannin, and a depth and complexity that demands attention. Check back in around 2017 or later. Outstanding!!

11/17/2014 - Vinsant wrote:

Really enjoyed this bottle! Opened and sipped lightly while stirring Meyer lemon/mushroom risotto. Good dose of honey/mead, lime, wool, quince, chalk, and a squash-like note. Nice long balanced finish. Sweet with one sip, dry with the next. In a good spot now with fruit and wool fighting for supremency.

11/23/2014 - Vinsant wrote:

Arguably the best wine Christophe has made. Balanced, long finish, and flat out delish. Cherry incense, pepper, underbrush, earth, veggie broth, violets, tar, tobacco, red fruit, and meat. Just a light dose of the Cayuse funk. Perfect with lamb burgers. Lots of life ahead. Hoping to try my last bottle in 5-6 years.

11/21/2014 - pjhr Likes this wine:

Wonderful Cayuse nose with layers of dark fruit, minerality, and earthy notes that culminate in a silky smooth finish, with more floral notes than I remember from the prior bottle.

11/2/2014 - Acohen wrote:

Sadly totally corked

4/17/2014 - Jimywags wrote:

Was a bit worried that this might not be as good as the 2011. No need to worry as this was really a terrific bottle. Young, but so unctuous and mouth filling. Gobs of peach, lychee, and asian pear all wrapped by the cool oiliness that you get with quality rhone whites. Easily the best domestic rhone white available. 93+ pts.

6/16/2014 - Vinsant wrote:

Another nice evening with Muscadet and CR Salmon. This time the Salmon saw 3 hrs of smoke. Matched perfectly again. Went fairly well with roasted garlic and brie as well. Minerals, rocks, sea shells...all lightly dusted with candied citrus and herbs. Went over well in a non-wine geek crowd. Medium finish, nicely balanced, and should improve over 1-2 years at least. No way I'm gonna be able to keep my hands off though.

5/29/2014 - Jimywags wrote:

Christophe asked us if we wanted a glass of the Horsepower Grenache...F%ck yes! Cannot disagree with Darren. Red fruits galore, charcuterie, freshly ground pepper, lively bursts of freshness. Extremely expressive for such a young wine. These Horsepower wines are going to give such a unique experience...one that is hard to find elsewhere. 96+

5/2/2014 - Jimywags wrote:

Popped with around 2 hours of slow o. This wine continues its streak of perfection. Amazing depth, loads of minerals, and even some trademark Cayuse funk. I could smell this wine for hours without even considering taking a sip. Pickle juice, nutmeg, celery seed, asian spice, forest floor, black as night blackberries, black tea, crushed rock, game meats, and smoked currants. There is so much going on that you literally feel punch drunk and this is without even taking a drink. Dense, but not overly so, leading to a palate filled with savory goodies. Blood, grilled meat, olives, and black pepper framed by generous amounts of dark, dark fruit. The liquid minerality suggests this will stun for many years to come. Can't say enough. 100pts.

5/29/2014 - Jimywags wrote:

From bottle at the Release Weekend. Christophe was nice enough to offer us a glass of the Horsepower wines. This syrah was otherworldly already. Deep, animalistic, savory, grippy. It essentially grabbed you by the balls and squeezed. Wildness ala the very best Cornas. Stunning bottle. 97+ pts.

2/4/2014 - Jimywags wrote:

Decanted for around 2 hours. Drank this as my Seahawks were kicking the Broncos tail all over the field. This Cayuse bottling doesn't get much pub as they only produce about 120 cases a year and that's a shame as it's a damn good expression of tempranillo. Deep and dark with a brooding nose of meat, anise, baked plums, and smoke. Just hints of chewy tannins surround the core of plush cherry, red plum, licorice, and roasted meat notes. Medium to big palate weight without being flabby leaves the impression of a very smooth and delicious wine. If you can, try and keep these in the cellar as they become more complex with age. 94pts.

2/3/2014 - Jimywags wrote:

Decanted for roughly 2 1/2 hours. I don't have a ton of experience with Cornas, but kept hearing that the wines would be right in my wheelhouse -- a generous combination of savory with complimentary fruit. They weren't jiving as the wine was a nice dark magenta out of the bottle. From my first sniff as the wine tumbled into the decanter, I knew this was going to be my kind of wine. An intoxicating mix of sauvage, meat, earth, and intense dark berries. The nose was literally a meal unto itself and led me to exclaim to my wife that dinner was no longer needed. The palate was tight at first but after awhile reluctantly gave everything a carnivore desires including bacon fat and grilled meats. Just think of a heaping plate of grilled meats topped with an unsweetened dark berry marmalade and finished with a squeeze of acid and sneaky tannin. The wine is very young but expertly exhibiting the traits of a traditional Cornas. As I said, a meal unto itself. 95 pts.