April 8, 2023 - Decanted and poured a glass immediately, partly because I was excited to drink it and partly because I knew it would change in the glass. Nose: dried blueberries, wet stones, cranberry (some really similar notes to a great OR PN), a hint of forest floor, pine, leather, black pepper and a note that is reminiscent of aged wine that’s hard to describe otherwise. Man this thing kept developing from sip to sip. Palate: Initially it seemed somewhat easy drinking, but it almost seemed to get more tense for a moment and was dominated by black pepper with a subtle blueberry flavor. Alcohol was noticeable on the finish despite being 13.5% abv. I had only tasted Cayuse a few times before and they were never more than a few years in bottle. If you like old wines, this wine, usually described as a lighter vintage, is tasty now, but could go for a decade or more. It had no sediment and still very tense, primary, and tight. I only have one more bottle of this, so it’s going to be difficult, but I’m going to try and hold on to it for a while. Enjoyed with lamb T bones, beer-braised onions and crispy truffle potatoes.
March 18, 2023 - Decanted for 2 hours - meaty and rich, with flavors of plum and dark berry. Very smooth but delivers that earthy, funky counter to fruit that Cayuse is known for...should be good for years to come.
December 27, 2022 - Definite cayuse barnyard funk. Behaves more like old world than new world. Worked great after 60 minute decant. Leather, smoke, dark cherry.
December 25, 2022 - The fruit has dimished over time. Lots of secondary. Rocks funk, fermented soy, etc. still really interesting, but wish we’d drank earlier.
October 11, 2022 - Last tasted Feb. 2020, rated it 100. This bottle was less impressive, more one-dimensional. It still had the typical roasted meats, smoky, blackberry aromas and flavors, just not as intense, rich or complex as before. Possibly some bottle variation, but last bottle of this vintage, so I'll never know!
Ric
July 10, 2022 - Massive fruit and acidity with some funk.
Still young in its evolution.
June 19, 2022 - Balance and depth.
June 4, 2022 - This wine has aged very nicely. Really enjoyed the wine with lamb kababs.
April 15, 2022 - Nose was good on opening but the palate was off balance with an iodine bitter finish. With about 30 min of air the wine showed more dark red fruit, ham, olive juice, bacon grease, fairly light in style and still has a slightly off balance finish with an iodine lingering taste. I’m not thrilled with the wine for the price and producer… I don’t think it’s going to get any better at this point.
January 30, 2022 - Crimson in color. 13.5% ABV. Sublime nose of red and black fruits, bacon fat, smoke and olive brine. Medium to full bodied with healthy acidity. Rich and savory with some telltale Cayuse funk. Black cherry, olives, game and minerals on the palate. Tremendous length on the finish. Stunning Syrah at the peak of its powers. Best over the next several years.