February 10, 2024 - Purchased direct from winery & cellared since. Did not decant & struggled with this for the 1st hour or so, but after the 2nd hour, this was phenomenal! 1 more to go. Impressive this aged well for 17 years.
January 1, 2024 - Purchased direct from winery & cellared since. Absolutely glorious fully mature wine that was full of life, well balanced, perfectly integrated with an exotic & intoxicating nose & palate.
November 12, 2022 - Much less exuberant and feral than I expected, from a sound bottle. It’s pretty good red wine but I don’t think I could pick it out blind as Syrah. Could it be fading at age fifteen?
October 7, 2022 - Wow. Intense. Smoky. Meaty. Really proper Syrah. Very Cayuse, some reduction. Really drinking well, deep, pure, powerful.
August 21, 2022 - P&P but poured in the glass for 30 minutes before drinking. While I do still love Cayuse, my enthusiasm is a little more restrained than say a decade ago. Not so much a regression of my opinion of the wines, but I have really caught the N. Rhone bug which has me reaching and purchasing less Cayuse over the years. That being said, this was really impressive. Off the charts good nose, every meat and soy-esque description is appropriate, ginger, floral oils etc etc. A surprisingly refined palate, very Armada like, all the nose traits but toned down and an added earthy touch. Long finish. I simply cannot imagine this developing further so enjoy it now and over the next 3 to 5 years to be safe.
December 24, 2021 - 3 hour decant. A very serious wine with a cartoon label - perfect. My first Frog. It did not disappoint. Sweet black fruits in waves with touch of red fruits, with a touch of distinctive earthy funk (on nose and palate). Some cassis, green olive and vanilla Oak. Velvety smooth. 30+ second finish. Alcohol completely hidden. A nose and flavor profile that will be hard to forget.
September 4, 2021 - This is years past it’s prime, down the drain
August 19, 2021 - Great bottle that’s drinking well now. Classic Cayuse olive notes, slight funk, great fruit, and excellent texture.
May 9, 2021 - PnP. Tasted with the 07 armada and en chamberlain. Drinking really well. Smoother and more polished than the armada. There is a lovely elegance to this wine. Lovely flavors of smoked meat, red fruits. Wish I had taken notes at the time! But drinking well. Will last longer but it seems to have revealed all that it has.
March 5, 2021 - Meh. Nice but a little funky.