2010 Cayuse Syrah Cailloux Vineyard

Community Tasting Note

22 comments have been posted

• Comment posted by Radboy:

  5/1/2015 9:11:00 PM - I tried this for the first time last night and had similar thoughts. A terrific drink now but likewise age worthy.

• Comment posted by vintage1949:

  5/8/2015 7:50:00 AM - Varying comments is part of the fun with wine. As per my tasting note I found it tannic as heck. I am just amazed to read comments about drinking this wine now. However-I do have to add that I opened a bottle from my 3 pack a couple years after receiving it and it looked like a rôse. Cayuse was very kind/I sent the two remaining bottles back and they sent me a new set. Maybe these were stored in very cool conditions. They indicated it was from their private cellar. Dave

• Comment posted by Ex-Ray:

  5/8/2015 7:16:00 PM - This was the fourth bottle of this 2010 Cailloux I've tried, and it has been consistently outstanding and very drinkable. It is quite full-bodied, but the fruit definitely stands out from the tannins, which are present in the background but not at all obtrusive. I recently had an '06, which was similarly well-balanced and smooth. I don't find Christophe's syrahs angular or tannic, always plenty of complex flavors and aromatics, even when young. I am not a proponent of keeping a cellar too cold. I think the wines age too slowly, so I keep mine at 59. If you find these wines too tannic, I suggest you decant for several hours. Or perhaps you just don't appreciate the richness of these syrahs and would better enjoy something lighter, like a soft grenache or a rosé.
  Ric

• Comment posted by Radboy:

  5/8/2015 11:55:00 PM - I always shoot for a minimum 90 minute decant.

• Comment posted by vintage1949:

  5/9/2015 3:38:00 PM - Just so you know I have been drinking wines for over 40 years. The other people at my party had the same thoughts as I did about the wine and are seasoned worldwide foodie travelers. They know their wine. So I guess it would be correct to state that for some reason the bottle I opened was very tannic. Will open the next one in two years.

• Comment posted by Ex-Ray:

  5/9/2015 5:08:00 PM - 40 years? Why, you're just a newbie! I put on my first tasting in 1966 (true, but now I'm just pulling your chain...you're obviously a very experienced taster). I agree you may just have had a tannic bottle...definitely happens. We drink several Cayuse syrahs every month, the largest number of them Cailloux, and they've been consistently well-balanced and drinkable, though very rich and concentrated. In my opinion, they are the American equivalent of Guigal's single vineyard wines. I enjoy telling people that my favorite American wines are Oregon syrahs. I usually get a blank stare, until I explain that Cayuse's vineyards and winery are in Milton-Freewater, Oregon (I actually walked into En Cerise, En Chamberlin, and his newest, Horsepower, in November). Reynvaan's "In the Rocks" vineyard, next to En Cerise, produces stylistically very similar wines which we also love. Their winery, though, is in fact in Washington.
  In any case, best wishes and happy drinking!
  Ric

• Comment posted by vintage1949:

  5/10/2015 2:13:00 PM - Hi Ric,
  Oh the good old days when I needed to cellar a bottle for ten years-no problem. If I buy a bottle now and it needs seven years I will be 72. I cannot even imagine being in my 70's. Of course I could not imagine being in my 60's. I am just going to take the attitude to keep buying wines and not worry when my last bottle will be opened. Wishing that you experience excellent wine this year. My wife thinks I am nuts. At a dinner party a friend of mine and myself can take an hour discussing the evolvement of the wine in the glass. The rest of my friends take cooking courses all over the world. I am not that good at evaluating food in regards to the spices and ingredients used. However I am the one who will walk away from the group at a dinner party to be alone to concentrate on the wine. Best to you and your wine experiences this year. Dave

• Comment posted by vintage1949:

  5/10/2015 2:20:00 PM - P.S. Already 30 years ago people were indicating that they could not taste everything wonderful I found in a particular wine. Do I have more taste buds-would somebody know the answer to that? Hmmm-what seems neat about the ability to enjoy the many nuances in a wine is a curse-I need to have really good wine to drink whether it is expensive or a great steal. Dave

• Comment posted by Radboy:

  5/10/2015 2:51:00 PM - That is interesting that you brought up the "How much longer do I buy wine that needs aging as I get older?" question as we discuss this occasionally. I am 56 and one of my wine crew is 62 and doesn't think it is worth buying anything requiring more than 5 years of cellaring because he might lose his taste buds or be dead (pleasant, huh?!?). I compound that with owning a larger cellar and think that at some point I will need to quit buying so damn much wine. But not yet!

• Comment posted by Ex-Ray:

  5/10/2015 4:16:00 PM - To radboy and Vintage 1949 (Dave):
  I have heard and read that some people are "supertasters", with more tastebuds than the general population. Interestingly, there are more women than men in this category. Late '90's, six of us successfully bid on two dinners with Robert Parker, first seeing his house and cellar in Maryland, then dinner at the Milton Inn. He described his being in a wine tasting group early on, and he was getting many more nuances from a wine than others. This led to his being a full-time wine writer and critic (to our benefit!). I asked whether he thought these abilities would decrease with age, he immediately said yes, that it's analogous to a star athlete whose prowess slowly declines with time. I have found the same thing: when I was younger I had much greater ability to identify specifics of wines tasted blind...varietal, region, even vintage in some cases. That ability has definitely waned (possibly by knocking off a few billion neurons with the alcohol!). I used to buy wines that needed much aging ("tannic monsters" from California in the '70's, some Bordeaux in the '80's), but I find that many Aussies, pinots, and gems like Cayuse and Reynvaan are quite drinkable young, though they may develop more with a few years of aging. I still do reasonably well at two blind tastings a month, but not like before. At 69, I'm grateful for the tastebuds and neurons I have left!
  Happy drinking!
  Ric
  Radboy: does your "handle" have a connection to Radiology? I am Ex-Ray because I am a retired Radiologist, living in Charlotte and Seattle.

• Comment posted by vintage1949:

  5/10/2015 8:30:00 PM - Hi Ex-Ray,
  Here -I thought I was the oldest guy in the group. Quick story-when I was in Portugal I tasted Grahams there single vineyard 1952 port. Since I bought a glass for.myself for $70 they were kind enough to give everyone in our group a small pour. I could not understand the casual conversation going on while tasting this. I finally left for a private tables and enjoyed what I thought was impossible in a wine. Absolute joy that took your senses through field of flowers, slight smell of tar from roadwork, and dark fruits created by the sun god playing with the grapes. Some people made fun of me-but I did not care. I closed my eyes and concentrated on the dance of flavors my palate beheld. For twenty minutes I would take a sip a and be thrown into a single vortex that only had one goal-total satisfaction. Dave

• Comment posted by Ex-Ray:

  5/10/2015 9:53:00 PM - I can relate. Perhaps my favorite time is the very end of the day, sitting quietly in our wine cellar, in total quiet, just concentrating on the aromas and flavors of that last glass of wine...just magical!
  Ric

• Comment posted by Radboy:

  5/10/2015 10:24:00 PM - Hey Ex-Ray, my handle is more of a reflection of my personality than anything. But I did figure you to be a Radiologist. I used to take X Rays in my office as a Chiropractor but refer out now that everything is digital. I do appreciate your comments on the slow decline of our taste buds though. It is a good reason to crack an old port and contemplate the passage of time! My most ethereal wine was a 63 Taylors Port I enjoyed with an old friend many years ago. The flavors and experience were so inspiring that it launched me on the journey of collecting. Cheers, Steve.

• Comment posted by vintage1949:

  5/11/2015 2:42:00 AM - To Ex-Ray and Badboy
  Thanks for sharing that magical moment. That was simply wonderful to read about. Also makes me feel better I am not the only wine nut. There are times when everything is perfect-so happy that happened to you. Radboy I have not yet detected a decline in taste perception. That is the only part of my body that is not in the decline mode-grin

• Comment posted by Radboy:

  5/11/2015 5:59:00 AM - Then there is still hope! I need some more Bordeaux!!! Thanks lads. If you ever come through Spokane look me up and we will crack a bottle.

• Comment posted by Ex-Ray:

  5/11/2015 6:42:00 AM - Steve:
  Good comment about Ports. With increasing age and decreasing tasting acuity, after a few more years Ports may be the only wines I can still taste (well, maybe Mollydookers, which are almost Ports!).
  Ric

• Comment posted by vintage1949:

  5/11/2015 4:04:00 PM - To Radboy,
  When I drink an old port it is hard to believe it was created when I was so young. In addition how fast the time has gone from the vintage date to the present. Kind of wild something can last that long which is a substantial part of my life. Dave

• Comment posted by vintage1949:

  5/11/2015 4:12:00 PM - To Radboy and Ex-Ray,
  Do either of you have any recommendations for wine with dark fruit in the $10 to $20 range. Need to have wine on hand for an unexpected evening we are having guests over. Also need bottles in this price range to open before I open an expensive bottle. Dave

• Comment posted by vintage1949:

  5/11/2015 4:35:00 PM - To Radboy,
  " I am 56 and one of my wine crew is 62 and doesn't think it is worth buying anything requiring more than 5 years of cellaring because he might lose his taste buds or be dead (pleasant, huh?!?). I compound that with owning a larger cellar."
  
  Well Radboy I am buying wine for me to drink in my 70's. However instead of having a 1,000 bottle cellar as in the past I am slowly getting it back up to around 300. Years ago I stopped buying wine-big mistake! One day went into my cellar and realized I was down to 50 bottles. So-cellar slowly increasing. Just bought a double magnum of Chateau Clos L'Eglise 2005 for my 70 birthday. So when do you stop buying wine? I really have no idea. I am thinking a persons health would be a determine factor as one ages. For me-if I am lucky enough to be around in my 70's-I am sure I will still be buying wine to age. (Note: None of my wines require more than 10 years of aging after purchase)

• Comment posted by Radboy:

  5/11/2015 6:10:00 PM - Vintage 1949, in re: to affordable quaffers, other than going to Trader Joe's, you may want to check out J and J Vintners in WW. Their everyday blend of 4 Boys blend for $16 is the best new wine from WW this year. All of their reds are tasty and their Reisling is quite good too. Our wine crew bought a case or more each when we there. The find of the weekend of Cayuse weekend. Just don't tell anybody;)

• Comment posted by vintage1949:

  5/11/2015 7:13:00 PM - Thanks for the info Radboy. I just can't get into Trader Joes. I did buy a case of Bogle Essential Red 2012. For me it is a good red to drink with pizza or while playing cards. I will check out you suggestion. Please take a look at my cellar. Might help with future discussions. Just one quick note: My wife and I went over for dinner at another couples house. At dinner he opened a bottle made only for guests who stayed overnight at this particular winery. It was incredible. Everyone took a sip-said it was excellent and then changed the conversation. Yikes-we are drinking a profound wine and the only discourse-this is excellent. I tried multiple times to talk about the wine and how it was evolving in the glass. Did't work. I was alone-not eating as fast as the others so I could concentrate on the wine. Very frustrating.

• Comment posted by Ex-Ray:

  5/11/2015 7:33:00 PM - My favorite wine in that price range is Jeff Runquist's "1448", which I buy for $16 in Charlotte. The red wine we drink most over a year is Runquist's "R" petite sirah, which I buy for $30. The "1448" is 51% of the petite sirah itself, from what Jeff told me, with a blend of several other wines. We have tried several other inexpensive wines, like Meiomi, but I find all the Caymus reds (Meiomi, Belle Glos, Caymus 40th anniversary cab) just too sweet.
  Hope this helps.
  Lack of willpower: writing this inspired me to open a 2012 "R" petite sirah, which I just poured straight from the cellar...delicious! In my opinion, it's a 95-point wine for $30, very drinkable on release (as Jeff intends).
  Ric