Still in a great place, won't evolve more but still has life. Two hour decant, held its own in a 6 wine syrah blind tasting. Definitely continued to improve over the next few hours. Typical rocks funk and olive tapenade.
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Last of 6 direct from winery & cellared since. PNP & consumed over 1.5 hours. This is still a stunning wine per my Mar 2022 note. More evolved in the sense that the tannins are pure silk. Nose & palate are no different than a year ago. Opened my last ‘07 2 nights ago & that wine pales in comparison…dark, brooding, heavy, meaty….fruit is almost gone. ‘08 wins hands down but I’m not sure it will improve…in a great spot so drink up.
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Decanted an hour before dinner. My initial thought you have been drinking these too young! A balanced well integrated Syrah will notes of meat,olives hints of dark fruit and a fading shadow of funk with lingering finish.
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Decanted 1 hr. In fine form yet again, the 08 Armada is likely one of the more elegant, refined and classy of the 2001-10 Cayuse stable. I wouldn’t so much as say as its lost its fruit, it just simply has been pushed to the background as we see an alignment florals, olives (but not too much so) black pepper, and some black cherries. A tiny bit of the ‘Cayuse Funk’ can be detected, but you had to look for it – and if you weren’t familiar with this unique WW signature, you probably wouldn’t have even give it a thought. Tannins are resolved, there was never a high acid trait in all of the Cayuse portfolio, and its low here, but as always that immaterial as there is plenty of structure to keep this all together. I think this is in a really good spot, I don’t think though I would go more than 5 years if I had any more of these, which I do not.
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Purchased direct from winery & cellared since. Decanted then poured a glass, waiting for 15 minutes. No typical Cayuse funk on the nose. The palate is exquisite! Beautifully integrated fine tannins & incredibly explosive & balanced dark red cherry fruit with spice & pepper. Again, the palate on this is phenomenal, from start to its long finish. The nose is great too but I typically like Cayuse funk in the nose & this had little if that. Had the 2007 Armada a week ago & the 2008 blows it away. 2007 is all animal, funk, olive brine, earth & very little fruit.
A smashingly good wine. I usually drink my Cayuse by the ten year mark as they can lose their unique fruit and become more oilve-y. But this wine turns that bias on its head. Nicely defined silky tannins on the finish. Polished fruit with berries, earth, and dark cherries. The mid-palate is exquisite with balance and a warm mouthfeel. Damn good juice!
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5 hours into decanting, Zalto Burgundy glass. The funky aromas and flavors I’ve come to associate with Cayuse have been in full swing from the beginning, but are incredibly pronounced at hour 5. Funky aromas of dry aged meat, smoke, blueberries and black pepper are the first things that get noticed. Nice and round in the mouth, the wine feels soft, yet has some fine tannins and and edges that are given definition by juicy acid. The nose repeats on the palate, doubling down on dry aged funk, savory blueberries and smoky herbs. Definitely mature and the fruit intensity is on the wane. Drink now or hold for tertiary development.
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Big, luscious, super smooth fully mature wine. Dark cherries, olives, meat juice, spices, mineral, some smokiness. Went well with grilled lamb chops. Excellent wine - now on the back-half of it's life. Have one more, which I'll drink sometime in the next 2-3 years. Will be interesting to see how or if this evolves anymore. Always an intellectual drinking experience from Cayuse.
Hits all of the right notes for us with armada. Smokey campfire with olive brine and savory notes. Not the in your face wine as these are young. This has poise and balance with some nice fruit in the background. Not sure this will get better but it is not fading either.
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An outstanding wine, fully mature. Still dark garnet and mostly opaque, with no brown edges. Pronounced but complex aroma of roasted meat, smoke, toasted oak, dark fruits. Full-bodied, but as is typical of Cayuse, never dominated by the tannins which are present but in the background behind the fruit, but not a "fruit bomb". Excellent balance of fruit, tannin, and acidity. Very long aftertaste, but a touch of bitterness and a bit hot. Fully mature, but I expect it will stay that way easily for 5 or more years. Ric
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If you are looking for a fruit bomb this is not your wine. Purchased off the mailing list and stored in my cellar since at 57 deg. Peppery and herbaceous with some notes of licorice and olives and very well balanced. In the glass it seems more fruit trying to emerge. Having had this several years ago as well I recall more smoke tar and heat. And much more enjoyable now imho. I don’t see this improving and agree with the drinking window. Certainly would not hold more than another 2-3 yrs
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Strangely again I had a glass the first night which I thought was decent, I sealed the bottle by removing the air and the 2nd night it had an off taste and tonight I thought I'd try again and ended up pouring down the sink, moral of the story I guess is to drink it all the first night
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in 2012 i rhapsodized about this very wine, since then my taste for WallaWalla syrah has gradually waned, and at one point i sold off my remaining stash. This bottle I had gifted to the Patriarch, who brought it out, blind, 8+ years later. After some hemming and hawing, the synapses clicked, and I called it as a Washington St. Syrah.
A wine of serious black pepper, olives, and herbality. After 2 days in the open the olive character has further deepened, and to fully enjoy this I'd like to see some heirloom tomatoes and feta.
There is still fruit here, but these wines strike me as being more savory than fruity. I will have to go back and remind myself why i originally went so head over heels for this. Perhaps the wine has changed with bottle age but the more likely explanation is that my palate has changed, and i must confess i no longer enjoy this singular style.
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A fabulous wine at its peak, this totally opaque dark garnet-purple wine has an immediate pronounced nose: smoky roasted meat, blackberries, plums, pepper. Extremely viscous...glycerin coats the glass. Full-bodied and mouth-coating, but perfectly balanced, with just light tannin, great and long aftertaste. Not quite as outstanding as the last bottle two years ago, but could be some bottle variation. Drink now, but should easily hold another few years. Ric
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There was a terrific wine underneath an overwhelming wave of brett/funk. My palate has become sensitive to brett and I generally find it off putting. I see the appeal, but this wine is not for me as I like cleaner style wines.
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decanted and drank half, was at least drinkable unlike the 2007 I had recently, hoping when I finish tonight to be even better as many of the reviews have written update 4/8 went to pick up decanter and it shattered in my hand opening a nice gash in my finger my wife wouldn't let me drink it so I'll have to wait til the next bottle to see if it changes after 24 hour decant
decanted and drank half, was at least drinkable unlike the 2007 I had recently, hoping when I finish tonight to be even better as many of the reviews have written
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Ruby red, clear with slight bricking. Aromas of dark berries, black pepper, mushroom, black olive and charred oak. Full bodied, taste follows the aromas and provides a peppery finish. In day 2 the pepper becomes more prominent and plum becomes the more prominent fruit.
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My second bottle of Cayuse, and this one definitely had the funk. On opening it was pretty strong, but it blew off as the wine opened up such that it became a complementary element. Some funk/animale on the nose with red fruits and herbs. Very nice silky mouthfeel with mid weight fruits, good lift, significant acidity and cut. Long saline finish. Nice mid-weight syrah in a style I appreciate, a bit of heat detracts for me a touch but I like it well enough. I don't see any reason to wait on this.
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Continues to drink beautifully! Crushed wet stone, blackberry, and Cayuse funk aromas which develop beautifully on the silky palate with soft tannins on a long finish!
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Pop and pour. My last bottle of this and it's drinking splendidly. Funk and tobacco on the nose, palate of firm saline minerality, spice, and dark fruit. Well integrated and as accessible as these get. I love the Armada but it is the least "crowd pleaser" of Cayuse Syrahs. Drink over the next few years.
A lot of stuff. Wood, blood orange, spice, and acidity. But they have not integrate yet. It seems to be a little smoother on 2nd day. Hopefully, longer cellaring time will do some magic.
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Outstanding, nearing extraordinary. Full bodied yet elegant. Smooth, lovely texture. Excellent structure and balance. A wonderful myriad of flavors that change constantly. We all loved it. At peak but has enough stuffing to go for at least several more years and may even continue to develop more secondary characteristics.
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Although a sliver below the Almighty 2007 Armada, this was right there as the best that is made in the US. While I still love me some BF, the slightly understated tone of an Armada allows it to shine with cellering while I think the frog mostly settles in and then holds the fort (very nicely too). Just outstanding.
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So great to see a wine made in Walla Walla taste like a finely built Cote Rotie. This is animalistic, savory, and beastly. Almost a meal in a glass. Iodine? Iron? Charred meat? All of the above along with white flowers, pepper, and a touch of funk. There has to be Viognier in this blend. A bit over the top for my palate, however.
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Ruby red in color. 14.2% ABV. Savory nose of red fruits, iron, olive brine and coffee. Dark and brooding on the palate with wicked acidity. Surprisingly concentrated and primal. Cherries, iodine, blood and grilled meats on the palate. The finish is exceptionally long and silky. Stunning Syrah that is so uniquely Cayuse. Fantastic now but I would think this could age another 3-5 years if one were so inclined.
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Soft yet intense. This is a mature Syrah, full of complexity. Smoke, meat, blood, hints of iodine, menthol and oregano. Complex, very interesting and very balanced. Long sweet, sweaty finish. Excellent, drinking well, no need to keep.
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This is simply a fantastic wine right now. Polished finish, remarkable aromatics, and absolutely delicious fruit with a wide array of flavors from brine and red meat to bramble berry and white pepper. We did a 4 hour decant and it served its purpose. This is peaking right now.
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Another mammoth showing. this is a top tier wine, hugely complex, very well balanced, softly sweet really excellent complexity. meat, smoke, game, blackberry, all in spades.
Next night - Some of the intense funkiness (which I love) disappates after a night, but what remains is still a lovely well balanced ripe wine. Just delicious.
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What to write about this!? For the first few hours the bouquet and taste profile showed white pepper, garrigue sap, dried blood, ash, kelp, and feral notes, but featured zoo yard, barnyard on steroids if you will. In all seriousness, the wine smelled of the large mammal section of a zoo, specifically freshly released wiz and laid poo. Yeah! After several hours the wiz and poo integrated with all the other elements, which made for a fuller, more appealing, and deeply satisfying experience.
If drinking now, recommend a long decant. Otherwise, it seemed that this can last for another seven to ten years+.
Another fabulous showing for Armada, probably the most consistent of the Cayuse wines I've had. Deep, ripe intense nose, full of meat, smoke, game, over brambly fruit, Almost intoxicating to smell it is so complex. Ripe, sweet smooth and complex on the palate as well. Truly a complete wine, drinking really well, cannot imagine it getting much better. One of the wines of the year for me.
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Impressive wine. Not a lot of fruit, but lots of savory reductive notes. Lots of Rocks district funk. Notes of olive tapanade, peat, meat, iron, blood, tobacco, wet cigar, earth. 10 years old and the wine is very harmonious.
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Dark fruits on the nose and palate. Earthy, full and heavy in the mouth. Tannins are smooth and soft. Really great finish. Animal blood? (Hate those descriptors, but appropriate) good wine!
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Dark garnet hue. Dark red fruit, spice, white pepper nose. Earthy, nice balance, velvety, smooth as silk, blueberry, vanilla. Easy to drink with or without food. Big flavorful/powerful wine. Absolutely stunning.
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Dark garnet hue. Dark red fruit, spice, white pepper nose. Earthy, nice balance, velvety, smooth. Nice time to drink up. Easy to drink with or without food. Big flavorful/powerful wine. Pinot'esque. Not your ordinary syrah.
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This is smoking right now and it hits all of the right spots. The “in your face” Armada fruit has evolved splendidly. Great depth, remarkably polished. Notes of olives, dark gnarly fruit, hints of earth, leather and all sorts of crazy stuff.
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A fabulous wine at its peak, this totally opaque dark garnet-purple wine has an immediate pronounced nose: smoky roasted meat, blackberries, plums, pepper. Extremely viscous...glycerin coats the glass. Full-bodied and mouth-coating, but perfectly balanced, with just light tannin. Minimal "bite" on the late palate, but great and long aftertaste. This is typical great Cayuse syrah, nearly perfect. Drink now, but should easily hold another five or more years. The style is very much like Guigal's single vineyard wines, but even more intense, and at a fraction of the cost! Ric
Decanted for 3 hours. More of a full bodied ripe midsection than expected but short, green, and tart on the finish. Pretty much all kalamata olive brine, smoke, bacon, blood, and baked black fruit. Probably in its prime drinking window but will never be ripe CA Syrah if that’s what you want.
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This was drinking really nicely. Nice soft and smooth nose with cherry, tar. With time in the glass this opened up beautifully, with some brine, tomato paste, cherry and other darker fruits, with some funk that is classic with Cayuse
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Decanted for an hour based on my last experience with this wine but it didn't need it. Something was off about the last bottle; this one smelled fine on opening and was very accessible on first taste. Liquid black licorice with au jus and barnyard. Assuming the previous bottle was flawed, this is ready to drink right now as it lost a bit of intensity after three hours in the decanter. If you like this style, you will love this, but it's not for those who want a gentle, fruity, pleasant wine. The Armada is the most masculine of Cayuse's cuvees.
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You can pick out a Cayuse Syrah from a mile away. It's the Scotch version of Whisky. Smokey, gamey, etc. Like someone dropped a grilled bratwurst in the barrel. Some red cherry was lingering in there, but it was overpowered at every turn by the smoke. Only the big Scotch drinker in the room really liked it. Was one of the lower-scoring wines against 11 others tonight.
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Another great bottle of Cayuse. Black and blue fruits, blood, olive, finish is very saline in an attractive way. Somehow it comes across as fairly light on its feet. I did not think this was fading.
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Tasted upon opening and found unpleasant iodine nose and harsh palate with bitter finish. Fruit peeked out after three hours but then it went into such a confused phase we thought it was corked. Put it aside and finally five hours after decanting it became drinkable. Is this a wine that needs extended bottle aging? Bad bottle? I'll hold back rating until I try another.
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My fist Cayuse. This bottle may be a bit over the hill. Some "funk" and raspberry on the nose. Flavor of blood, black pepper, spice but the fruit feels lacking. Acidic finish.
Update: Drank over 4 days (vacuum sealing). This was a fun wine to engage in as it evolved. The blood and fruit flavors seemed to come into balance over time and the funk subsided. A throughly interesting (though not always salivating) wine experience for me.
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Decanted 2 hours and rebottled to drink at a restaurant. It started off disappointing, but after another hour it opened up nicely and really started showing its stuff. Unfortunately, at that point I was on my last glass. Lesson learned, give it plenty of air. Other than that my impression was that this followed the Cayuse profile although more subtle in a good way and showing more herbal notes than I've noticed in the past. For me, It was very good and I'm not sure I even experienced it's best. However, I'm not sure I would buy another bottle at the secondary market price.
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Tasted with '13 Reynvaan "In the Rocks", which I also rated as perfect. Both are as great as any Northern Rhone, even Guigal's single vineyard Cote Roties, probably better, at a fraction of the price. This was darker garnet and more opaque than the Reynvaan, with the slightest hint of brown at the edges. Extremely viscous. Deep, dark toasty aromas with blackberry and plums. Full-bodied flavors but smooth and perfectly balanced between fruit, acidity and tannin. Slightly hot on the very long finish. This is wonderful now, especially after a couple of hours of airing. It will certainly last 5-10 years at its peak, but at 100 points, it can't get any better! This and the Reynvaan are brothers cut from the same cloth, identical in style, with only minor differences in aroma and flavor. Interestingly, the Cayuse, from 2008, seemed younger than the 2013 Reynvaan. Ric
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Quite the Cayuse funk on the nose though it dissipated relatively quickly. Or became more subdued. The flavors are black cherry, cola, blood raw meat (seriously - in a good way) and a bit of funkish earthiness. I've had this numerous times over the years and this one seems subdued, as if it's getting a little tired, half a step slow. Until the finish, which is simply explosive, fading slowly. Really a nice experience.
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Day 1 - Heavy on the Cayuse funk on nose and palate. Sanguine and stoney with a medium body. Anise, olive and fig paste. Tannins and oak all in check. Ready to drink now but with miles to go.
Day 2 - The fruit showed up on day 2. Same notes as day 1 with notes of raspberry and cherry. Great wine!
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Color: deep/dark ruby core -> medium-deep ruby rim. Classic Cayuse bouquet of black olives, dark chocolate, game meat, dark fruit and a low-to-moderate level of the C-Funk. Palate long and smooth showing brown sugar, wet-rock minerality, blackberries and blueberries along with some leather, smoke and a touch of barnyard-y funk. Long and elegant finish lingers on the palate quite nicely. Delicious now and for some time to come. Held up well with really no change over 2 days (vacu-vinned half the bottle; note written day #2).
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The Armada, to my mind, seems softer, more lush and elegant, than the other Cayuse vineyards. This one was gorgeous - really smooth and deep. On the nose quite gamey and smelled of raw meat (in that really good way). In the mouth, black currants and wild black raspberry with good minerality, strong but not prominent acidity to carry the wine start to finish, charcoal and (again) raw meat. The finish is long and lingering and moving from fruit to earth to meat. Marvelous wine. No idea what the future holds for the wine but my remaining bottles of this are not likely to stay around too very long.
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Always outstanding, with Northern Rhone characteristic of Christophe's style. To my taste, it's perfect, and perfectly ready. Very pronounced earthy, leather, and meaty aromas with nice balance of oak. Big, rich complex flavors to match, plenty of fruit, but not excessively concentrated, and tannin there but in the background and not in the way. Flavors build and change on the palate over thirty seconds, but no bitterness. It has a long, warm, very flavorful finish. Baron's wines are simply delicious. Friends are always surprised when I say my favorite U.S. wines are syrahs from Oregon! They don't realize the northeast corner of the state, on the Oregon side of Walla Walla, produces some of the world's best syrahs, comparable to Guigal's great single vineyards. Ric
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Dark and opaque; nose not as pronounced as Cerise, Cailloux, or Chamberlin, but dark fruits, earthy, smoke. Full-bodied, probably the most of Christophe's syrahs. Went very well with grilled NY strip. It's probably on the early side of its plateau and will be better in a couple of years, then last many more. Ric
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Classic Cayuse on the nose. Meaty, funky yet wrapped with nice ripe fruit. The palate is as smooth as silk, coats your whole mouth with roasted meat with very nice crushed dark black and blue fruit. Very balanced and integrated at this stage.
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Medium red/purple hue. Smells of petrol and charcuterie. Super savory on the palate, green olive, cured meats, umami and earth notes. Soft silky mouthfeel. Medium acid, fine tannins really stain the tongue. Very distinctive wine, markedly different even from other Cayuse vineyards and wines from The Rocks.
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Blinded this with 2 other Cayuse-themed wines and it was actually easy to pick out. It's definitely the most savory of all Christophe's wines. Hard to pick out one single note that sticks out. The cherry, earth, pepper, florals, plums, and veggies and blended masterfully. Really interested to try an Armada at 20 years to see what these turn into.
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Crimson in color. 14.2% ABV. Unmistakable Cayuse nose of red fruits, iodine and tea. Smooth, warm and silky with perfect acidity. Stunning and pure. Cherries, game, olive brine and minerals on the palate. The finish is breathtaking. Spectacular Syrah that will drink well for at least another 5-7 years.
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This is singing right now and should be enjoyable for some time to come. The normally meaty tannins of Armada are now nicely polished with gamey notes, olive, earth and subtle dark fruit. There was a slight hint of mint during the two hour drinking window. 4 hour decant. We had this with the '08 En Chamberain. Great combo.
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cooking School and Washington Wines (Loretta Paganini School fo Cooking): Purple in color. The nose is really nice with black raspberries, spice, slight gamey notes, black olive, black pepper. Slight floral note too (violets?). Very smooth on the palate. Some silky tannins but for the most part, the tannins are resolved. The wine still drinks young though and seems to be just entering into adulthood. A very nice complexity as well. Someone mentioned it as being smokey, but I didn't get that. Outstanding wine.
Wow, I'm impressed! My first bottle of cayuse and now I get it. What a delicious Syrah, with grilled meat, sweet plum, spice and earth flavors. Smooth texture, very well balanced.
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Always outstanding, with Northern Rhone characteristic of Christophe's style. Very pronounced earthy, leather, and meaty aromas with nice balance of oak, very pronounced. Big, rich complex flavors to match, plenty of fruit, but not excessively concentrated, and tannin there but in the background and not in the way. Flavors build and change on the palate over thirty seconds, but no bitterness. It has a long, warm, very flavorful finish. Baron's wines are simply delicious, probably my favorites of U.S. wines. Friends are always surprised when I say my favorites are syrahs from vineyards and a winery in Oregon! Ric
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This wine leans to the meaty, smoky side of the Cayuse spectrum which fits my preference. Really a fantastic bottle. Deep dark fruit with an earthy backbone. No signs of decay detected, but certainly some of the funk of adolescence has subsided.
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Distinctive black fruit nose, incredibly smooth mud palate and medium finish. A joy to drink but will improve. Decanted for 3 hours and definitely needed.
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The decline continues; this was the third & worst of my 08 Armada three-fer. After a taste, wife wouldn't even drink it. I on the other hand was stubborn and more hopeful ... but drunk over two days ... was shamed to the fact that it wasn't: fruity, funky, meaty, big, or bouncey. 'Acidic band-aids' would be a succinct way to describe it. It physically gave me a wine headache AS I drank it, akin to a cheap booze hangover. And I'm rather certain it wasn't corked -- at least not in the respect I've had corked before. In the end, this year/make/model has been a relative fail for me, and I typically hold all things Cayuse in the highest of regards.
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Absolutely delicious! Crushed wet stone, blackberry, and Cayuse funk aromas which expand and develop beautifully on the silky palate with soft tannins on a long finish!
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Rich, delicious blackberry fruit with leathery, meaty, and earthy flavors, Walla Walla "funk" well pronounced, excellent structure, wine drinking at its peak, drank at Nice Matin restaurant in NYC
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Had for Christmas in Decatur with Uncle Jim. This is a gorgeous wine and boy did it go quickly. Reminded me of some Pax syrahs from 2006 era. The wife liked it and said I could continue to buy them. I'm excited to spend more time contemplating remaining bottles. A bit jammy in the blueberry/blackberry vein, also some nice oak and smoke. Not sure the price point is there for me though.
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Now with a two bottle sampling to go off of - this has turned out to be one of the lesser offerings Cayuse have produced in the last half-dozen years. The 08 Armada just doesn't have the brilliant lift of their other syrahs ... so I'm hopeful the subsequent Armada vintages in my cellar don't suffer the same fate.
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Tight, blackberry fruit with gamey, earthy flavors, terrific viscous texture, but wine seemed to lack richness and depth characteristic of this single vineyard Cayuse.
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Very tight, though wonderful smell of terroir on the nose. After the first hour the tannins mellowed, terroir became well integrated, and the robust flavor of leather, fruit, earth, and graphite rounded out this wonderful wine. Next time I'll decant it for two hours before trying it. Wonderful wine.
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Dark garnet-purple, completely opaque. The nose is a bit more reserved than I expected, maybe slightly less than Cailloux. The palate is all Cayuse...dark fruits, Northern Rhone syrah style, perfectly smooth and balanced. Not a huge Mollydooker style mouthful, but wonderfully balanced. Went very well with Osso Bucco. The finish is remarkably long, black fruits, licorice, mocha. No need to age this further, although it should last for years. It's wonderful now. Ric
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pop n' pour nose - funky, turned earth, herbal, then we can talk about the fruit maybe. mouth - complex. punchy. with air develops a berry infused liqueur flavor. this component needs time. good minerality. finally a celery bitter musky type finish. An enigmatic wine. this wine has power and stink , clearly meant for a future date. retry in 5 years. very good and interesting wine, though it amazes me that the last time I had this I was so smitten.
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A deep purple in the glass. Absolutely enchanting nose that comes off as meaty, gamey, smoky, and bloody, with a huge backbone of mineral and iron filings.
Medium to full bodied on the palate with notes of lavender, blueberry, grilled meats, smoke, and iodine.
Smooth and soft on the entry, tannins and acid present themselves in balance simultaneously, seemingly dry and juicy in tandem. Harmonious and layered with a persistent finish that lasts at least a minute plus.
While I have enjoyed Syrahs from all over, this may be the most meaty and animalistic Syrah I've encountered to date. Less earth and garrigue, less identifiable spices, more laid back soft and dark fruits hidden behind smoky gaminess. Pleasing and delicious, full of intrigue and interest, a noteworthy Syrah that is drinking well now. I do not have the experience with this wine to hazard a guess as to how it ages, but if the palate comes more in line with the incredible aromatics on the nose... watch out.
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I decanted for about an hour, and it was still a little tightly knit at the start, but the wine open up nicely to a mouthful of red fruits with some coffee hints. The wine is well integrated and complex. Finish is smooth and silky.
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Tasted as part of a five-year Armada vertical flight (2005 - 2009). The 2008 was the most forward and immediately accessible of the bunch. It may lack the structure for long-term aging (light tannins and acidity), but is fresh and very fruit-forward for an Armada. Very nice now and likely for the next two to three years.
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Popped and poured to accompany massive bone-in KC Strips at Smith & Wollensky, this was off-the-charts good. I've enjotyed many Cayuse wines, and like all of them this was defined by a tension between sweet fruit and savory/briney elements. What set this apart, however, was how seamless and integrated those elements were. It was hard to tell where the cherries stopped and olives started. Which made for some fascinating sips. Up there with the 2006 Cailloux Syrah and the 2008 En Chamberlin Syrah as the finest I've tasted (out of 14 or 15) from this gifted producer. 97-98.
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Great meaty nose still, somewhat silky and oily palate with a very clean feel. This is a very nice northern syrah style with some big fruit still. Very good.
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Rich meaty nose with a bit of purple grape cool-aid in the back end. Nice acidity in the mid-palate, with a dry almost hot-like finish. This is a classic Cayuse style and is not for everyone, but it's a good wine.
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This is progressing well. Roasted fruits and meat, with huckleberries, carmel, coffee, rainer cherries, red cabbage, plums, basil, kalamata olives and umami. Very elegant on the palate with mainly cherry, huckleberry and meat notes with mineral and tannis still working out. Not as hedonistic as the last bottle which leads me to belive this is and will continue to age beautiful. Paired with roasted rack of lamb and it was pure wine nirvana!
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pop n' pour nose - an intoxicating nose of flowers, coffee, ham, and blueberry pie. mouth - deliciously balanced and unbelievably concentrated, this wine is loaded with sweet fruit on the attack which i keep tasting and tasting and tasting, which eventually morphs into a finish that displays prominent ham and coffee notes. Dry, but not overpowering tannins. In spite of its power, it drinks incredibly clean displaying excellent minerality. Ten minutes after my last sip, i am still smacking my tongue to the top of my palate and picking up hints of this wine. Unreal. I dont think I have ever had anything quite like it.
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Delayed note, bit this was, as expected two things: 1 ).A reserved wine that clearly has a very bright future 2). A tremendous experience to drink even today. Tightly coiled, this shows again the maturing vine structure of Cayuse as the minerality over shadowed the ‘funk’ and all for the better. I am saving my last two bottles for the long haul, maybe 8 to 12 years from the vintage date, maybe longer.
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HdR 2012 - The Return of the Bionic Frog (Paso Robles, CA): Aged in neutral puncheons for 22 months. Pretty much opaque dark garnet in the glass. Northern Rhonish mineral and Asian spice nose. Tight, structured dark fruit on the palate. Ripe, but rather high toned.
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Popped and poured. Dark, somewhat murky purple hue. Pronounced Cayuse nose fills the air with aromas of mesquite, burnt barbecue ends, iodine, black raspberries, smoked ham with cloves, and roasted herbs. Medium-plus body. Flavors on the palate are mostly herbaceous but also show brine/Kalamata olive notes, chipotle, and a touch of wild berry, the latter growing more pronounced as it aerates. Well-balanced, with moderate to moderate-plus acidity and tannins showing slightly astringent on the smokey close. As always, an excellent expression of domestic Syrah, but overall quite young and needing 2-4+ years in the cellar...will be a killer bottle with just a little bit more time.
Quick comment: This was far more accessible on day one if being open and shut down quite a bit by the second.
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Rather muted nose & palate of the winery usuals: roasted meats, rocky soil - this time w/ some balsalmic afterthoughts. Maybe this is shutdown in its current youth - because I'm not getting a sense of high acid/tannin or finish length that would suggest this will evolve into a beast. Yet, its pleasantness in this state is leagues ahead of other early Cayuse I've had, almost as if it's resolved too early for the long term. Day 2: the remainder has softened to a state of mellow normalcy, again very atypical for these syrahs which are usually full of funk.
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Barrel sample. Wow, super tight. The 07 was much further along at this stage. Gorgeous color but not much on the nose. Hints of Armada funk, meat, coffee, both red and black fruit. Very quiet on the palate as well with muted dark fruit, smoke, cinnamon, a little pepper and some decent tannin. Needs another year to rest but has the stuffing to hopefully continue the streak of terrific Armadas. Incomplete.
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barrel sample at release party; A little disappointed in this.Really loved the 07, so maybe expectations were a little too high. Felt a little muted after a few bright and sweet fruited wines. Fresh cracked pepper, saline, citrus, chocolate malt, blackberries, funk, and cherries. A little sharp on the palate with some tannins very present. Give this time.
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tasted at release party the most funky nose of the day, this had barnyard-esque aromas on the edges, with rich, thick, coffee tannins. There was a bitterness on the midpalate that was interesting and not at all unpalatable. A stand-out in the lineup for intensity, I'm not sure what to expect from the bottle when it is released. But I look forward to finding out.
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Barrel sample at Private Release Weekend. I loved the coffee and black peppercorn notes in this wine, but I found myself still talking about the Bionic Frog that we had tasted right before this. There wasn't anything wrong with the Armada, I was just trying to figure out how to get another pour of the Frog...
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quick 2011 release note - Pepper, muddled blackberry and cherries w/some baked notes. Sparkling tannins, sitrus punch, saline mouthfeel w/young tannin on the finish and a bit of ash.
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WA Tasting trip Day 2: Cayuse, Gramercy, Spring Valley, More Cayuse?? and Jim German; 4/9/2011-4/12/2011 (Walla Walla, WA): Tasted at the winery. Nose of mint, flint, blueberry, blackberries, little meat. Palate of black cherry, meat, olive, mineral, pepper. Finish was AA in length, but overall this didn't feel as expressive as the other wines and probably needs time to show. I wrote it felt burly or concentrated, but didn't really show enough for me on this day. For some reason the Armada wines have always left me wanting more with my limited experience of them. 91-92
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10/14/2023 - RJWallis Likes this wine: 94 Points
Still in a great place, won't evolve more but still has life. Two hour decant, held its own in a 6 wine syrah blind tasting. Definitely continued to improve over the next few hours. Typical rocks funk and olive tapenade.
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4/28/2023 - gbbwino Likes this wine: 96 Points
Last of 6 direct from winery & cellared since. PNP & consumed over 1.5 hours. This is still a stunning wine per my Mar 2022 note. More evolved in the sense that the tannins are pure silk. Nose & palate are no different than a year ago. Opened my last ‘07 2 nights ago & that wine pales in comparison…dark, brooding, heavy, meaty….fruit is almost gone. ‘08 wins hands down but I’m not sure it will improve…in a great spot so drink up.
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11/12/2022 - Eric wrote:
ESTG does American Syrah (and Petite Sirah) (Seattle, WA, USA): An obvious Cayuse nose. Heavy, savory and spicy.
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10/29/2022 - Radboy wrote: 95 Points
What a fine wine this is! Surprising how the fruit has kept it’s depth and character.
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6/4/2022 - mnoljo wrote: 94 Points
Decanted an hour before dinner. My initial thought you have been drinking these too young! A balanced well integrated Syrah will notes of meat,olives hints of dark fruit and a fading shadow of funk with lingering finish.
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5/22/2022 - Dale M wrote: 94 Points
Decanted 1 hr. In fine form yet again, the 08 Armada is likely one of the more elegant, refined and classy of the 2001-10 Cayuse stable. I wouldn’t so much as say as its lost its fruit, it just simply has been pushed to the background as we see an alignment florals, olives (but not too much so) black pepper, and some black cherries. A tiny bit of the ‘Cayuse Funk’ can be detected, but you had to look for it – and if you weren’t familiar with this unique WW signature, you probably wouldn’t have even give it a thought. Tannins are resolved, there was never a high acid trait in all of the Cayuse portfolio, and its low here, but as always that immaterial as there is plenty of structure to keep this all together. I think this is in a really good spot, I don’t think though I would go more than 5 years if I had any more of these, which I do not.
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3/8/2022 - gbbwino Likes this wine: 96 Points
Purchased direct from winery & cellared since. Decanted then poured a glass, waiting for 15 minutes. No typical Cayuse funk on the nose. The palate is exquisite! Beautifully integrated fine tannins & incredibly explosive & balanced dark red cherry fruit with spice & pepper. Again, the palate on this is phenomenal, from start to its long finish. The nose is great too but I typically like Cayuse funk in the nose & this had little if that. Had the 2007 Armada a week ago & the 2008 blows it away. 2007 is all animal, funk, olive brine, earth & very little fruit.
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2/10/2022 - Radboy wrote: 95 Points
A smashingly good wine. I usually drink my Cayuse by the ten year mark as they can lose their unique fruit and become more oilve-y. But this wine turns that bias on its head. Nicely defined silky tannins on the finish. Polished fruit with berries, earth, and dark cherries. The mid-palate is exquisite with balance and a warm mouthfeel. Damn good juice!
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12/22/2021 - PDX-S wrote:
5 hours into decanting, Zalto Burgundy glass.
The funky aromas and flavors I’ve come to associate with Cayuse have been in full swing from the beginning, but are incredibly pronounced at hour 5.
Funky aromas of dry aged meat, smoke, blueberries and black pepper are the first things that get noticed.
Nice and round in the mouth, the wine feels soft, yet has some fine tannins and and edges that are given definition by juicy acid.
The nose repeats on the palate, doubling down on dry aged funk, savory blueberries and smoky herbs. Definitely mature and the fruit intensity is on the wane.
Drink now or hold for tertiary development.
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12/11/2021 - wine4ever Likes this wine:
Big, luscious, super smooth fully mature wine. Dark cherries, olives, meat juice, spices, mineral, some smokiness. Went well with grilled lamb chops. Excellent wine - now on the back-half of it's life. Have one more, which I'll drink sometime in the next 2-3 years. Will be interesting to see how or if this evolves anymore. Always an intellectual drinking experience from Cayuse.
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9/4/2021 - Kjyoung80 Does not like this wine: 80 Points
Past it’s prime, had to toss it.
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6/26/2021 - jay_hawk@yahoo.com Likes this wine: 96 Points
Raw meat and pepper still on the nose, along with some olive and herbal notes. Well balanced, not too much fruit left. Enjoyed with a ribeye.
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6/18/2021 - Ron Slye wrote: 93 Points
Hits all of the right notes for us with armada. Smokey campfire with olive brine and savory notes. Not the in your face wine as these are young. This has poise and balance with some nice fruit in the background. Not sure this will get better but it is not fading either.
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3/30/2021 - Ex-Ray Likes this wine: 97 Points
An outstanding wine, fully mature. Still dark garnet and mostly opaque, with no brown edges. Pronounced but complex aroma of roasted meat, smoke, toasted oak, dark fruits. Full-bodied, but as is typical of Cayuse, never dominated by the tannins which are present but in the background behind the fruit, but not a "fruit bomb". Excellent balance of fruit, tannin, and acidity. Very long aftertaste, but a touch of bitterness and a bit hot. Fully mature, but I expect it will stay that way easily for 5 or more years.
Ric
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3/17/2021 - eyesnwine Likes this wine: 92 Points
If you are looking for a fruit bomb this is not your wine. Purchased off the mailing list and stored in my cellar since at 57 deg. Peppery and herbaceous with some notes of licorice and olives and very well balanced. In the glass it seems more fruit trying to emerge. Having had this several years ago as well I recall more smoke tar and heat. And much more enjoyable now imho. I don’t see this improving and agree with the drinking window. Certainly would not hold more than another 2-3 yrs
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1/6/2021 - bigbass250 wrote:
Strangely again I had a glass the first night which I thought was decent, I sealed the bottle by removing the air and the 2nd night it had an off taste and tonight I thought I'd try again and ended up pouring down the sink, moral of the story I guess is to drink it all the first night
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11/28/2020 - soyhead wrote:
in 2012 i rhapsodized about this very wine, since then my taste for WallaWalla syrah has gradually waned, and at one point i sold off my remaining stash. This bottle I had gifted to the Patriarch, who brought it out, blind, 8+ years later. After some hemming and hawing, the synapses clicked, and I called it as a Washington St. Syrah.
A wine of serious black pepper, olives, and herbality. After 2 days in the open the olive character has further deepened, and to fully enjoy this I'd like to see some heirloom tomatoes and feta.
There is still fruit here, but these wines strike me as being more savory than fruity. I will have to go back and remind myself why i originally went so head over heels for this. Perhaps the wine has changed with bottle age but the more likely explanation is that my palate has changed, and i must confess i no longer enjoy this singular style.
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8/8/2020 - Ex-Ray Likes this wine: 96 Points
A fabulous wine at its peak, this totally opaque dark garnet-purple wine has an immediate pronounced nose: smoky roasted meat, blackberries, plums, pepper. Extremely viscous...glycerin coats the glass. Full-bodied and mouth-coating, but perfectly balanced, with just light tannin, great and long aftertaste. Not quite as outstanding as the last bottle two years ago, but could be some bottle variation. Drink now, but should easily hold another few years.
Ric
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7/20/2020 - pjhr Likes this wine: 93 Points
Continues to drink beautifully! Crushed wet stone, blackberry, and Cayuse funk aromas on the silky palate with soft tannins on a long finish!
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6/28/2020 - redzins wrote: 88 Points
Wine is fading, IMHO. Still a solid wine, but the fruit and complexity is just not there.
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5/15/2020 - bonedoc wrote:
There was a terrific wine underneath an overwhelming wave of brett/funk. My palate has become sensitive to brett and I generally find it off putting. I see the appeal, but this wine is not for me as I like cleaner style wines.
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4/20/2020 - akminstral Likes this wine: 95 Points
Lovey Syrah ready to drink. Body lighter than some but great floral and red current flavors.
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4/8/2020 - bigbass250 Likes this wine:
decanted and drank half, was at least drinkable unlike the 2007 I had recently, hoping when I finish tonight to be even better as many of the reviews have written
update 4/8 went to pick up decanter and it shattered in my hand opening a nice gash in my finger my wife wouldn't let me drink it so I'll have to wait til the next bottle to see if it changes after 24 hour decant
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4/7/2020 - bigbass250 Likes this wine:
decanted and drank half, was at least drinkable unlike the 2007 I had recently, hoping when I finish tonight to be even better as many of the reviews have written
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3/28/2020 - eszencia Likes this wine:
Ruby red, clear with slight bricking. Aromas of dark berries, black pepper, mushroom, black olive and charred oak. Full bodied, taste follows the aromas and provides a peppery finish. In day 2 the pepper becomes more prominent and plum becomes the more prominent fruit.
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3/25/2020 - joshbryer Likes this wine:
Quarantine tasting series #2....
My second bottle of Cayuse, and this one definitely had the funk. On opening it was pretty strong, but it blew off as the wine opened up such that it became a complementary element. Some funk/animale on the nose with red fruits and herbs. Very nice silky mouthfeel with mid weight fruits, good lift, significant acidity and cut. Long saline finish. Nice mid-weight syrah in a style I appreciate, a bit of heat detracts for me a touch but I like it well enough. I don't see any reason to wait on this.
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2/5/2020 - pjhr Likes this wine: 94 Points
Continues to drink beautifully! Crushed wet stone, blackberry, and Cayuse funk aromas which develop beautifully on the silky palate with soft tannins on a long finish!
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1/24/2020 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 96 Points
My last bottle of this delicious Syrah. Loaded with fruit. Concentrated and complex. Delicious.
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12/19/2019 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 96 Points
Pop and pour. My last bottle of this and it's drinking splendidly. Funk and tobacco on the nose, palate of firm saline minerality, spice, and dark fruit. Well integrated and as accessible as these get. I love the Armada but it is the least "crowd pleaser" of Cayuse Syrahs. Drink over the next few years.
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11/30/2019 - EricLi wrote: 90 Points
A lot of stuff. Wood, blood orange, spice, and acidity. But they have not integrate yet. It seems to be a little smoother on 2nd day. Hopefully, longer cellaring time will do some magic.
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7/26/2019 - wine4ever Likes this wine:
Outstanding, nearing extraordinary. Full bodied yet elegant. Smooth, lovely texture. Excellent structure and balance. A wonderful myriad of flavors that change constantly. We all loved it. At peak but has enough stuffing to go for at least several more years and may even continue to develop more secondary characteristics.
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7/24/2019 - Dale M wrote: 95 Points
Although a sliver below the Almighty 2007 Armada, this was right there as the best that is made in the US. While I still love me some BF, the slightly understated tone of an Armada allows it to shine with cellering while I think the frog mostly settles in and then holds the fort (very nicely too). Just outstanding.
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6/22/2019 - Francophile1 Likes this wine: 92 Points
So great to see a wine made in Walla Walla taste like a finely built Cote Rotie. This is animalistic, savory, and beastly. Almost a meal in a glass. Iodine? Iron? Charred meat? All of the above along with white flowers, pepper, and a touch of funk. There has to be Viognier in this blend. A bit over the top for my palate, however.
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6/16/2019 - tomlee wrote: 95 Points
Ruby red in color. 14.2% ABV. Savory nose of red fruits, iron, olive brine and coffee. Dark and brooding on the palate with wicked acidity. Surprisingly concentrated and primal. Cherries, iodine, blood and grilled meats on the palate. The finish is exceptionally long and silky. Stunning Syrah that is so uniquely Cayuse. Fantastic now but I would think this could age another 3-5 years if one were so inclined.
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6/9/2019 - thebonnydooner wrote: 94 Points
Soft yet intense. This is a mature Syrah, full of complexity. Smoke, meat, blood, hints of iodine, menthol and oregano. Complex, very interesting and very balanced. Long sweet, sweaty finish. Excellent, drinking well, no need to keep.
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5/26/2019 - Radboy wrote: 96 Points
This is simply a fantastic wine right now. Polished finish, remarkable aromatics, and absolutely delicious fruit with a wide array of flavors from brine and red meat to bramble berry and white pepper. We did a 4 hour decant and it served its purpose. This is peaking right now.
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4/21/2019 - curtr wrote:
Was a bit flat. A bad bottle?
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2/26/2019 - Topper wrote: flawed
Corked. A shame.
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2/16/2019 - thebonnydooner wrote: 95 Points
Another mammoth showing. this is a top tier wine, hugely complex, very well balanced, softly sweet really excellent complexity. meat, smoke, game, blackberry, all in spades.
Next night - Some of the intense funkiness (which I love) disappates after a night, but what remains is still a lovely well balanced ripe wine. Just delicious.
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1/20/2019 - Motz wrote: 95 Points
What to write about this!? For the first few hours the bouquet and taste profile showed white pepper, garrigue sap, dried blood, ash, kelp, and feral notes, but featured zoo yard, barnyard on steroids if you will. In all seriousness, the wine smelled of the large mammal section of a zoo, specifically freshly released wiz and laid poo. Yeah! After several hours the wiz and poo integrated with all the other elements, which made for a fuller, more appealing, and deeply satisfying experience.
If drinking now, recommend a long decant. Otherwise, it seemed that this can last for another seven to ten years+.
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12/7/2018 - thebonnydooner wrote: 96 Points
Another fabulous showing for Armada, probably the most consistent of the Cayuse wines I've had. Deep, ripe intense nose, full of meat, smoke, game, over brambly fruit, Almost intoxicating to smell it is so complex. Ripe, sweet smooth and complex on the palate as well. Truly a complete wine, drinking really well, cannot imagine it getting much better. One of the wines of the year for me.
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11/19/2018 - PT insurgent wrote:
Impressive wine. Not a lot of fruit, but lots of savory reductive notes. Lots of Rocks district funk. Notes of olive tapanade, peat, meat, iron, blood, tobacco, wet cigar, earth. 10 years old and the wine is very harmonious.
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9/13/2018 - Adonisd1956 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark fruits on the nose and palate. Earthy, full and heavy in the mouth. Tannins are smooth and soft. Really great finish. Animal blood? (Hate those descriptors, but appropriate) good wine!
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8/26/2018 - Vino Me wrote: 93 Points
Opened by Mark. No formal notes other than this was a big wine with firm tannins. 93 points.
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8/10/2018 - williamswhine Likes this wine: 95 Points
Dark garnet hue. Dark red fruit, spice, white pepper nose. Earthy, nice balance, velvety, smooth as silk, blueberry, vanilla. Easy to drink with or without food. Big flavorful/powerful wine. Absolutely stunning.
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1/7/2018 - williamswhine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark garnet hue. Dark red fruit, spice, white pepper nose. Earthy, nice balance, velvety, smooth. Nice time to drink up. Easy to drink with or without food. Big flavorful/powerful wine. Pinot'esque. Not your ordinary syrah.
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12/16/2017 - Radboy wrote: 96 Points
This is smoking right now and it hits all of the right spots. The “in your face” Armada fruit has evolved splendidly. Great depth, remarkably polished. Notes of olives, dark gnarly fruit, hints of earth, leather and all sorts of crazy stuff.
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12/2/2017 - Ex-Ray Likes this wine: 98 Points
A fabulous wine at its peak, this totally opaque dark garnet-purple wine has an immediate pronounced nose: smoky roasted meat, blackberries, plums, pepper. Extremely viscous...glycerin coats the glass. Full-bodied and mouth-coating, but perfectly balanced, with just light tannin. Minimal "bite" on the late palate, but great and long aftertaste. This is typical great Cayuse syrah, nearly perfect. Drink now, but should easily hold another five or more years. The style is very much like Guigal's single vineyard wines, but even more intense, and at a fraction of the cost!
Ric
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11/24/2017 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for 3 hours. More of a full bodied ripe midsection than expected but short, green, and tart on the finish. Pretty much all kalamata olive brine, smoke, bacon, blood, and baked black fruit. Probably in its prime drinking window but will never be ripe CA Syrah if that’s what you want.
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11/9/2017 - Ron Slye wrote: 93 Points
This was drinking really nicely. Nice soft and smooth nose with cherry, tar. With time in the glass this opened up beautifully, with some brine, tomato paste, cherry and other darker fruits, with some funk that is classic with Cayuse
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10/11/2017 - no leashes wrote: 93 Points
Delicious, with meat and plum flavors. Smooth, long finish. Too bad last bottle.
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9/15/2017 - Radboy wrote: 93 Points
Drinking well and ready to go.
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8/7/2017 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted for an hour based on my last experience with this wine but it didn't need it. Something was off about the last bottle; this one smelled fine on opening and was very accessible on first taste. Liquid black licorice with au jus and barnyard. Assuming the previous bottle was flawed, this is ready to drink right now as it lost a bit of intensity after three hours in the decanter. If you like this style, you will love this, but it's not for those who want a gentle, fruity, pleasant wine. The Armada is the most masculine of Cayuse's cuvees.
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6/20/2017 - tp096255 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Rhone-dezvous Series 1
You can pick out a Cayuse Syrah from a mile away. It's the Scotch version of Whisky. Smokey, gamey, etc. Like someone dropped a grilled bratwurst in the barrel. Some red cherry was lingering in there, but it was overpowered at every turn by the smoke. Only the big Scotch drinker in the room really liked it. Was one of the lower-scoring wines against 11 others tonight.
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6/10/2017 - LARich wrote: 93 Points
Ready now. Won't improve much. Enjoy!
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6/1/2017 - skifree wrote: 95 Points
Another great bottle of Cayuse. Black and blue fruits, blood, olive, finish is very saline in an attractive way. Somehow it comes across as fairly light on its feet. I did not think this was fading.
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4/24/2017 - Quiet Lion wrote:
Tasted upon opening and found unpleasant iodine nose and harsh palate with bitter finish. Fruit peeked out after three hours but then it went into such a confused phase we thought it was corked. Put it aside and finally five hours after decanting it became drinkable. Is this a wine that needs extended bottle aging? Bad bottle? I'll hold back rating until I try another.
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4/22/2017 - onboisduvin Likes this wine: 94 Points
Showing kinds of pepper aroma at first. After 1 hr, sweet floral scent followed with hints of Burgundy, amazing! Palate was medium and satisfying.
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4/22/2017 - Vinomnivore wrote: 89 Points
My fist Cayuse. This bottle may be a bit over the hill. Some "funk" and raspberry on the nose. Flavor of blood, black pepper, spice but the fruit feels lacking. Acidic finish.
Update: Drank over 4 days (vacuum sealing). This was a fun wine to engage in as it evolved. The blood and fruit flavors seemed to come into balance over time and the funk subsided. A throughly interesting (though not always salivating) wine experience for me.
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4/6/2017 - Bladams13 Likes this wine:
Decanted 2 hours and rebottled to drink at a restaurant. It started off disappointing, but after another hour it opened up nicely and really started showing its stuff. Unfortunately, at that point I was on my last glass. Lesson learned, give it plenty of air. Other than that my impression was that this followed the Cayuse profile although more subtle in a good way and showing more herbal notes than I've noticed in the past. For me, It was very good and I'm not sure I even experienced it's best. However, I'm not sure I would buy another bottle at the secondary market price.
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3/10/2017 - Ex-Ray Likes this wine: 100 Points
Tasted with '13 Reynvaan "In the Rocks", which I also rated as perfect. Both are as great as any Northern Rhone, even Guigal's single vineyard Cote Roties, probably better, at a fraction of the price. This was darker garnet and more opaque than the Reynvaan, with the slightest hint of brown at the edges. Extremely viscous. Deep, dark toasty aromas with blackberry and plums. Full-bodied flavors but smooth and perfectly balanced between fruit, acidity and tannin. Slightly hot on the very long finish. This is wonderful now, especially after a couple of hours of airing. It will certainly last 5-10 years at its peak, but at 100 points, it can't get any better! This and the Reynvaan are brothers cut from the same cloth, identical in style, with only minor differences in aroma and flavor. Interestingly, the Cayuse, from 2008, seemed younger than the 2013 Reynvaan.
Ric
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2/4/2017 - randyjc wrote: 92 Points
Quite the Cayuse funk on the nose though it dissipated relatively quickly. Or became more subdued. The flavors are black cherry, cola, blood raw meat (seriously - in a good way) and a bit of funkish earthiness. I've had this numerous times over the years and this one seems subdued, as if it's getting a little tired, half a step slow. Until the finish, which is simply explosive, fading slowly. Really a nice experience.
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12/24/2016 - SICILIAN-SOLE Likes this wine: 95 Points
Day 1 - Heavy on the Cayuse funk on nose and palate. Sanguine and stoney with a medium body. Anise, olive and fig paste. Tannins and oak all in check. Ready to drink now but with miles to go.
Day 2 - The fruit showed up on day 2. Same notes as day 1 with notes of raspberry and cherry. Great wine!
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11/23/2016 - Topper wrote: flawed
Corked - so disappointed
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11/22/2016 - Roger Wilber wrote:
Wine given to Ryan Garcia
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10/30/2016 - BVal wrote: 93 Points
Color: deep/dark ruby core -> medium-deep ruby rim. Classic Cayuse bouquet of black olives, dark chocolate, game meat, dark fruit and a low-to-moderate level of the C-Funk. Palate long and smooth showing brown sugar, wet-rock minerality, blackberries and blueberries along with some leather, smoke and a touch of barnyard-y funk. Long and elegant finish lingers on the palate quite nicely. Delicious now and for some time to come. Held up well with really no change over 2 days (vacu-vinned half the bottle; note written day #2).
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9/17/2016 - randyjc wrote: 93 Points
The Armada, to my mind, seems softer, more lush and elegant, than the other Cayuse vineyards. This one was gorgeous - really smooth and deep. On the nose quite gamey and smelled of raw meat (in that really good way). In the mouth, black currants and wild black raspberry with good minerality, strong but not prominent acidity to carry the wine start to finish, charcoal and (again) raw meat. The finish is long and lingering and moving from fruit to earth to meat. Marvelous wine. No idea what the future holds for the wine but my remaining bottles of this are not likely to stay around too very long.
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8/27/2016 - no leashes wrote: 93 Points
Again a delicious bottle of syrah, Cayuse continues to hit it out of the park.
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8/27/2016 - Ex-Ray Likes this wine: 100 Points
Always outstanding, with Northern Rhone characteristic of Christophe's style. To my taste, it's perfect, and perfectly ready. Very pronounced earthy, leather, and meaty aromas with nice balance of oak. Big, rich complex flavors to match, plenty of fruit, but not excessively concentrated, and tannin there but in the background and not in the way. Flavors build and change on the palate over thirty seconds, but no bitterness. It has a long, warm, very flavorful finish. Baron's wines are simply delicious. Friends are always surprised when I say my favorite U.S. wines are syrahs from Oregon! They don't realize the northeast corner of the state, on the Oregon side of Walla Walla, produces some of the world's best syrahs, comparable to Guigal's great single vineyards.
Ric
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7/29/2016 - mlawren1 wrote: 92 Points
Iron and earth give way to plums and cherries. Very cayuse flavor profile. Finishes a little short.
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6/20/2016 - Ex-Ray Likes this wine: 95 Points
Dark and opaque; nose not as pronounced as Cerise, Cailloux, or Chamberlin, but dark fruits, earthy, smoke. Full-bodied, probably the most of Christophe's syrahs. Went very well with grilled NY strip. It's probably on the early side of its plateau and will be better in a couple of years, then last many more.
Ric
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4/3/2016 - enjoyvino wrote: 94 Points
Classic Cayuse on the nose. Meaty, funky yet wrapped with nice ripe fruit. The palate is as smooth as silk, coats your whole mouth with roasted meat with very nice crushed dark black and blue fruit. Very balanced and integrated at this stage.
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3/30/2016 - GA_Seattle Likes this wine: 93 Points
Medium red/purple hue. Smells of petrol and charcuterie. Super savory on the palate, green olive, cured meats, umami and earth notes. Soft silky mouthfeel. Medium acid, fine tannins really stain the tongue. Very distinctive wine, markedly different even from other Cayuse vineyards and wines from The Rocks.
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2/14/2016 - Vinsant Likes this wine:
Blinded this with 2 other Cayuse-themed wines and it was actually easy to pick out. It's definitely the most savory of all Christophe's wines. Hard to pick out one single note that sticks out. The cherry, earth, pepper, florals, plums, and veggies and blended masterfully. Really interested to try an Armada at 20 years to see what these turn into.
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2/2/2016 - williamswhine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark fruit, deep earthy nose. Nice balance, velvety, smooth. Nice time to drink up. Easy to drink with or without food. Big flavorful/powerful wine.
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1/3/2016 - tomlee wrote: 96 Points
Crimson in color. 14.2% ABV. Unmistakable Cayuse nose of red fruits, iodine and tea. Smooth, warm and silky with perfect acidity. Stunning and pure. Cherries, game, olive brine and minerals on the palate. The finish is breathtaking. Spectacular Syrah that will drink well for at least another 5-7 years.
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11/1/2015 - Radboy wrote: 95 Points
This is singing right now and should be enjoyable for some time to come. The normally meaty tannins of Armada are now nicely polished with gamey notes, olive, earth and subtle dark fruit. There was a slight hint of mint during the two hour drinking window. 4 hour decant. We had this with the '08 En Chamberain. Great combo.
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10/30/2015 - arthrovine wrote: 94 Points
pop n poured. Followed over 5 hours.
WOW. Fantastic wine. This Cayuse has just enough acid to balance it. Sonkin's note nails it.
Drink up and enjoy this now.
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10/25/2015 - sari85253 wrote: 94 Points
Wow! Drink now.
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10/25/2015 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 95 Points
cooking School and Washington Wines (Loretta Paganini School fo Cooking): Purple in color. The nose is really nice with black raspberries, spice, slight gamey notes, black olive, black pepper. Slight floral note too (violets?). Very smooth on the palate. Some silky tannins but for the most part, the tannins are resolved. The wine still drinks young though and seems to be just entering into adulthood. A very nice complexity as well. Someone mentioned it as being smokey, but I didn't get that. Outstanding wine.
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9/6/2015 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 95 Points
A delicious bottle of syrah drank with fresh grilled wild duck breast. I would open this an hour before drinking.
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9/4/2015 - no leashes wrote: 93 Points
Wow, I'm impressed! My first bottle of cayuse and now I get it. What a delicious Syrah, with grilled meat, sweet plum, spice and earth flavors. Smooth texture, very well balanced.
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8/14/2015 - tonysmith72 wrote: 92 Points
Armada is more enjoyable than the other vineyard designates.
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3/28/2015 - AlanTCHock wrote: 95 Points
Full body, long finishing, concentract,
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2/19/2015 - Ex-Ray Likes this wine: 97 Points
Always outstanding, with Northern Rhone characteristic of Christophe's style. Very pronounced earthy, leather, and meaty aromas with nice balance of oak, very pronounced. Big, rich complex flavors to match, plenty of fruit, but not excessively concentrated, and tannin there but in the background and not in the way. Flavors build and change on the palate over thirty seconds, but no bitterness. It has a long, warm, very flavorful finish. Baron's wines are simply delicious, probably my favorites of U.S. wines. Friends are always surprised when I say my favorites are syrahs from vineyards and a winery in Oregon!
Ric
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12/27/2014 - lirvingham Likes this wine: 97 Points
This wine leans to the meaty, smoky side of the Cayuse spectrum which fits my preference. Really a fantastic bottle. Deep dark fruit with an earthy backbone. No signs of decay detected, but certainly some of the funk of adolescence has subsided.
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12/8/2014 - LARich Likes this wine: 94 Points
Distinctive black fruit nose, incredibly smooth mud palate and medium finish. A joy to drink but will improve. Decanted for 3 hours and definitely needed.
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11/28/2014 - fitchbuck Does not like this wine: 89 Points
The decline continues; this was the third & worst of my 08 Armada three-fer. After a taste, wife wouldn't even drink it. I on the other hand was stubborn and more hopeful ... but drunk over two days ... was shamed to the fact that it wasn't: fruity, funky, meaty, big, or bouncey. 'Acidic band-aids' would be a succinct way to describe it. It physically gave me a wine headache AS I drank it, akin to a cheap booze hangover. And I'm rather certain it wasn't corked -- at least not in the respect I've had corked before.
In the end, this year/make/model has been a relative fail for me, and I typically hold all things Cayuse in the highest of regards.
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10/27/2014 - pjhr Likes this wine: 94 Points
Absolutely delicious! Crushed wet stone, blackberry, and Cayuse funk aromas which expand and develop beautifully on the silky palate with soft tannins on a long finish!
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9/12/2014 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 99 Points
My first of these and all I can say is WOW! Drank alongside 11 other big reds and my second wine of the night. Double decanted 5 hours prior
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8/31/2014 - rfras Likes this wine: 94 Points
Similar to my last note.
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5/13/2014 - vines4humanity wrote:
Funky Brett and tar and herbs with very long finish.
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3/24/2014 - rhalbert wrote: 96 Points
Phenomenal
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2/23/2014 - rhalbert wrote: 95 Points
With Jan over Wagyu NYs. Phenomenal with an 8 hour decant.
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1/18/2014 - Amerique wrote: 94 Points
Rich, delicious blackberry fruit with leathery, meaty, and earthy flavors, Walla Walla "funk" well pronounced, excellent structure, wine drinking at its peak, drank at Nice Matin restaurant in NYC
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1/12/2014 - bonedoc wrote:
Brett on nose when cork was popped, then blew off by 1-2 hrs later at the first glass. Olives and black pepper, some garrique. Delicious. 94-96
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1/10/2014 - europat55 wrote: 93 Points
Platinum Tasting - Wines that go well with steak (Andre and Sabine's House, Mountain View, CA): Fruity, peppery note. A little bit hot. Young (A-/A). Very tasty, young palate. (B++/A-). Seems to have room to improve by another 1 or 2 points with a couple of years in the cellar.
My #1, Group's #3 (39 pts). Tasted blind.
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12/25/2013 - GrandeSerataFuori wrote: 90 Points
Had for Christmas in Decatur with Uncle Jim. This is a gorgeous wine and boy did it go quickly. Reminded me of some Pax syrahs from 2006 era. The wife liked it and said I could continue to buy them. I'm excited to spend more time contemplating remaining bottles. A bit jammy in the blueberry/blackberry vein, also some nice oak and smoke. Not sure the price point is there for me though.
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11/28/2013 - fitchbuck wrote: 93 Points
Now with a two bottle sampling to go off of - this has turned out to be one of the lesser offerings Cayuse have produced in the last half-dozen years. The 08 Armada just doesn't have the brilliant lift of their other syrahs ... so I'm hopeful the subsequent Armada vintages in my cellar don't suffer the same fate.
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11/24/2013 - Amerique wrote: 93 Points
Tight, blackberry fruit with gamey, earthy flavors, terrific viscous texture, but wine seemed to lack richness and depth characteristic of this single vineyard Cayuse.
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11/10/2013 - docscottgs wrote: 93 Points
Very tight, though wonderful smell of terroir on the nose. After the first hour the tannins mellowed, terroir became well integrated, and the robust flavor of leather, fruit, earth, and graphite rounded out this wonderful wine. Next time I'll decant it for two hours before trying it. Wonderful wine.
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9/14/2013 - Ex-Ray Likes this wine: 96 Points
Dark garnet-purple, completely opaque. The nose is a bit more reserved than I expected, maybe slightly less than Cailloux. The palate is all Cayuse...dark fruits, Northern Rhone syrah style, perfectly smooth and balanced. Not a huge Mollydooker style mouthful, but wonderfully balanced. Went very well with Osso Bucco. The finish is remarkably long, black fruits, licorice, mocha. No need to age this further, although it should last for years. It's wonderful now.
Ric
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9/8/2013 - soyhead wrote: 93 Points
pop n' pour
nose - funky, turned earth, herbal, then we can talk about the fruit maybe.
mouth - complex. punchy. with air develops a berry infused liqueur flavor. this component needs time. good minerality. finally a celery bitter musky type finish. An enigmatic wine. this wine has power and stink , clearly meant for a future date. retry in 5 years. very good and interesting wine, though it amazes me that the last time I had this I was so smitten.
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8/19/2013 - PDX-S wrote:
A deep purple in the glass. Absolutely enchanting nose that comes off as meaty, gamey, smoky, and bloody, with a huge backbone of mineral and iron filings.
Medium to full bodied on the palate with notes of lavender, blueberry, grilled meats, smoke, and iodine.
Smooth and soft on the entry, tannins and acid present themselves in balance simultaneously, seemingly dry and juicy in tandem. Harmonious and layered with a persistent finish that lasts at least a minute plus.
While I have enjoyed Syrahs from all over, this may be the most meaty and animalistic Syrah I've encountered to date. Less earth and garrigue, less identifiable spices, more laid back soft and dark fruits hidden behind smoky gaminess. Pleasing and delicious, full of intrigue and interest, a noteworthy Syrah that is drinking well now. I do not have the experience with this wine to hazard a guess as to how it ages, but if the palate comes more in line with the incredible aromatics on the nose... watch out.
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7/28/2013 - rfras Likes this wine: 94 Points
I decanted for about an hour, and it was still a little tightly knit at the start, but the wine open up nicely to a mouthful of red fruits with some coffee hints. The wine is well integrated and complex. Finish is smooth and silky.
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6/28/2013 - jhieb Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted six hours. Fantastic. Exceeded expectations.
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6/11/2013 - ewsds Likes this wine: 93 Points
Tasted as part of a five-year Armada vertical flight (2005 - 2009). The 2008 was the most forward and immediately accessible of the bunch. It may lack the structure for long-term aging (light tannins and acidity), but is fresh and very fruit-forward for an Armada. Very nice now and likely for the next two to three years.
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5/5/2013 - jmull Likes this wine: 97 Points
Popped and poured to accompany massive bone-in KC Strips at Smith & Wollensky, this was off-the-charts good. I've enjotyed many Cayuse wines, and like all of them this was defined by a tension between sweet fruit and savory/briney elements. What set this apart, however, was how seamless and integrated those elements were. It was hard to tell where the cherries stopped and olives started. Which made for some fascinating sips. Up there with the 2006 Cailloux Syrah and the 2008 En Chamberlin Syrah as the finest I've tasted (out of 14 or 15) from this gifted producer. 97-98.
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1/31/2013 - Laughs and Juice wrote: 93 Points
Great mouth feel and finish but lacking acid
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12/7/2012 - pakabear wrote: 93 Points
Great meaty nose still, somewhat silky and oily palate with a very clean feel. This is a very nice northern syrah style with some big fruit still. Very good.
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11/20/2012 - pakabear wrote: 92 Points
Rich meaty nose with a bit of purple grape cool-aid in the back end. Nice acidity in the mid-palate, with a dry almost hot-like finish. This is a classic Cayuse style and is not for everyone, but it's a good wine.
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10/29/2012 - bajayngo wrote: 93 Points
This is progressing well. Roasted fruits and meat, with huckleberries, carmel, coffee, rainer cherries, red cabbage, plums, basil, kalamata olives and umami. Very elegant on the palate with mainly cherry, huckleberry and meat notes with mineral and tannis still working out. Not as hedonistic as the last bottle which leads me to belive this is and will continue to age beautiful. Paired with roasted rack of lamb and it was pure wine nirvana!
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10/29/2012 - Bakek wrote: 94 Points
Took a while to open up. Classic example of the Cayuse syrah style. Not as interesting as the Bionic Frog
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9/12/2012 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION Likes this wine: 93 Points
Had in Applegate Valley Oregon. Very green with some black fruit and earthy spice. Did not give it enough time to fully open.
See more detail at
http://maximumsatisfaction.tumblr.com/post/31361473554
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8/28/2012 - soyhead wrote: 97 Points
pop n' pour
nose - an intoxicating nose of flowers, coffee, ham, and blueberry pie.
mouth - deliciously balanced and unbelievably concentrated, this wine is loaded with sweet fruit on the attack which i keep tasting and tasting and tasting, which eventually morphs into a finish that displays prominent ham and coffee notes. Dry, but not overpowering tannins. In spite of its power, it drinks incredibly clean displaying excellent minerality. Ten minutes after my last sip, i am still smacking my tongue to the top of my palate and picking up hints of this wine. Unreal. I dont think I have ever had anything quite like it.
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8/25/2012 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 94 Points
WineBerserkers Offline with Mike Grammar (Pera Restaurant, San Francisco, California): Opaque red violet color; aromatic, lifted, olive, roasted black fruit, pepper nose; tasty, roasted black fruit, pepper, tart blackberry palate with refined tannins; long finish
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8/25/2012 - aagrawal wrote: 86 Points
Dinner with Mike Grammer (Pera, San Francisco): Nose of black olives, savory, a bit hot; big, ripe palate with EtOH, blackberry, and sweet-tasting fruit. 86
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7/21/2012 - Dale M wrote: 94 Points
Delayed note, bit this was, as expected two things: 1 ).A reserved wine that clearly has a very bright future 2). A tremendous experience to drink even today. Tightly coiled, this shows again the maturing vine structure of Cayuse as the minerality over shadowed the ‘funk’ and all for the better. I am saving my last two bottles for the long haul, maybe 8 to 12 years from the vintage date, maybe longer.
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4/27/2012 - OneLastSyrah wrote:
HdR 2012 - The Return of the Bionic Frog (Paso Robles, CA): Aged in neutral puncheons for 22 months. Pretty much opaque dark garnet in the glass. Northern Rhonish mineral and Asian spice nose. Tight, structured dark fruit on the palate. Ripe, but rather high toned.
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4/27/2012 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 95 Points
Cayuse at 2012 Hospice du Rhone (Seminar and tastings); 4/27/2012-4/28/2012 (Hospice du Rhone, Paso Robles, California): Very dark black red violet color; elegant, tart black fruit, tar, blackberry jam, fine roast coffee nose with a sense of lavender; tight, lush, tart plum, tart black fruit, light black pepper palate; needs 3-plus years; medium-plus finish 95+ points (vineyard planted in '01; aged in mainly neutral puncheons for about 22 mos.)
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4/2/2012 - *Vine* wrote:
Popped and poured. Dark, somewhat murky purple hue. Pronounced Cayuse nose fills the air with aromas of mesquite, burnt barbecue ends, iodine, black raspberries, smoked ham with cloves, and roasted herbs. Medium-plus body. Flavors on the palate are mostly herbaceous but also show brine/Kalamata olive notes, chipotle, and a touch of wild berry, the latter growing more pronounced as it aerates. Well-balanced, with moderate to moderate-plus acidity and tannins showing slightly astringent on the smokey close. As always, an excellent expression of domestic Syrah, but overall quite young and needing 2-4+ years in the cellar...will be a killer bottle with just a little bit more time.
Quick comment: This was far more accessible on day one if being open and shut down quite a bit by the second.
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1/15/2012 - fitchbuck Likes this wine: 94 Points
Rather muted nose & palate of the winery usuals: roasted meats, rocky soil - this time w/ some balsalmic afterthoughts. Maybe this is shutdown in its current youth - because I'm not getting a sense of high acid/tannin or finish length that would suggest this will evolve into a beast. Yet, its pleasantness in this state is leagues ahead of other early Cayuse I've had, almost as if it's resolved too early for the long term.
Day 2: the remainder has softened to a state of mellow normalcy, again very atypical for these syrahs which are usually full of funk.
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4/30/2011 - Jared wrote:
Barrel sample. Wow, super tight. The 07 was much further along at this stage. Gorgeous color but not much on the nose. Hints of Armada funk, meat, coffee, both red and black fruit. Very quiet on the palate as well with muted dark fruit, smoke, cinnamon, a little pepper and some decent tannin. Needs another year to rest but has the stuffing to hopefully continue the streak of terrific Armadas. Incomplete.
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4/10/2011 - Vinsant wrote:
barrel sample at release party; A little disappointed in this.Really loved the 07, so maybe expectations were a little too high. Felt a little muted after a few bright and sweet fruited wines. Fresh cracked pepper, saline, citrus, chocolate malt, blackberries, funk, and cherries. A little sharp on the palate with some tannins very present. Give this time.
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4/10/2011 - tarheel17 wrote:
tasted at release party
the most funky nose of the day, this had barnyard-esque aromas on the edges, with rich, thick, coffee tannins. There was a bitterness on the midpalate that was interesting and not at all unpalatable. A stand-out in the lineup for intensity, I'm not sure what to expect from the bottle when it is released. But I look forward to finding out.
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4/9/2011 - last chance wrote:
Barrel sample at Private Release Weekend. I loved the coffee and black peppercorn notes in this wine, but I found myself still talking about the Bionic Frog that we had tasted right before this. There wasn't anything wrong with the Armada, I was just trying to figure out how to get another pour of the Frog...
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4/9/2011 - bajayngo wrote:
quick 2011 release note - Pepper, muddled blackberry and cherries w/some baked notes. Sparkling tannins, sitrus punch, saline mouthfeel w/young tannin on the finish and a bit of ash.
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4/9/2011 - manonthemoon wrote: 91 Points
WA Tasting trip Day 2: Cayuse, Gramercy, Spring Valley, More Cayuse?? and Jim German; 4/9/2011-4/12/2011 (Walla Walla, WA): Tasted at the winery.
Nose of mint, flint, blueberry, blackberries, little meat.
Palate of black cherry, meat, olive, mineral, pepper.
Finish was AA in length, but overall this didn't feel as expressive as the other wines and probably needs time to show.
I wrote it felt burly or concentrated, but didn't really show enough for me on this day. For some reason the Armada wines have always left me wanting more with my limited experience of them. 91-92
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4/9/2011 - emdub wrote: 96 Points
Wow! No formal notes, but this blew me away!
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