2008 Cayuse Syrah En Cerise Vineyard

Community Tasting Notes (61) Avg Score: 93.4 points

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  10/22/2022 - ron m wrote:

  A very good cerise. Solid aromatics of flint earth and plums, a whiff of tobacco. No funk. Harmonious palate with solid acidity. The finish is really excellent - long and savory with a saline quality. On day 2, horse poop comes out more clearly (in a mostly good way). Finish still great.

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  8/22/2022 - pjhr Likes this wine: 93 Points

  As delicious as the last bottle!

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  8/17/2022 - pjhr Likes this wine: 93 Points

  Wonderful mineral and earthy aromas with layers of complexity on the silky palate and long finish. Continues to drink beautifully!

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  7/28/2022 - RhoneWho wrote: 97 Points

  It's time to dig into cellar to do some 10-year theme vertical tasting: 2018, 2008 and 2012 relative to this year 2022. I have 2018 Cailloux, 2012 En Camberlin and 2008 En Cerise. They all rated 96-98 range by JD.
  
  Overall, i think 2012 is in a sweet spot to enjoy right now. 2018 is approachable surprisingly but will benefit for bottle aging for later enjoyment. 2008 is so ready to consume now with more "old school" style.
  
  Ageability:
  2008 En Cerise is still in the primary zone without noticeable secondary notes at age 14! I think it can cruise to 20. It has improved and more enjoyable since 2018 when I tried it. 2012 En Chamberlin at year 10 is more ready to drink than I had 2008 En Cerise in 2018. 2018 Cailloux is pleasant surprise that it's so approachable at year 4.
  
  Flavor:
  They (including Horsepower and No Girls) all share the unique so-called "funk" (toward green/vegetal). Their intensity varies depending on vintages, vineyards and varietals (including grenache!). However, I notice the "funk" has mellowed down last few years (particularly more noticeable in their grenache). I tend to associate the "funk" flavor of those locally organic farmed little pink-hearted guava fruit from Southeast Asia. Some claim it's the soil effect; but I think using whole clusters with stem in maceration and harvest when the Brix resulting in less than 14% (i.e winemaking style and philosophy) could be even more important factor.
  
  They all have brighter red tone with balanced acidity. It hits the palate with great tension and salinity lingering for seconds, which is great for food pairing. In general, the Cayuse syrahs are more "feminine" and elegant style than the big and darker profile of Northern Rhone-style Horsepower syrahs. The flavor profile is not berry-based driven but more complex and multi-dimensional.
  
  Aroma:
  Aside from having the "funk" aroma, its aromatic is very complex and unique for most North American / European drinkers. It has complex tropical fruit/flower profile (like those sauvignon blanc) intermixed with Northern Rhone syrah profile.
  - 2018 Cailloux: More white pepper and bell pepper tone. The bouquet is more uplifting because of the 5% blending with viognier.
  - 2012 En Chamberline: More bacon and sweet herbs driven.
  - 2008 En Cerise: more earthy and mushroom driven.
  
  Texture:
  The texture of the wine tricks you into thinking syrah from cool climate; but they are not grown in Winkler Zone II. The winemaking decision of biodynamic farming and keeping the ripeness in check with less than 14% alcohol for most of the time. They all pretty weightless gliding down the palate fairly seamlessly with the balanced acidity striking tension and excitement. Both 2018 and 2012 still have pretty vibrant; whereas 2008 is more matured.
  - 2018 Cailloux: great finish as the palate is coated with lingering sweet flower notes
  - 2012 En Chamberlin: The acidity has mellowed down and evolved to red cherry finishing
  - 2008 En Cerise: Matured and full body with earthy tone as acidity has integrated. For those who love aged Bordeaux wines may like drinking this wine at this drinking window.
  
  Rating Range: 96-98; 96+

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  1/21/2022 - Rps228 Likes this wine: 95 Points

  Had it 1/21.
  
  Drink this now and be impressed!
  
  I can’t imagine this excellent wine could ever drink better. Excellent value at 150-ish bucks a bottle.
  
  I thought; savory, supple, medium bodied, bordering on femininity(!) cept for the; dark chocolate cherry, plum, boissonberry, musk, muskee, funk, wood mushroom and frog underbelly.
  
  Other ratings on here are too low. Put this in a bottle of French AOC and people would say it’s the best wine of their lives. It’s 96+, and I’m afraid to go higher because I’m a neophyte on the site. Looking at sourcing a case of a younger year. Enjoy!

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