2012 Cayuse Syrah Bionic Frog

Community Tasting Notes (50) Avg Score: 94.0 points

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  4/24/2024 - Ex-Ray Likes this wine: 98 Points

  Fourth time tasting this vintage since Nov. 2020. Third time tasting this vintage since Nov. 2020. Color is still garnet and opaque but no hints of amber edge. The aroma is complex and powerful, of black cherries, blackberries, plums, subtle toasted oak. Slight herbal component but has only a subtle roasted meat component typical of other Cayuse syrahs. A hint of bacon fat also. On the palate the fruit is explosive, round, rich, and complex, not a hint of tannin. The aftertaste is extremely long and balanced, no excessive heat. Very reminiscent of Guigal's "La-La's". Three more bottles, will probably have one every six months or so.
  Ric

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  3/30/2024 - CabinConnoisseur Likes this wine: 97 Points

  Gave this to Travis on his birthday, and we opened it together about a week later. This a blow your socks off wine, especially if you like big smoked meat and funk.
  
  Upon opening, the nose is immediately vivid and powerful. Smoked meat, earth, funk, and black.fruit. I have had many wines which have a strong aroma upon opening and then that fades with time, but four hours later the aroma is just as strong and interesting.
  
  Upon opening the palate is a little muted, with olive plus flavors similar to the aroma. But after an hour of air, the flavor is powerful, distinct, and memorable. Smoked salty meat and funk dominate, with olive, black pepper, cinnamon, and dark fruit. After four hours of air, it is even better; it becomes ridiculously smooth and adds a touch of silky vanilla.
  
  Complex. With good length -a wine which provokes thought and conversation. I rated this a 97, and Travis rated it a 98. If you like these types of flavors it is hard to see finding a better of example of this dimension of syrah.
  
  If you are opening one of these, my advice is to pour some in a glass and decant the reat. Swirl and sniff from your glass for an hour a d then sip over the next several hours.

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  11/26/2023 - Ex-Ray Likes this wine: 100 Points

  Third time tasting this vintage since Nov. 2020. Keeps getting better, now fully mature. Color is now more ruby than garnet and has some translucency but no hints of amber edge. The aroma is complex and powerful, of black cherries, blackberries, plums, subtle toasted oak. Slight herbal component but doesn't have the roasted meat typical of other Cayuse syrahs. On the palate the fruit is explosive, round, rich, and complex, not a hint of tannin. The aftertaste is extremely long and balanced, no excessive heat. Very reminiscent of Guigal's "La-La's". It can't get any better than this. Five more bottles, will probably have one every six months or so. Went perfectly with a whole beef tenderloin.
  Ric

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  10/14/2023 - mick978@gmail.com Likes this wine: 95 Points

  Classic Syrah. Very pepper.

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  4/15/2023 - Radboy wrote: 94 Points

  Drinking in its peak window. Great balance and depth.

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