Cayuse Cailloux Vineyard Syrah 2019
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Winemaker Notes
The vineyard is located in the ancient riverbed of the Walla Walla River on the Oregon side of the Walla Walla Valley. The topsoil consists of 12-18” inches of a mix of silty loam and basalt cobblestones. Beneath is a layer of pure compacted cobblestones, hundreds of feet deep in places.
Blend: 96% Syrah, 4% Viognier
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Leading off the Syrahs and showing gorgeously, the 2019 Syrah Cailloux Vineyard offers a seamless, layered, multi-dimensional style in its sweet black raspberry, currant, leafy herb, charcoal, spring flower, and violet-laced aromas and flavors. More medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has flawless balance, ultra-fine tannins, a thrilling core of sweet fruit, and one hell of an impressive finish. Rocks Syrah doesn't get much better.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Co-fermented with 4% Viognier, the 2019 Syrah Cailloux Vineyard offers a classic expression of Walla Walla Syrah and delightfully emulates in a Côte-Rôtie style. Aromas of soft red and white flower petals lift from the glass with a purity of fruit as delightful orange zest and potpourri essences sway on the nose. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is picturesque with a sincere and vivid profile, immaculate structure and impeccable balance. It offers flavors of hung sausage and rose petals with notions of red and black spice tones before concluding with a long, lingering finish that begs me back for more.
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James Suckling
An expressive nose of cracked black pepper, black cherry and an array of dried herbs. Medium-to full-bodied with incredible spicy character. So much going on here. Silky, fruit-soaked tannins. The supple dark fruit is accented by peppercorn, dried ginger, bay leaf, basil and oolong. Umami. Superb. Co-fermented with 4% viognier.
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Wine Spectator
Dynamic and well-sculpted, this Syrah is Washington at its best, offering rich and fragrant river stone, blueberry, fresh violet and bacon fat flavors that build tension and distinction on the long, savory finish.
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An adventure in the new world
Christophe Baron grew up among the vineyards and cellars of his family's centuries-old Champagne house, Baron Albert. His sense of adventure, however, led him to become the first Frenchman to establish a winery in Washington State.
While visiting the Walla Walla Valley in 1996, Christophe spotted a plot of land that had been plowed up to reveal acres of softball-sized stones. This stony soil, this terroir, was just like that of some of the most prestigious French appellations. The difficult ground would stress the grapevines, making them produce more mature, concentrated fruit.
He named his vineyard after the Cayuse, a Native American tribe whose name was taken from the French cailloux--which means, rocks. Hours of back-breaking work later, Cayuse Vineyards has become five vineyards encompassing 41 acres.
The majority is planted with Syrah, and the rest dedicated to Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Merlot, Mourvèdre, Roussanne, Tempranillo and Viognier. All of the vineyards are planted in rocky earth within the Walla Walla Valley appellation. Cayuse was the first winery in Washington State to use biodynamic farming methods.