100
points
Cayuse 2007 En Chamberlin Vineyard Syrah (Walla Walla Valley (OR))
-
$65
In a stunning lineup of Cayuse Syrahs, the En Chamberlin wins by a nose. It’s smooth and silky, with a tongue-bending blend of flavors that include blood and iron, umami and salt, at first overtaking the pure fruit, but adding tremendous depth and power. The endless finish unfolds into a wine with exotic spices and complex layering.
— P.G.
(2/1/2011)
99
points
Cayuse 2007 Cailloux Vineyard Syrah (Walla Walla Valley (OR))
- Cellar Selection
- Online Exclusive
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$65
The only one of the Cayuse Syrahs that is co-fermented with Viognier, this opens with a stunning, floral bouquet, showing extraordinary depth and texture. The wine has a floral top, a thickly fruity middle and a base with smoke, rock and meat. Still very young, it is already a complete, fully-realized, near-perfect wine with a finish that extends for many minutes…
— P.G.
(2/1/2011)
98
points
Cayuse 2007 Bionic Frog Syrah (Walla Walla Valley (OR))
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$75
Often considered the iconic Cayuse wine, this bears the cartoonish label with the leering frog, though it is a single-vineyard offering like the others. Initially showing some fat and sweetness, it is supple and textural, with the density that comes from a mix of flavors: pain grillé, smoke, umami, fungus, coffee grounds and dark fruits. A richly organic compendium…
— P.G.
(2/1/2011)
98
points
Cayuse 2007 Widowmaker Cabernet Sauvignon (Walla Walla Valley (OR))
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$70
This En Chamberlin vineyard offering has never been better. Simply spectacular Cabernet Sauvignon, pure and focused and textural and terroirdriven. A low yield, pure varietal wine, it is immensely concentrated, deeply flavored with cassis, cherry, and berry fruit that is substantial and detailed, with a light dappling of dried herb, chocolate powder, licorice and…
— P.G.
(2/1/2011)
98
points
Cayuse 2007 En Cerise Vineyard Syrah (Walla Walla Valley (OR))
-
$65
Aromatic and invited, almost jet black in color, this single-vineyard offering is a pungent mix of blood orange, rosemary and cassis. Dense and focused, compact and layered, it is structured very much like a Cabernet, but with a full palette (and palate) of Syrah fruit flavors.
— P.G.
(2/1/2011)
97
points
Cayuse 2007 Armada Vineyard Syrah (Walla Walla Valley (OR))
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$70
The wine begins to change immediately; as soon as the cork is pulled the bouquet emerges and begins to evolve. Thin layers of scent and flavor are stacked, with rose petals on top, then supremely dense with darker layers of smoke, graphite, ash, mushroom, black fruits. The tannins never stick out and the flavors just keep on going, bringing in cured meats, mocha…
— P.G.
(2/1/2011)
95
points
Sineann 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley (OR))
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$36
Fermented to a plus-size 15.4% alcohol, this rare wine from one of Washington’s oldest and best Cabernet vineyards shows what a gifted winemaker can do with great fruit. The play of flavors, mixing red and purple fruits, toasted nuts, mocha, caramel, bark and earth, is exceptional. The detail is extraordinary for a wine with such high alcohol. The acids and tannins…
— P.G.
(11/15/2007)
95
points
Sineann 2005 Block One Champoux Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley (OR))
-
$72
Fermented to a plus-size 15.4% alcohol, this rare wine from one of Washington’s oldest and best Cabernet vineyards shows what a gifted winemaker can do with great fruit. The play of flavors, mixing red and purple fruits, toasted nuts, mocha, caramel, bark and earth, is exceptional. The detail is extraordinary for a wine with such high alcohol. The acids and tannins…
— P.G.
(12/31/2007)