When new wines from Cayuse Vineyards are announced, then you listen. My ears perked up when I was speaking with famed vigneron Christophe Baron and he mentioned that he would be releasing some new wines from the 2015 vintage. For me, 2015 was a very challenging year for red wines — one that saw severe heat spikes which led to the earliest harvest in Washington wine history. It was even more difficult for white wines to achieve minerality and not come off as flabby or disjointed.
2015 left little doubt of being a producer vintage and the wines that have been released by Cayuse Vineyards from 2015 show very impressive poise when many wineries struggled with obtaining good tension in their red wins. I won’t lie to you in saying that these wines which scheduled to be released in October 2022 are some of the best of the vintage. I love the incredible range of flavor in the 2015 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Wallah Wallah Special’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 95) which goes from salty and savory to beautiful dark fruit tones. Uncork a bottle, and watch it brilliantly evolve over an hour. I think you will be very impressed. Learn more about this famed Walla Walla house at cayusevineyards.com and here are the incredible October 2022 releases from the 2015 vintage by Christophe Baron and Cayuse Vineyards.
2015 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Wallah Wallah Special’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The very unique 2015 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Wallah Wallah Special’ Cabernet Sauvignon was stored in mostly neutral French oak (35% new) for eighteen months prior to bottling. The nose is insanely good, with incredible complexity. Black olive tapenade, white pepper dusted bacon, seaweed and boysenberry aromas all march in place. The palate shows seriously good finesse despite the heat of the vintage. Ripe dark plum and exotic spices combine with Oyster sauce and salted pork shoulder. Complex and delicious, this is beautiful wine that is one of the great wines produced in this vintage. Already beautifully evolved, enjoy this beauty over the next five plus years. Drink 2022-2027- 95
2015 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Wallah Wallah Special’ Tempranillo- Beautiful to consume right now, the 2015 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Wallah Wallah Special’ Tempranillo comes from a range of vineyards owned by Christophe Baron. Aged for eighteen months in 35% new French oak barrels, this offers green olive tapenade, allspice, charcuterie and beautiful red rose petal aromas. The palate is very salty and savory, with fantastic finesse considering the heat of the vintage. Very weightless, with a generous core of dark fruits with soy sauce, pink peppercorn dusted brisket and suggestions of milk chocolate, this is novel, highly delicious Tempranillo that is best enjoyed over the next several years. Drink 2022-2027- 95