I will fully admit to being a full-fledged terroir junkie. There is just something about novel terroir that I find to be so invigorating. Cayuse Vineyards is a story about terroir. Christophe Baron was raised in Champagne and was was the youngest heir of the famed Champagne house, Baron Albert. His ancestors had worked the land at Baron Albert since 1677. As a young boy Christophe worked harvests and eventually studied viticulture in Burgundy and Champagne. After some travels he was drawn to the Willamette Valley, and was set on making great Pinot Noir. One day he was outside of Walla Walla and saw terroir inspired by the stony galets of Chateauneuf du Pape. We are all thankful that he decided to plant his vineyard back in 1997 and the rest has been history. Christophe has had unparalleled success in the Walla Walla Valley since that time, crafting stony wines that show an incredible combination of tension, range and terroir.
Usually I sit with Christophe and Bionic Wines director of winemaking, Elizabeth Bourcier, to taste their wines. This year I took my time with the wines in my home over many hours. 2020 was a vintage that was marred by the smoke events during harvest. Prior to that it was a fantastic growing season and another warm vintage that did not have major heat spikes. I am enamored by the wines that I tasted by Cayuse in the 2020 vintage. His new Rose, coming from 2021, the 2021 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Edith’ Rose (OB, 94) is amongst the finest Rose wines in North America. I was blown away with the 2020 Cayuse Vineyards ‘God Only Knows’ Red Wine (OB, 99) which is a one of a kind Grenache that is very Chateau Rayas in dazzling minerality and texture, as well as sumptuous flavor range. Similarly good was the 2020 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Bionic Frog’ Syrah (OB, 98) which is dense and chewy with serious stuffing. Learn more about these incredible future release wines at https://cayusevineyards.com Here are the incredible wines by Cayuse Vineyards (release fall 2023).
2021 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Cailloux Vineyard’ Viognier- Each year Cayuse Vineyards makes a very small amount of 100% Viognier from the Cailloux Vineyard set outside the town of Milton-Freewater, Oregon. This 2021 rendition was aged in a combination of concrete and stainless steel before prior to bottling, as the wine exudes class with its concentration and underlying finesse. This shows considerably better warmed up a bit, as layers of nutmeg dusted cantaloupe, juicy nectarine, starfruit, papaya and wet rock all give this incredible flavor complexity. This finishes very long with a touch of vanilla cream and stony minerals. Gorgeous to consume in its youth, this will cellar well for another five plus years. Drink 2023-2029- 95
2021 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Edith’ Rose- This beautiful and bright, the 2021 ‘Edith’ comes from the Armada Vineyard which was planted back in 2001. Stored for 10 months in a combination of stainless steel and concrete, this takes on a very soft mouthfeel with loads of mouth-watering acidity. Layers of red raspberry and Yakima cherry with white peach collide with stony undercurrents on the palate. I think you would be hard-pressed to find a more refined version of Grenache Rose anywhere in the Pacific Northwest. Lithe and polished, yet quite generous, enjoy this beautiful 100% Grenache Rose now and over the next five plus years. Drink 2023-2028- 94
2020 Cayuse Vineyards ‘God Only Knows’ Red Wine- Translucent in its core, the Grenache-dominant 2020 ‘God Only Knows’ Red Wine has a small amount of Syrah blended in. Sourced from the Armada Vineyard which was first planted back in 2001, this was stored in neutral oak for 21 months and weighs in at a mere 13.7% alcohol. The palate is exceedingly fresh, showing a sterling veil of tension on the mouth. Very pretty guava and cran-cherry fruit flavors combine with Hoisin sauce, tobacco leaf, wet rock and charcuterie board, with blood orange zest accents. This is incredibly clean wine considering the conditions at harvest. Generous and done in a slightly richer style than the 2019, this beauty is best enjoyed now and over the next few years. Drink 2023-2028- 99
2020 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Flying Pig’ Red Wine- The 2020 ‘Flying Pig’ is a follow up to the truly outstanding 2019 edition. This version blends 46% Cabernet Franc with 37% Merlot and the remainder Cabernet Sauvignon. Stored for 19 months in 30% new oak, this offer gorgeous red bell pepper, red currants and menthol notes on the palate with stony and savory accents truly rocking. Very refined, with good tension and flavor density, this is beautiful wine to savor now. Drink 2023-2028- 95
2020 Cayuse Vineyards ‘The Lovers’ Red Wine- The 2020 ‘The Lovers’ combines 85% Cabernet Sauvignon the remainder Syrah. It is doing its Provencale inspiration right, with dried herbs, dark currants, blackberries and salted meats that meld together aromatically. The palate comes off very fresh and clean, with a smooth mouthfeel and wonderful concentration. Lightly stony and showing plenty of richness with oyster sauce, beef drippings and hints of orange peel, this is complex, delicious Cabernet Sauvignon that is best consumed now and over the next few years. Drink 2023-2029- 95
2020 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Camaspelo’ Red Wine- The outstanding 2020 ‘Camaspelo’ is a gorgeous proprietary blend of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with small parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc with a douse ofTempranillo. This is steady right out of the gate with tar, tobacco leaf, black currents, anise and shades of soy sauce on the palate. The salty and stony elements are really outstanding, as is the mouth-watering acidity that coats the palate. Enjoy now and over the next several years to come. Drink 2023-2028- 95
2020 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Widowmaker En Chamberlin Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A beautiful wine that is truly one of a kind, the 2020 ‘Widowmaker’ is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from this stony terroir littered with gallets. Once on the nose this takes on rich kirsch and blackberry tones alongside citrus blossom, and suggestions of tar. The palate is lithe and polished with a seamless texture. Once on the mouth this seems to effortlessly glide throughout the drinking experience, as the combination of weight and underlying finesse really makes this sing. Enjoy this beauty now and over the next few years. Drink 2023-2028- 95
2020 Cayuse ‘Cailloux Vineyard’ Syrah- The ebullient 2020 ‘Cailloux Vineyard’ is the only Syrah that has a small portion (5%) of Viognier co-fermented. Densely colored in the glass, this reveals high tones of honeysuckle and pink grapefruit blossom that only the Viognier can deliver, alongside peppered bacon and salted coppa. The palate is very fresh and concentrated, with wonderful wet stone character and underlying finesse alongside the salty accents. Finishing long with bright guava, Mandarin orange zest and wet grave, this is be a knockout wine that is already beautifully evolved now at the three year mark. Drink 2023-2029- 96
2020 Cayuse Vineyards ‘En Cerise Vineyard’ Syrah- A stunning wine from a tough vintage, the 2020 ’En Cerise Vineyard’ Syrah is drinking beautifully right now. Red currants, copious minerals, kumquat zest, Nori and pulled pork flavors combine with stony accents on the palate. Finishing long with bright red fruits and citrus accents, this comes off very clean, with no rough edges. Enjoy now and over the next five plus years. Drink 2023-2028- 95
2020 Cayuse Vineyards ‘En Chamberlin Vineyard’ Syrah- The Cayuse ‘En Chamberlin Syrah’ was first produced back in 2002 when I was a college senior at Whitman College. Right now the nose is absolutely popping with bright re cherry and red raspberry, garrigue and stony notes alongside shades of charcuterie. The palate comes off very polished and viscous with serious verve and a gorgeous core of red and dark fruits. With more air this becomes more stony and savory, with salted green olive and white pepper notes as this beauty is going to gratify now and over the next few years. Drink 2023-2028- 96
2020 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Bionic Frog’ Syrah- Another standout wine by Cayuse Vineyards, the 2020 ‘Bionic Frog’ Syrah was stored in 20% new large format French oak before bottling. You have to love the seamless texture of this wine. Deep dark fig, black currant and black raspberry flavors combine with shades of sweet pipe tobacco and wet stone on the palate. Finishing very long wth dense dark cherry flavors, wet rock and minerals, this is a stunning wine that is up there with the finest made this vintage. Drink 2023-2029- 98
2020 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Armada Vineyard’ Syrah- The 2020 ‘Armada Vineyard’ Syrah is a total stunner from this vintage. Dense and heady, with serious aromatic range, this reveals tar and graphite ones alongside pine needles, salted charcuterie, ripe red raspberry and shades of seaweed. The palate is plush and refined with silky tannins and wonderful viscosity. A great core of red and dark fruits greet you with the stony and salty notes ever present. Finishing very long, enjoy this outstanding Syrah now and over the next five plus years. Drink 2023-2028- 96
MV Cayuse Vineyards ‘6,042’ Grenache- A brand new magnum only wine composed from mostly the 2013 vintage (56%) as well as the 2014 (24%) and 2015 vintage (20%), this absolutely explodes out of the glass with sensational aromatics. Red rose petals, cigar ash, salmonberry compote and suggestions of charcuterie with green olive tapenade, this this insanely good aromatic range. The palate is incredibly fresh and focused, with great viscosity and underlying tension. Soft, pillowy and very refined, this is outrageously good right now. Drink now and over the next several years. Drink 2023-2029- 97
2014 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Wallah Wallah Special #7 Cabernet Franc (1.5L)- Even better than the 2015, and also nicely matured now at the nine year mark, the 2014 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Wallah Wallah Special #7 Cabernet Franc is brimming with tension once on the mouth. Beautifully textured, with good depth and concentration, this moves into rich red and dark fruit flavors with seaweed, salty wet gallets, salted and white pepper dusted parma ham and shades of anise. Hugely complex and very novel, enjoy this beauty now and over the next five plus years. No need to wait on this! Drink 2023-2028- 96
2015 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Wallah Wallah Special #9 Cabernet Franc (1.5L)- Released in 2023, the 2015 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Wallah Wallah Special #9 Cabernet Franc offers hoisin sauce, fresh sage, white pepper and plenty of wet stony character on the nose. The palate is soft and inviting with very pure red fruits that mingle well with soy sauce, bulls blood, cherry tomato and Satsuma orange zest. Mature and full-bodied with a generous texture, this is beautiful wine to enjoy now and over the next several years. Drink 2023-2029- 95
2020 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Wallah Wallah Special #14 Syrah (1.5L)- As always, this magnum-only Syrah is sourced from a range of Christophe Baron’s vineyards which he and director of winemaking Elizabeth Bourcier select together. I can assure you that the 2020 edition is every bit as good as the captivating 2019. This comes off very clean and aromatically gratifying with bacon fat and garrigue notes alongside shades of violets, green peppercorns and shades of iodine on the nose. The palate is plush, refined and comes off very clean with a gorgeous core of huckleberry and wild blackberry fruits that mingle well with the stony and savory elements of the Syrah. This is quite simply a masterclass considering the challenges of the vintage. Enjoy now. Drink 2023-2028- 97
2020 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Impulsive’ Tempranillo- The sensational 2020 ‘Impulsivo’ is a powerful wine from a tough vintage. On the nose this shows dried herbs and freshly tilled rocky soils alongside black plum and baking spices. The palate is deep and concentrated, yet maintains beautiful freshness and a strong douse of salinity. Complex, novel, enjoy this one of a kind Tempranillo now and over the next six years. Drink 2023-2029- 96