Today we share one of the famed producers in North America. Cayuse Vineyards was founded by vigneron Christophe Baron back in the 1990s. 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. He made the brilliant decision to plant his first vineyard back in 1997 on the cobblestone-laden lands outside of Milton-Freewater. Baron 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.
2023 was an easier vintage than ’22. It was one that saw relatively moderate heat, with not many 100 degree days in the Walla Walla Valley. The 2024 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Edith’ Rose (OB, 95) is one of the great Rose wines that I have tasted in the past year. It is flinty and stony, with serious nerve and richness. I love the new 2023 Cayuse Vineyards ‘God Only Knows’ Red Wine (OB, 100) which is plush, rich and dense with a fabulous stony backbone. This beauty reminds me of the unforgettable 2018 bottling. Learn more about these incredible future release wines at https://cayusevineyards.com Here are the incredible wines by Cayuse Vineyards (release fall 2026).
2024 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Cailloux Vineyard’ Viognier- Coming from the Cailloux Vineyard which was planted back in 1997, the 2024 Cayuse Viognier was stored in a combination of stainless steel and concrete eggs before bottling. This is loaded with tension and richness, coming off fat on the tongue. Cantalope, white rose water and Key limes combine with hints of mango and star jasmine water on the palate. Seamless and dense, enjoy this mineral-laden bottling now and over the next eight years. Drink 2026-2034- 96
2024 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Edith’ Rose- One of the best Rose wines that I have tasted in the past year — new world or old world —the 2024 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Edith’ Rose is a complete wine that was stored for 10 months in a combination of stainless steel and concrete. Showing off its beautiful pink hue, this opens with bright strawberry and white peach aromatics with pink grapefruit blossom and shades of salted wet rock on the nose. The palate is filled with mouthwatering acidity that hits the tongue and creates a lip-smacking effect. Fleshy and rich, with great stony character, this is unlike any wine you will taste in the new world. This has both the weight and finesse to cellar well for another eight plus years — or more! Drink 2026-2034- 95
2023 Cayuse Vineyards ‘God Only Knows’ Red Wine- The stunning 2023 ‘God Only Knows’ is up there with the finest Grenache wines I have tasted in the past year. This edition reminds me somewhat more of the ’18 and comes off marvelously stony, with loads of tension and texture. Stored for 21 months in natural oak barrels, this offers a cornucopia of non-fruit aromatics from kumquat rind and wintergreen tones alongside red roses, pretty guava and strawberry fruits, with plenty of stony accents. The palate is downright delicious, as the mouth-watering acidity entices. Showing outstanding length this stunning wine is a thrilling joyride to consume now. Drink 2026-2035- 100
2023 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Flying Pig’ Red Wine- The 2023 ‘Flying Pig’ is a world-class blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon that was aged in mainly neutral French oak (70%) before bottling. It is a rich and viscous edition of this wine, with a firm mineral-laden backbone. Layers of sandalwood and garrigue combine with smoldering rock, beef carpaccio and wafts of black truffle shavings on the palate. Very earthy and dense, with a fabulous core of black fruits, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2026-2036- 96
2023 Cayuse Vineyards ‘The Lovers’ Red Wine- The 2023 ‘The Lovers’ is a fabulous blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (86%) with Syrah (14%) that was aged for 21 months in 30% new French oak barrels. This might be slightly more dense and layered than the ’22 edition. The heady aromatics entice with green peppercorns and Umami alongside wild blackberry and shades of fresh sage. The gorgeous aromatics bring you back to the glass for more enjoyment. Light on its feet, the lush mouthfeel entices, as does the fabulous core of black fruits, with great stony undertones. Complex and delicious, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next ten years. Drink 2026-2036- 96
2023 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Camaspelo’ Red Wine- A truly unique wine, the 2023 ‘Camaspelo’ combines primarily Cabernet Sauvignon alongside Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Damp earth and black florals mark the nose alongside shades of cedar, crushed wet rock and seaweed. The palate is plush, with copious stony minerals. Smooth throughout the drinking experience, enjoy this sturdy, well-structured beauty now and over the next eighth to ten years. Drink 2026-2036- 96
2023 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Widowmaker En Chamberlin Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Another stunning edition of this wine, the 2023 ‘Widowmaker’ was stored for 18 months in 30% new French oak prior to bottling. Dark rose petals combine with Hoisin sauce, green peppercorns and cedar notes on the nose with hints of boysenberry compote. The palate is dense and heady — slightly more so than the ’22. Beef drippings and Nori accents complete this beautiful wine that still has a long way to go in the cellar. This is clearly one of the finest editions of this wine and is nearly impossible to resist in its full-throttle, tension-filled youth. Drink 2026-2036- 96
2023 Cayuse ‘Cailloux Vineyard’ Syrah- The prettiest, Northern Rhone-inspired bottling of the Cayuse lineup, the 2023 ’Cailloux Vineyard’ a small portion of Viognier blended in. Stored for 18 months in primarily neutral oak puncheons, the wine comes from vines planted all the way back in 1997. This comes off wonderfully lifted from the Viognier, offering faint honeysuckle tones alongside pomegranate seed, smoked pork shoulder and wet stone accents on the nose. The palate is very laden with finesse, showing a gorgeous purity of red fruits, alongside tangerine peel and stony essence. Glorious now, watch this evolve over the next ten years. Drink 2026-2036- 98
2023 Cayuse Vineyards ‘En Cerise Vineyard’ Syrah- The 2023 ’En Cerise Vineyard’ Syrah comes from a 10 acre parcel planted back in 1998 that was formerly a cherry orchard. The wine was stored in a small amount of new French oak barrels before bottling. It gives of a Jamet-level of fruit purity, with serious tension and a fat mouthfeel. Bacon fat, tar, sweet pipe tobacco and boysenberry compote flavors all combine with copious stony minerals, with salted charcuterie notes on the palate. With more air the sous bois and black truffle crudo undercurrents emerge. Quite literally a meal in a glass, with serious savory, stony and Umami character, enjoy this stunning wine now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2026-2036- 99
2023 Cayuse Vineyards ‘En Chamberlin Vineyard’ Syrah- The 2023 Cayuse ‘En Chamberlin’ was sourced from this vineyard set on ancient cobblestones and planted back in 2000. Aged in primarily neutral oak, this shows off black tea and exotic spice notes that combine with white pepper dusted bacon, soy sauce and suggestions of Satsuma orange zest. The palate is dense and heady with a fabulous mouthfeel and great sense of weight and underlying tension. A joy to consume in its mineral-laden youth, watch this evolve over the next ten years to come. Drink 2026-2036- 98
2023 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Bionic Frog’ Syrah- The mesmerizing 2023 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Bionic Frog’ is a perfect wine made from this really good vintage. Stored in a small amount of new French oak barrels for 18 months, this is powerful and concentrated on the mouth, with terrific viscosity and stony character. Crushed wet gravel and fresh sage combine with shades of seaweed, bulls blood, Parma ham and oyster sauce on the palate. The glorious minerality and mouth-watering acidity is the perfect compliment to the dense core of dark fruits. Showing tremendous depth and flavor density, as well as flavor range, this is benchmark North American Syrah. Enjoy now and over the next decade. . . but why wait? Drink 2026-2036- 100
2023 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Armada Vineyard’ Syrah- The ‘Armada Vineyard’ is a tightly-spaced, biodynamic, organically-farmed vineyard mainly planted to Syrah all the way back in 2001. This dazzling Syrah opens with Chinese five spice, white pepper dusted brisket and anise seed aromatics that parade with middle eastern spices and blood orange zest notes. This comes off very salty and savory with serious nerve and flavor range. Showing stunning rocky soil character, enjoy this vibrant and generous wine now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2026-2036- 99