Decanted 90 min. before enjoying over 2 hrs. with some pungent cheeses.
First Frog, though we have enjoyed Cayuse “Specials” #4 and #6. This is an even bolder, fuller version of those.
Aroma: Intense and driven by stemmed dark fruits like black cherry, cranberry, and blueberry, with quite a contemplative background of bell pepper, bonfire, pepperoni, and saline sea breeze. At 14.4% ABV, the heat is impressively well contained. This is not the funk factory I was expecting; yes, that Cayuse touch is here, but just enough to add intrigue behind an otherwise fruit-forward nose.
Palate: Tart cherry, blackberry and pomegranate. That salinity returns on the midpalate (for me, oyster-like; for my better half, more umami, like soy sauce). Round and grippy with a very long finish. Delicious.
Drinking beautifully now but will probably get even better in 5-10 years. Next time, we will decant much earlier and pair with venison loin. Definitely worth a try if you haven’t yet. Don’t be dissuaded by the mixed reviews; this is masterful and hedonistic Walla Walla Syrah!
Our averaged score: Grade A (95/100) which puts it in the top 2% of the 984 wines we have catalogued to date. One of 3 wines to get an “A” in 2024, alongside ’14 d’Yquem and ’95 Nikolaihof Vinothek.
grapemike
Lovely. Delightfully complex but not that intense Rocks funk. (The Horsepower 2016 took us right to the edge…) Have a bottle that was brought over by a good friend…to wait or not to wait, That is the question
PNWSki28622
One of Washington’s best. Have you ever tried Quilceda Creek cab? Wondering which you prefer more if so.
3 Comments
Decanted 90 min. before enjoying over 2 hrs. with some pungent cheeses.
First Frog, though we have enjoyed Cayuse “Specials” #4 and #6. This is an even bolder, fuller version of those.
Aroma: Intense and driven by stemmed dark fruits like black cherry, cranberry, and blueberry, with quite a contemplative background of bell pepper, bonfire, pepperoni, and saline sea breeze. At 14.4% ABV, the heat is impressively well contained. This is not the funk factory I was expecting; yes, that Cayuse touch is here, but just enough to add intrigue behind an otherwise fruit-forward nose.
Palate: Tart cherry, blackberry and pomegranate. That salinity returns on the midpalate (for me, oyster-like; for my better half, more umami, like soy sauce). Round and grippy with a very long finish. Delicious.
Drinking beautifully now but will probably get even better in 5-10 years. Next time, we will decant much earlier and pair with venison loin.
Definitely worth a try if you haven’t yet. Don’t be dissuaded by the mixed reviews; this is masterful and hedonistic Walla Walla Syrah!
Our averaged score: Grade A (95/100) which puts it in the top 2% of the 984 wines we have catalogued to date. One of 3 wines to get an “A” in 2024, alongside ’14 d’Yquem and ’95 Nikolaihof Vinothek.
Lovely. Delightfully complex but not that intense Rocks funk. (The Horsepower 2016 took us right to the edge…) Have a bottle that was brought over by a good friend…to wait or not to wait, That is the question
One of Washington’s best. Have you ever tried Quilceda Creek cab? Wondering which you prefer more if so.