2018 Cayuse Cailloux Vineyard Syrah [JD97][V97][JS96][WS96][WA95][WE94]

Producer: Cayuse Vineyards  
Region: Walla Walla Valley, Columbia Valley, Washington  
Varietal: Syrah  
Year: 2018 

Jeb Dunnuck, 97 Points 

"Blended with a good chunk of Viognier (from the same vineyard and co-fermented), the 2018 Syrah Cailloux Vineyard offers a sweet nose of red and blue fruits, lavender, spring flowers, and bacon fat, with subtle classic Rocks notes of mulch and charcoal emerging with time in the glass. Incredibly complex, medium to full-bodied, and seamless, it reminds me of an old-school Côte Rôtie with its exotic, floral, yet meaty style. This cuvée is always one of the more up-front Syrahs in the lineup, yet it ages just as well as the others, possessing a solid 20- to 25-year drink window. This is a hard mailing list to crack, yet winemaker Christophe Baron continues to deliver the goods, releasing singular, exotic, incredible wines from his bevy of single vineyards in the Rocks region of the Walla Walla Valley." 

Vinous, 97 Points 

"The 2018 Syrah Cailloux Vineyard is the only Cayuse Syrah that is co-fermented with Viognier (5%). The beautiful honeysuckle aromas from the Viognier mingle with ripe red currants, hoisin sauce, umami and black olive tapenade with smoked brisket undertones. The palate is sinfully good and seamless in texture. Dense dark fruits collide with shades of black truffle, white flowers, umami and bacon fat. Bright and full of verve, with outstanding length and texture, this has a long way to go in the cellar." 

James Suckling, 96 Points 

"This has a fantastic range of savory aromas with smoked meat, herbs, grilled aubergine, bark, dried flowers, shells and blue and black fruit. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, chewy tannins and fresh acidity. Intensely flavorful with earthy, peppery character. Very long.  (6/2021)

Wine Spectator, 96 Points 

"A real knockout Syrah, structured and refined yet bubbling over with personality, offering expressive raspberry, garrigue, warm pebble and smoky beef tones that build tension and polish toward fine-grained tannins." 

Wine Advocate, 95 Points 

"Co-fermented with 6% Viognier, the 2018 Syrah Cailloux Vineyard begins with dusty and smokey expressions of cured meats, black pepper and blackberry compote. Medium to full-bodied, the wine displays a ripe yet firm character with impeccable mineral tension, elements of smoked lavender and roasted herbs before dusty plum and black cherry skin sway with an umami essence and succulent, fine-grained tannins. Concluding with a long-lingering, evolving finish, the Syrah will have no problem aging past its 15th birthday. The wine spent 19 months in approximately 12% new French oak. Bravo, it's delicious." 

Wine Enthusiast, 94 Points 

"Coming from the first vineyard planted in this area of the valley in 1997 and cofermented with Viognier, the aromas are expressive, with notes of raspberry, orange peel, soot, grilled meat and stem, showing more overt fruit out of the gate than this wine and area often does. The palate is broad in feel, with plentiful pyrazine notes on the finish. It needs time to fully show itself, but the rewards will be plentiful."  

Alcohol: 14.3% 

Biodynamic 

*Discounts do not apply to items like this one in the Fine & Rare category. Price and availability in store may vary.