Cayuse was founded in 1997 by Christophe Baron, a native of France who grew up in family of winemakers in Champagne. Baron studied viticulture in Burgundy and Champagne, and had ambitions to make Pinot Noir in Oregon. However, on a visit to Walla Walla he found property that he believed would be perfect for growing grapes and decided to purchase the land.
Cailloux was the first vineyard planted by Christophe in 1997.
Deep purple in color. 15.3% ABV. Black cherry, blood, game, wet stones, tar and flowers on the nose. So complex that you could literally spend an hour just smelling this wine. Rich and full bodied with mouth watering acidity. Immensely concentrated. Cherry, iodine, cabbage, meat, olives and minerals on the palate. The finish is long and lush. This wine will drink well over the next 2-4 years.
My rating: 95 points.
The waiting list for the Cayuse mailing list is huge and you need to be well-connected to get a bottle via retail. Either way, current vintages are worth the hunt!
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