The 2002 Cayuse Bionic Frog was the winning bottle in the August installment of Pick My Next Bottle. The wine was not decanted.
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.
Bionic Frog fruit is sourced from Coccinelle Vineyard. The 4.5 acre plot was planted in 1998.
Purple in color. 14.6% ABV. Complex nose of cherries, smoke and game. Silky mouthfeel. Cherries, peppercorns, olives and grilled meats on the palate. The finish is endless. Textbook Cayuse. This wine is the complete package. Intriguing, complex, sophisticated and elegant. Great showing for a 12 year old Washington Syrah. Clear proof that the wines of Cayuse are age worthy. If I had another bottle I’d love to check it out at the 15 year mark.
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!
I blogged about Cayuse recently in The Zinfandel Chronicles Power Rankings.
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Nice review, Tom! Somehow I knew the Frog would be hitting on all cylinders. Cheers!
Thanks Peter. This wine would be right in your wheelhouse.
Bionic Frog is already on my Top 10 “Must Try” Wine List. Tough to find the wine, especially at a price point that I can stomach. However, my gut instinct tells me that I’ll be able to dig one up soon. And, you’ll be the first person I ping with a tasting note. Cheers Tom!
This was our first Frog, tasted spring 09 and poured for us by Trevor on our initial journey to Walla Walla! Tremendous then and now I see. Began our addiction that only seems to grow.
My first try of this wine was around then as well at a Cayuse tasting at Wild Ginger that Christophe popped in on. Memorable for sure.
You were there, too, Tom?
The Wild Ginger with Christophe and his dad? Yep. That was about as fun as a wine tasting can get.
Sorry, Tom, I’m bad with names. We do in fact know each other :)