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.
67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc.
Crimson in color. 14.5% ABV. Red fruits, mint and a healthy dose of leather on the nose. Medium body with stronger than expected acidity. Cherries, crème de cassis, plums and graphite on the palate. Silky, fine grained tannins on an exceptional finish. Great showing from one of the under appreciated wines in the Cayuse lineup. Drink over the next 2-4 years.
My rating: 94 points.
Camaspelo seems to get better each and every year and always shows well at the Cayuse Release Party. The current vintage was released at $75 per bottle.
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’ve wrote about Cayuse previously in The Zinfandel Chronicles Power Rankings and Winery Mailing Lists: The Fab 5.
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