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.
90% Grenache and 10% “God only knows” sourced from Armada Vineyard.
Dark rust in color. 14.2% ABV. Savory nose of red fruits, olives, incense and smoke. Medium body with light to medium acidity. Plush and somewhat funky with great underlying structure. Cherries, saline, cabbage and grilled meats on the palate. The wine has a stunning finish. World class Grenache. Drink over the next 3-5 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! Earlier this year Christophe Baron finally made the cover of the Wine Spectator. Cayuse, Horsepower and No Girls are dialed in and Christophe has a new project and vineyard in the works. Expect to hear about Hors Categorie and Fiddleneck Vineyard in the next year or so.
I blogged about Cayuse previously in The Zinfandel Chronicles Power Rankings and Winery Mailing Lists: The Fab 5.
If you enjoyed this post please consider subscribing to Zinfandel Chronicles updates by email.