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.
En Chamberlin Vineyard was planted in 2000. This vineyard produces The Widowmaker Cabernet Sauvignon, Impulsivo Tempranillo and En Chamberlin Syrah.
Light red or rust colored. 14.2% ABV. Textbook En Chamberlin on the nose with aromas of red fruits, olives, smoked meats and grilled vegetables. Medium body and not lacking in acidity. Plush and concentrated. Cherries, smoke, blood, iodine and minerals on the palate. There is so much going on here. The finish is exceptionally long. As always, the funkiest wine in the Cayuse lineup. Drink over the next 2-3 years.
My rating: 97 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!
Last 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. Lastly, Christophe at long last is hard at work on making a vintage Champagne. Expect to hear more in the years to come.
I blogged about Cayuse previously in The 2016 Zinfandel Chronicles Power Rankings, Winery Mailing Lists: The Fab 5 and Cayuse Vineyards – Better than Ever.
If you enjoyed this post please consider subscribing to Zinfandel Chronicles updates by email.