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. Elizabeth Bourcier is the Vigneron at Cayuse.
The fruit for GOK is sourced from Armada Vineyard which was planted in 2001. Other wines from the vineyard include the Armada Syrah and Edith Grenache Rosé.
Ruby red in color. 14.2% ABV. Awesome nose of red fruits, olive brine, blood and flowers. Medium body with perfect acidity. Rich and silky with savory fruits in spades. Cherries, olive tapenade, smoked meat and minerals on the palate. Exceptional length on the finish. Beautiful wine. No one does Grenache quite like Cayuse. Best over the next 2-4 years.
My rating: 96 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!
The Christophe Baron portfolio, known as Bionic Wines, includes Cayuse, Horsepower , No Girls, Hors Categorie and Champagne Christophe Baron. I am not sure what is next on the horizon for Christophe but I look forward to being a part of it.
I blogged about Cayuse previously in Winery Mailing Lists: The Fab 5 and Cayuse Vineyards – Better than Ever.
Why don’t reviews include the retail price?
Good question. I always include pricing on samples sent by wineries. This Cayuse I bought 8 years or so ago and don’t recall what I paid. I could start including prices on current vintages (assuming the wine is available). Would that be of interest?