2008 Cayuse Impulsivo En Chamberlin Vineyard
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Tasting notes
Reminding me of the 2010 with its elegant, seamless style, the 2008 Impulsivo offers lots of blood orange, cedar, cassis and white flower aromas and flavors. These all flow nicely into a full-bodied, ultra-fine, seamless and incredibly polished and pure 2008 that’s impeccably balanced, has fine tannin and a great finish. This was the first vintage where they scaled back the new oak, and where previous vintages saw roughly 70% new barrels, this 2008 was raised in just 40-50% new barrels. Drink it anytime over the coming 10-15 years.
Critic scores
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Jay S Miller, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
Deep ruby-red. Knockout nose combines currant, cherry, chocolate, licorice, smoke and flowers. Large-scaled, fat and deep, with impressive palate presence to the sweet flavors of black cherry and licorice. An extravagant version of tempranillo, with its sweet tannins buried under a wave of fruit.
A huge wine, fat with the characteristic Cayuse funk, and accented with plenty of meaty asphalt. Potent and powerful, bursting with berries and plums, scented with the aromas of earth and sweet (not dried) herb, chicken stock and flavors that run through the same exotic range. Round and full, forward and balanced, drinking well and maybe just a bit rounder than its brethren. — Paul Gregutt
The 2008 En Chamberlin Vineyard Syrah offers up notes of tar, licorice, earthy minerals, blueberry, and blackberry. Dense and powerful on the palate, this appears to be Baron’s take on Hermitage.