2014 Cayuse Syrah En Chamberlin Vineyard
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Tasting notes
Dusty dried flowers, underbrush, olives, hints of bacon fat, crushed rocks and dried blueberries form a simply stunning bouquet as the 2014 Syrah En Chamberlin Vineyard blossoms in the glass. This is graceful and refined, with sleek black fruits and chalky mineral tones guided by a stream of bright acidity, as a cascade of inner florals echoes throughout. The 2014 tapers off long and slightly chewy. It features adolescent tannins, yet there are many years of positive development in store for more patient collectors.
Critic scores
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Eric Guido, Vinous
More reviews and scores
(13.6% alcohol): Bright, dark red. Inviting aromas of dark berries, bacon fat, lavender, sexy herbs and brown spices. In the mouth, this Syrah's dark core of fruit is accompanied by what Baron described as "a shitload of minerality." Very firm and brooding wine in a backward, granitic style. But not at all short on energy or definition in spite of its 3.9 pH; in fact, this is quite digestible. A distinctly dark style for Cayuse Syrah, this wine finishes with substantial building tannins.
The 358-case 2014 Syrah en Chamberlin Vineyard (100% Syrah aged in 10-15% new 600-liter barrels) is a downright meaty, peppery effort that's reminiscent of walking into a butcher shop in the South of France. Wood smoke, black cherry, teriyaki and layers of peppered meat give way to a rich and layered yet still fresh and lightly textured beauty. With fine tannin and an inherent elegance on the palate, give bottles 2-3 years to fill out and drink over the following decade.