2010 Cayuse Syrah Armada Vineyard
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Tasting notes
The 2010 Syrah Armada Vineyard is beginning to drink very well indeed, with the site's black truffle signature mingling prominently with its bouquet of ripe blackberries, plums, cracked black pepper and tapenade. On the palate, the wine is rich, full-bodied and textural, layered and powerful without being heavy, framed by an ample endowment of powdery tannins. At 14.6%, the alcohol turned a full percentile higher than Baron anticipated—due to the unusually efficient conversion factor of 2010's native microflora, Baron believes—but it still feels appreciably cooler than the 2009 (which checked in at 14.7%).
Critic scores
Jeb Dunnuck
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The most round, smooth and full in terms of mouthfeel of all the Cayuse Syrahs, this is excellent in every way. Dark and meaty, it's tightly wound and dense with black and roasted fruits, smoke, carpaccio and cacao. The Armada Syrah offers outstanding length, depth and complexity. — Paul Gregutt
(vinified with 60% stems): Good deep red. A deep cherry aroma is lifted by rose petal and minerals. Tight, fresh and primary, with a strong spice quality to the flavors of redcurrant, framboise and minerals. A hint of maple syrup adds another dimension without compromising the wine's juicy character. Saturates every square millimeter of the palate and echoes on the long, firmly tannic, virtually weightless finish. I love the influence of ripe stems here. Brilliant Washington syrah.
The 2010 Cayuse Syrah Armada Vineyard, tasted from multiple barrels, looks to continue the string of world class wines to come from this vineyard. All samples showed the plum-laced fruit signature with plenty of background complexity and depth to the aromas, as well as brilliantly pure, structured palates. I’m a fan and the cooler vintage seems to have resulted in a slightly less exotic, more pure and focused wine with lots of aging potential.