2007 Cayuse Syrah En Cerise Vineyard
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Tasting notes
Good bright ruby-red. Downright Rhone-like aromas of black raspberry, smoked meat and dusty spices. Sweet, dense and deep, with lush dark raspberry fruit complicated by smoke and sage. Finishes long, positively dry and herbal, with a distinctly wild aromatic character. And firmly structured to age.
Critic scores
Jay S Miller, Wine Advocate
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2007 Syrah En Cerise Vineyard (100%) is a glass-coating opaque purple color. On the nose espresso, smoked meat, olives, and garrigue-like aromas offer much to contemplate. Intense, balanced, and subtly elegant, it boasts a finish that just won’t quit. It delivers impressive immediate gratification, but those who can wait for 5-7 years will be well rewarded. A cult of personality seems to have developed in Washington over the past couple of years. Whenever the name Christophe is mentioned, everyone immediately knows of whom you are talking. The man himself, Christophe Baron continues to find new and interesting things to do. His latest vineyard project is well underway on hillsides not far from his present location. His estate, just on the Oregon side of the Walla Walla AVA, consists of five small but distinct vineyards (41 acres in total – with more on the way). Syrah and the Bordeaux varietals are the principal focus but some of the finest parcels of Tempranillo and Grenache grown in the USA are on this estate. Unfortunately, there will be no more varietally bottled Viognier which will now be used only as a blending grape. The vineyards are farmed biodynamically and much of the estate is planted on rootstock to prepare for the day when phylloxera works its way through Walla Walla. The wines are all fermented with indigenous yeasts and bottled unfined and unfiltered. Tel. (509) 526-0686; www.cayusevineyards.com
The 2007 Cayuse Syrah En Cerise Vineyard has a wild, almost bloody character with raw meat, pepper, smoke and tar aromatics. Wild and exotic on the nose, the palate is packed with verve and energy, giving the wine a focused, edgy feel even though there’s a mass of fruit and texture. I’m a fan and this should drink superbly over the next 10 to 12 years.
The 2007 Syrah En Cerise Vineyard (100%) is a glass-coating opaque purple color. On the nose espresso, smoked meat, olives, and garrigue-like aromas offer much to contemplate. Intense, balanced, and subtly elegant, it boasts a finish that just won’t quit. It delivers impressive immediate gratification, but those who can wait for 5-7 years will be well rewarded. Aug 2010, www.robertparker.com