Ratings & Tasting Notes:
98 points Jeb Dunnuck
Coming from higher density plantings just beside the estate, the 2020 Syrah Armada Vineyard is one of the standouts in the vintage and has a beautiful core of fruit as well as mid-palate density. Ripe black cherries, blackberries, ground pepper, iodine, rose petals, and crushed stone define the aromatics, and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a broad, layered mouthfeel, gorgeous tannins, and a great, great finish. This unquestionably competes with the top wines in the vintage. Give bottles 2-4 years in the cellar and enjoy through 2040.
96 points Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
Perhaps the most put-together and complete wine of the range this year, the 2020 Syrah Armada Vineyard has classic notes of potpourri, savory herbs, black olive, hints of green and black peppercorns and dusty cherry blossoms that sway with a delightful mineral essence. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is balanced on the palate, with a fine mineral tension, precision, focus and a lingering, food-friendly, savory finish with a tight tannic edge. The wine rested for 21 months in about 20% new French oak…Bravo!
95 points James Suckling
Blackcurrants, black cherries, cloves, tobacco, charcoal and smoked meat on the nose. It’s full-bodied with fine-grained yet firm, broad and mouth-coating tannins. Dark and inky. Tight and tense at the end…Try in 2025.
95 points Wine Enthusiast
The Armada sails on an ocean of blackcap raspberry and smoked brisket flavors, withadditional support provided by Earl Grey tea, shortbread and spearmint. Aromatic tradewinds are filled with black cherries and lavender. Soft acidity and velvety tannins make for a smooth voyage.
Cult Wines International Notes:
Cayuse Vineyards, established in 1997 by vigneron Christophe Baron in the Walla Walla Valley, is defined by a singular obsession with the region’s ancient, cobblestone-strewn terroir. Baron famously identified these “Galets”—smooth, basalt-rich rocks deposited by glacial floods—as the key to unlocking a unique, savory, and mineral-driven expression of Syrah, reminiscent of the best sites in the Northern Rhône. The Armada Vineyard, planted in 2001, stands as a testament to this philosophy; its high-density vines are forced to dig deep into the volcanic cobble, resulting in incredibly low yields and fruit with intense concentration. Managed through meticulous biodynamic practices, the estate eschews modern manipulation in favor of slow, patient maturation in used puncheons, ensuring that the unique, “animal” and umami-rich character of the site remains the focal point of every vintage.
The 2020 growing season in the Walla Walla Valley was a complex year characterized by a mild, temperate start, followed by a warm summer that allowed for consistent fruit development. While the valley experienced challenges related to smoke taint in certain areas, the Armada Vineyard’s specific microclimate and the estate’s rigorous sorting protocols ensured the preservation of the wine’s signature purity. The autumn remained dry, providing the Syrah with a long, steady ripening period that concentrated the sugars while maintaining the estate’s trademark vibrant, mouthwatering acidity. The 2020 Armada Syrah is a remarkably focused wine, showcasing a seamless marriage of dark, mineral-infused fruit and the savory, leather-and-olive notes that have cemented Cayuse as one of the most distinctive and influential estates in American viticulture.
Bottle Size:
750 mL
Storage History:
Always stored on its side in a climate-controlled cellar.
Condition:
Outstanding condition.
Please note: The condition of the bottle you will receive is accurately reflected by the one shown in the images.
