Ratings & Tasting Notes:
98 points Jeb Dunnuck
Review Date: 07/2024
Meatier red and black fruits, smoke, ground pepper, and savory herb notes all define the 2021 Syrah Cailloux Vineyard, a concentrated, medium to full-bodied Syrah with a classic Northern Rhône-like style in its aromas as well as structure. Fermented with a splash of Viognier, it picks up violet and floral notes with time in the glass, and this darker, more gamey expression of this vineyard is a dead ringer for a great Côte Rôtie. I love it today (with a decant), but it’s going to benefit from 2-4 years in the cellar and evolve for 15 years or more.
96 points James Suckling
Review Date: 02/2024
What an aromatic nose of violets, peppercorns, olives, green plums, wet earth and ash. Touch of peaches on the palate, which is sleek, with focused tannins and long, powerful and peppery layers. Medium- to full-bodied and continuous. Syrah co-fermented with about 5% viognier. The syrah is around 70% whole-cluster fermented. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink now or hold.
96 points Wine Advocate
Review Date: 03/2024
Crafted with 3% Viognier, the 2021 Syrah Cailloux Vineyard boasts a deeply colored core. The nose is aromatic and floral, with dense notes of salami, black peppercorn spice and expressive herbals intertwined with turned-earth aromas. It offers additional nuances of baked earth, savory herbs and peppercorn spices. Medium to full-bodied, the palate unfolds with juicy, succulent and fresh characteristics, showcasing elegance alongside fine-grained tannins of this food-friendly Syrah. A total of 9,420 bottles were produced. (AM) 96+
Cult Wines International Notes:
Cayuse Vineyards, established in 1997 by the visionary Christophe Baron, is a cornerstone of the Walla Walla Valley, renowned for its radical commitment to terroir and biodynamic viticulture. Baron, a native of Champagne, was captivated by the “Galets” (large basalt cobblestones) of an ancient riverbed, which reminded him of the stony soils of the Southern Rhône. He became the first in the region to plant vines in these challenging, rocky fields, naming the estate “Cayuse” after the local Native American tribe. The Cailloux Vineyard was the first vineyard planted by Baron in 1997 and serves as the source for his flagship estate Syrah. Known for its high-density planting and minimal intervention philosophy, the vineyard consistently yields wines with a distinctively savory, “funky” aromatic profile that has earned Cayuse a cult following among enthusiasts of mineral-driven, Old World-style Syrahs.
The 2021 growing season in the Walla Walla Valley was defined by intense heat and low yields, resulting in fruit of remarkable concentration and power. The region experienced a historic “heat dome” early in the summer, which accelerated vine development and led to smaller berry sizes with thick skins. While the conditions were taxing for the viticultural team, the heat allowed the Syrah at Cailloux Vineyard to reach a level of opulent phenolic ripeness while the stones provided the necessary radiant heat to maintain a steady maturation process. Harvesting took place earlier than usual to preserve the vital acidity that balances the estate’s signature savory depth. The 2021 Cailloux Syrah is celebrated as a blockbuster vintage, marrying the vineyard’s traditional notes of brine, olive tapenade, and earth with an explosive, ripe fruit core that reflects the sheer intensity of the 2021 sun.
Bottle Size:
750 mL
Storage History:
Always stored on its side in a climate-controlled cellar.
Condition:
Minor label imperfection. Otherwise, outstanding condition. Discounted
Please note: The condition of the bottle you will receive is accurately reflected by the one shown in the images.
