Ratings & Tasting Notes:
97 points James Suckling
Review Date: 07/2021
Dried blackcurrant, smoked meat, rosemary, peppercorn, moss, oyster shell and tangerine peel on the nose. It’s full-bodied with firm, creamy tannins. Rich, savory and spiced with lasting intensity. Chewy, lingering herb notes. Try from 2022.
97 points Vinous
Review Date: 10/2021
The beautiful 2018 Syrah Wallah Wallah Special #12 is a proprietary blend of Syrah sourced from a host of Cayuse vineyards. The palate is plush and silky with light tannins, layers of dark currants, green peppercorns, smoked meats and soot, and an incredible sense of texture. The length is outstanding, as are the viscosity and tension. Gorgeous now, even consumed en magnum, this downright killer wine will cellar well over the next decade. (OB)
Cult Wines International Notes:
Cayuse Vineyards, established in 1997 by French vigneron Christophe Baron, is a pioneering force in the Walla Walla Valley, renowned for its radical commitment to biodynamic viticulture and terroir-driven wines. Baron was captivated by the stony, ancient riverbed soils of “The Rocks District,” which mirrored the cobblestones of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The “Wallah Wallah Special Series” (with 2018 marked as Special #12) is a highly coveted, mystery multi-vineyard proprietary Syrah blend released exclusively in magnum format. Sourced from choice puncheons across the estate’s top cobblestone sites, the exact vineyard proportions are famously kept a secret by Baron. Aged for 19 months in neutral French oak, this rare cuvée is crafted to express a highly elegant, texturally plush, yet deeply savory Northern Rhône-inspired profile, making it a legendary “insider” bottling for collectors.
The 2018 growing season in the Walla Walla Valley is celebrated as a classic, balanced vintage that yielded fruit of exceptional clarity and structural integrity. Following a normal winter, a warm spring prompted an even bud break and successful flowering. The summer brought steady, consistent heat without the extreme, spike-driven heatwaves of prior years, allowing for a measured and uniform ripening process. A cooler September extended the grape hang-time, allowing the Syrah to develop deep phenolic maturity and complex, savory characteristics while beautifully preserving a vibrant, vital acidity. The resulting fruit showed incredible concentration and thick skins. This balanced climate yielded a 2018 Special Series magnum boasting seamless tannins, pristine black fruit, and the estate’s hallmark complex aromatics of smoked meat, ground pepper, and stony minerality.
Bottle Size:
1.5L Magnum
Storage History:
Always stored on its side in a climate-controlled cellar.
Condition:
Please note: The bottle shown is the exact bottle being sold.
Outstanding condition.
