Cayuse Cailloux Vineyard Syrah 2020

Drink it now or cellar for up to 15 years. No need to decant, but best to open it half an hour before service.

Originally from the Champagne region of France, after various experiences at wineries around the world, Christophe Baron purchased his first vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley in 1997. The name Cayuse Vineyards pays homage to a Native American tribe whose name, in turn, derives from the French word "cailloux," meaning "stones." Today, the estate covers approximately 47 acres, where Syrah is the dominant varietal.

This splendid wine is a blend of Syrah co-fermented with small amounts of Viognier. The organically grown grapes are sourced from a 4-hectare Cailloux Vineyard planted in 1997. Here, the vines are rooted in highly rocky soil, creating the perfect water stress needed for low yields and highly concentrated grapes. After harvest and fermentation, the wine ages for approximately a year and a half in French oak barrels.

In the glass, the wine reveals an intense purple color with some bluish highlights. Its aromatic profile is broad and lively, with notes of blackberry, black cherry, and wild berry, but also hints of white flowers (thanks to the addition of Viognier), wild herbs, licorice, and black pepper. On the palate, it is robust and concentrated, juicy and balanced with smooth tannins and a long finish with a clear mineral and saline note. Try it with beef stroganoff and spicy cured meats.