Cayuse, Cailloux Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2016

The 2016 Syrah Cailloux Vineyard is co-fermented with 4% Viognier in a Côte-Rôtie style that delivers a red and black-fruited nose with a floral grip and rustic rockiness. It is medium to full-bodied on the palate, with a soft smokiness and olive notes, resulting in an exquisite and structured wine with a focus on terroir. It is thoughtfully balanced on the long-lingering finish with a tannic edge and lifting acidity. This is really well-made wine with a production of only 829 cases.

Drink 2019 - 2040

Always from a mix of vineyards and made with the idea of a great Côte Rôtie, the 2016 Syrah Walla Walla 10 offers a huge nose of raspberries, violets, crushed rocks, smoked earth, and salted meats. It's another seamless, gorgeously balanced, elegant wine that has an awesome character and length.

Drink 2022-2037

Bright dark red. Alluring savory perfume of raspberry, smoke, pork rind, African violet and red licorice. Wonderfully fine-grained, pretty wine with terrific energy and inner-mouth lift, but still youthfully tight and in need of aging compared to Elizabeth Bourcier's own No Girls Syrah. The flavors of red fruits and spices are perked up by a suggestion of apricot pit that I often find in Côte-Rôties made with a bit of Viognier. This beautifully filled-in midweight boasts stunning aromatic complexity--and its perfumed complexity belies its 4.0 pH. vinified with 70% whole clusters; aged in 15% new demi-muids)

Drink 2021 - 2031

This syrah is co-fermented with some viognier the only Cayuse wine to do this) and it has an ethereal edge of yellow plums, white pepper, bacon fat and flowers, all in the mix. A lot of whole-cluster influence here 60-70%). The palate has such deep-set fresh fruit and an attractive, long and juicy feel that carries a silky, long finish. Effortlessly exotic. Drink or hold.