Jason and Jennie

9.4

At 50 bucks, this is a great value for those that drink reynvaan/cayuse. — 4 years ago

Adam Shaylor

9.9

Pretty much the gold standard in Pinot. Bought a half case of this from Vinopolis in Portland and wished I’d bought a full one. The Deep Roots Coalition back label reminds me of the way Cayuse vines have to grow deep roots. Somehow the best wines come from grapes that vines that have to struggle. Burgundy, eat your heart out! — 5 years ago

Rob Dyer

9.4

Wow what a drop. If you have this drink it now. Insane and ready to go. — 5 years ago

Paul T HB

9.6

Nice, but not Cayuse or horsepower. Its a close 3rd place
Jeb 98🤷🏼‍♂️ — 6 years ago

Steve Anderson

9.3

In a tough spot between the Grange and the Chave in the 1st Syrah flight. 5th of 6 bottles from blue OWC. Although it wasn’t in the same class as the Grange, it drank above expectations for its age and pedigree (purchased fruit, pre-estate vineyards I think). Pre- — 7 years ago

Mike R

9.5

I love Cayuse syrahs but this is a Merlot based Bordeaux style with ~ 50% Merlot and 40% cab franc which is a little like saying I feared a medium bodied wine - was I wrong - so so wrong - killer juice - it was a full bodied baby - almost like drinking chocolate covered raspberries- what a remarkable thing to say for I had to dive through the funk - tons of Aromas of earth, peat, savory herbs and dark flowers lead to soft, sweet, smoky flavors. The texture and richness keep the interest high - almost too chewy - but after a while the wine soften and the firmness was like a waterbed of joy and sin mixed together - JD gives it 95 - will drink fantastic now with a mid decant time and last 2 decades but not sure what bottle rest will do and I think Cayuse makes to drink their wines early on - big smile of approval rating — 7 years ago

Joseph Barsky

9.4

A Garagiste wine, 97% Syrah and 3% Viognier from Walla Walla, Washington State. Look out Cayuse - this is amazing for $30. The viognier gives the nose a nice perfume and it could use some aging, but enjoying this early taste. — 8 years ago

Aravind A

9.0

Popped yesterday, notes from 24 hrs open. I used to buy and drink Cayuse wines. but I've soured on these wines in the last 4 years or so...last time I popped a horsepower wine with friends, the joke by the end of the night was: friends don't let friends drink Horsepower. Tasting this alone, I can see what I liked, but a lot of what I didn't like also. Aromatically compelling: strawberry compote, loads of olive brine, pickled cabbage, medicinal.herbs, charcoal, and a fair amount of bretty funk. On the palate: just kind of flat. Ok acidity (better than I remember), some bitter burnt notes, but just missing something; seems a touch thin and weedy and attenuated tannin on the thin finish. Love the fact this is 13.0% ABV, but there is a very long list of Syrahs I would drink over this one...esp given the pricetag.

P.S. I've had all the debates about ageability of these wines, granted the lack of acidity, and vintage variation. These wines are novelty wines, yielding a rather esoteric interpretation of the varietal character of syrah. They were fun for a while, but I don't want novelty anymore: I want depth of character. — 4 years ago

David L

9.2

12’ Cayuse Vineyards The Lovers. 86% Cabernet Sauvignon &14% Syrah.
Pull the cork a few hours before throwing it into the decanter.
Big & seamless on the palate. Tons of blackberry, smoked meats, chocolate-spices. Very appealing. Drinking now. — 5 years ago

Andrei Shustov

9.1

Good succession of Cayuse wines tonight. Never disappoint. Loved it! — 6 years ago

with Neil

Shay A

9.4

This was my contribution as I knew at least one other person present would enjoy it as much as I would. Not for the faint of heart, and certainly Cayuse-esque. Olive tapenade, funk and hoisin sauce on the nose. Very iron driven with spiced red fruit on the palate, with the finish turning more rich blackberry and potpourri like. This one has 5% Grenache Blanc in it instead of Viognier. — 6 years ago

with Dan and Weston

Christian Fischer

9.3

God only knows this was a long day and I needed something good :). Very nice CA red blend that tastes like ... wanting to drink more of it.
— 7 years ago

John A

9.7

FL and friends....a 1989 angelus and just because a comparison with a cayuse bionic frog!! — 7 years ago

Cameron Myhrvold

9.3

One of my favorite northern california syrahs. This guy was pungent and leathery. I had to check the bottle to make sure i wasnt drinking a Cayuse. — 8 years ago

Jeffrey Long

9.6

Decanted 10 hours ago. Evolved to a silky soft balance of asphalt, bacon fat, and smokey dried berries. — 8 years ago

with Craig, Michael and 5 others

Aravind A

9.9

@Lyle Fass HFS. This is a ridiculously good bottle of wine..beyond good..my wife called this poetic. This is a crazy Cote-Rotie, and doesn't fit my idea of what Cote-Rotie should be. Frankly, the comparison I would draw is Cayuse Cailloux or some other Rocks district Syrah...except done correctly: fantastic acidity, not reductive/bretty bordering on flawed, and 12.5% abv. Wow.

We savored this as long as we could, but from pop and pour, this btl lasted all of 2 hrs... — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

For all of you that drink; SQN, Cayuse & Horsepower, if you haven’t tried a well aged Rostaing, you are missing the best aspect of Syrah.

Côte de Rôtie translates in English into Roasted Slope. That’s exactly what this wine defines.

The Ampodium is a blend of 7-8 different Rhône vineyards. 2010 a dynamic vintage in Northern Rhône.

I bought this recently at auction and it has been decently stored but not quite ideally stored.

The nose reveals; roasted chestnut, stewed; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, raspberries, dark cherries, strawberries on the high nose & backend of the fruit, used coffee grounds, soft leather, dry tobacco, savory meats, dark, moist soils, anise to black licorice, fresh sage & bay leaf with candied; dark, red, blue, purple florals in a field of lavender.

The palate is; fresh, ripe, juicy, elegant and nicely resolved. The structure, tension, balance and length are perfect. It is for the palates that love elegance & beauty, not brawn & ABV. Roasted chestnut, stewed; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, raspberries, dark cherries, juicy, ripe strawberries backend of the fruit, used coffee grounds, soft leather, dry tobacco, savory meats, smoke, dark, moist soils, anise to black licorice, light purple cola, fresh sage & bay leaf with candied; dark, red, blue, purple florals in a field of lavender. The acidity is round & stream like. The finish is in perfect balance, harmony that settled softy yet speaks volumes.

Paired with the Cardiff Chipotle Tri-tip. The best Tri-tip we’ve had. You can order at CardiffCrack.com. Not inexpensive though. The best never is!

Photos of; me in the La Landonne Vineyard, Rene Rostaing and our tour with Pierre Rostaing in their La Landonne Vineyard. What an afternoon!

Producer notes, Pierre (son of Rene & now Winemaker) uses up to 100% of the stems - believing they contribute to Côte Rôtie’s ineffable perfume. Macerations last from 7 to 20+ days, and the wines enjoy a long élevage in a mix of barrels and time-honored pièce for aging, so that no more than 15% of a given vintage sees new wood. — 5 years ago

with James and Christina

Paul T HB

10

😳😳🧠💣
This has been on my bucket list of wines to try, does not disappoint. WOW! Older Alban Syrah & Cayuse Bionic Frog have been my WOW Syrah’s, this one might take the cake though🤔 — 6 years ago

Shay A

9.5

A wonderful tasting put on by Classic Wine Storage featuring Long Shadows Winery. If you aren’t familiar with these wines, they are phenomenal WA state wines that are made by the likes of Randy Dunn, Phillipe Melka, Michel Rolland, John DuVall, and more.

This wine is made by John Duvall of Penfolds. Dark overripe berries, smoke, cassis, currant and some smoked bacon. Not the northern Rhône/Cayuse like funky Syrahs...this is more Napa Syrah that is rich, structured and voluptuous. Notes of violets and caramel. One of my favorites of the night. — 7 years ago

with Mark

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.3

Medium garnet red. Love the funk on the nose, reminds us of the GOK without the same intensity but tons of layers. Layered with crushed purple flowers, wet rocks, red berries, raspberries, a touch of olives, and leather. The Grenache really comes through after day one. Moderate tannins (6.5/10) and light body to start that beefed up to medium bodied the next day. Stronger flavors in the front and mid palate with savory notes, gaminess, cassis, red cherries, herbs and a touch of minerality. Super long and lingering finish. This is still a baby and needs air, we tried this over three days and after having a four hour decant on day one. Delicious inaugural vintage by Elizabeth Bourcier of Cayuse. Drink till 2024. (93+) — 8 years ago

with Sean and India