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
Yup...that's Neil Patrick Harris on their Label. Sleight of Hand Cellars got involved in a charity that NPH was apart. They got to talking and found he not only had a love of Magic, but wine as well. The relationship evolved well enough, they asked him if he would be on one of their labels and Neil agreed. The "Sleight of Hand Cellars" label has been seen a few times on "How I Met Your Mother." NPH is also is a club member. The Conjurer is blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot and a splash of Petit Verdot from the Columbia Valley. Nice, fresh nose of; ripe dark currants, blackberries, black plum, dark cherries, black raspberries, black licorice, dark chocolate, soft spice, wood shavings and fresh dark florals. The palate is M+ body & soft M+ tannins with a thick, round mouthfeel. Dark spice, eucalyptus, mint, herb notes, cinnamon, vanilla, clove, chocolate, caramel apple, black licorice, crushed rocks, soft leather, nice, round, acidity and a very well polish finish. This is very easy to drink young and will cellar 10 years. — 8 years ago
Out of this world. Silky, if you're into that this G wants to be your BFF. — 9 years ago
One of the best damn merlots I've tasted. If all merlot tasteed this good, the world would be a better place. Powerful currant and fig notes on the nose, mouth saturating tobacco, plum, and hints of cloves on the palette, all of which linger long after the swallow. Fanfreakingtastic! — 9 years ago
A very Northern Rhône style Syrah from my favorite Walla Walla winery! Savory aromas and flavors of smoke + meat + olive + dense earth = a very Merry Christmas indeed. — 10 years ago
Quite delicious with a spicy finish — 10 years ago
Had the tempranillo a few months ago, this time it’s the grenache. It’s still wickedly young but putting out loads of cherry and watermelon juiciness and then immediately takes a turn into that rocks district funk. Always impressive how that shines through even when these wines are fresh. — 6 years ago
That's a yummy wine! Big plum, chocolate - super inky, Holly says it's soft, hmmm, our Tacoma friends say is has less twang, smooth, the 2005 for sure is smooth. This bottle of wine is for Holly's Dad - 74 today, but I think it's just for Holly! There is some cherry in this wine! The kitchen review board, Sean & Nadine, likes this wine - Kathy says a little smokey, agree with the plum flavor, lots of experts!!! Happy Birthday Jim! — 8 years ago
2006 vintage. 54 Cab Sauv 27 Cab Franc 10 Merlot 7 Petit Verdot 2 Malbec. Amazing how tightly-wound the structure is on this wine, considering how old it is and how long it had been open today. Grippy, woody tannins and acid-driven fruit dominate the palate. Cranberry, lingonberry, red currant, graphite, cedar, tobacco, menthol, tarragon, anise, black rocks, over-steeped black tea, walnut husk, decaying leaves. Lots going on here and definitely feels like it could have made it another 5+ years, still a behemoth in terms of structure! — 8 years ago
Tall Tales Syrah, its utterly unique "funk" from the deep, cobblestone soil of the Rocks at Milton-Freewater, shines so bright with savory food. Its earth and mineral qualities, contrasted beautifully by plum and currant, with a hint of black pepper, really give just the right oomph to make this wine the perfect partner for a meal (in my case, pesto soup, with a side of heavily herbed garlic-cauliflower) — 9 years ago
Holy cow! It is true the oak on this is intense (after 2+ years in the barrel, go figure), but Jesus... This is mind blowingly good Syrah. Made by people that think tobacco is a seasoning and plums are for staining the inside of barrels (and your mouth). F'ing great wine! — 10 years ago
Went with the Pacific NW for the big game. Aromas and notes of black fruits, pepper, and meat. Appropriately big, powerful, but agile. Terrific. — 10 years ago
Nice expression of Washington! Big mouthfeel, nice fruit, good finish. Group of 10 liked it but all wondered how it was given a 100 points — 11 years ago
Bought six each of the ‘99 Walla Walla and ‘03 En Chamberlain at auction a few years ago. The WW has seriously over-performed, while the EC’s seemed overripe and perhaps even slightly cooked...until bottle five. Pulled this bottle with the expectation of tasting and perhaps dumping and moving on. Cork was pristine and first sniff stopped me in my tracks. Everything I had hoped for in previous bottles was here- mild to moderate Cayuse funk of wet fur, sumptuous dark fruit, and a nice minerality. Beautiful Syrah. Fingers crossed for bottle six. — 6 years ago
This Syrah is deep, rich, and luxurious with a wealth of fruit. Black olives, game, licorice and spice round out the full bodied palate. A solid wine but hard to justify at $60.
More info: Sourced from the Rocks District of Milton Freewater. 14+ months in oak used 2/3 vintages prior, 888 cases. — 7 years ago
Lots of plums, cherries and fruit flavor. Really delicious even though it's so young. — 8 years ago
Barrel taste. The nose is insane, nice light funk with violets. Mouthfeel was velvety and the finish went on for a couple of mins. — 9 years ago
Wound up being the favorite during a blind tasting with a bunch of Napa Cab fanatics! Still could use some aging but it's a crowd pleaser for sure. — 10 years ago
Syrah Cabernet Sauvignon am offshoot of reynvanne all walla walle fruit . A good bit if barnyard fresh earth and that animal game like note light smoke to the plum and cherry fruit. A very ehonesque fashioned wine with that barnyard and savage note through the finish. Finish 35+ excellent + — 11 years ago
Arden Barnett
One of my all time favorites under $35 and still the only wine I buy by the case. The 2016 vintage sticks to the classic MCK and Washington Syrah notes but turn the black pepper level way up. Never tasted so much black pepper in a wine. Fantastic — 6 years ago