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. — 6 years ago

with James and Christina

Anthony De Blasi

9.1

Intense cabernet sauvignon with lots of horsepower. Some alcoholic heat with its 15% vol. — 7 years ago

Keith Fisher

9.6

Pleasant (for my palate), funk with lots of grilled meat character. — 7 years ago

Shawn R

9.5

Pommard’s drink so well young yet with a modest decant sheds fruit and shows horsepower and finesse. Drinks like a Grand Cru. — 7 years ago

Anthony De Blasi

9.2

All the components were present, still lots of horsepower but clearly in her drinking window! Strong on the fruit, no sharp edges, just ready to give the best she has... — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

This wine seriously has more bacon fat and pork than I've experienced in a bottle. The fruit is one of the last things I will have in this description. It's why there is a pig in the picture collage! I had to do it because right now that is the dominating flavor of the wine. I am going to come back to this in a bit. Let's see what happens after some time in the decanter. This starting to calm down a bit. On the nose, bacon fat, pork, grilled meats, BBQ sauce, olive, loads of milk chocolate, brine, brown sugar, dried blood, pepper, black plum, dark cherries, blackberries, faint strawberries, dry stones, loamy clay soil, scorched earth, soy sauce and decayed dark florals. The mouthfeel is thick and brooding. Everything on the nose is on the palate. The acidity is round. The finish is thick, rich with intense flavors that stick to the palate and linger endlessly. If I had more bottles of the 06 En Chamberlin, I'd wait another 8-10 years to open them. It's still a monster. Photos of; the front of their tasting room in downtown Walla Walla that is generally always closed, the stone vineyard of Cayuse that needs to be horse plowed, Christophe Baron (owner), ready to pick grapes and a field pig...just because their is so much pork in this wine. Producer notes and history...while visiting the Walla Walla Valley in 1996, Christophe Baron spotted a plot of land that had been plowed up to reveal acres of softball-sized stones. He became ridiculously excited. This stony soil, this terroir, reminded him of vineyards he had visited in France (Rhone Valley) and Spain. The difficult ground would stress the grapevines, making them produce more mature, concentrated fruit. Christophe Baron had found a new home. He named his vineyard after the Cayuse, a Native American tribe whose name was taken from the French cailloux–which means, of course, rocks. Hours of back-breaking work later, Cayuse Vineyards has become five vineyards encompassing 50 acres: Armada, Cailloux, Coccinelle (Ladybug), En Cerise (Cherry), and En Chamberlin. The majority of the vineyards are planted with Syrah, and the rest dedicated to Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Merlot, Tempranillo and Viognier. All of the vineyards are planted in rocky earth within the Walla Walla Valley appellation. Cayuse was also the first winery in Walla Walla to farm using biodynamic methods. These highly stressed vineyards average a yield of only two tons or less per acre (30 hectolitres per hectare), resulting in wines true to each vineyard’s unique terroir. Cayuse specializes in four estate-vineyard Syrahs, along with Bionic Frog Syrah, Impulsivo Tempranillo, Widowmaker Cabernet-Sauvignon, two Bordeaux blends named Camaspelo & Flying Pig and Viognier. Look for their other partnership wines; Horsepower & No Girls if you haven't already. Nearly 100% all mailing list, restaurants and secondary markets. — 9 years ago

James Ehrman

9.3

For a 15.4% monster this surprisingly smooth and balanced. Akin to traction control on a Hellcat. I think both have 700 horsepower. — 10 years ago

Michael Descamps

9.2

Expansive, dense, biscuity. This wine has a lot of horsepower under the hood but needs some time to round into form. — 10 years ago

Chris Zitzman

9.1

Needs some time to breathe & stretch out. As it opens it unfolds into a luscious Viognier with all the horsepower one would expect when spending this kind if money.

Excellent stuff. — 12 years ago

with Beth

Chris Zitzman

9.3

May be my favorite of all the Molly's on its range. Having it with some good ribeyes and it is blossoming by the second. Nose-coating rich cherry that just flows onto the palate with grace backed with oodles of horsepower. The mid-palate oozes stewed cherry, cassis, and that distinctive Mollydooker signature extraction. Yum. Ville. — 13 years ago

with Beth

Chris Regina

9.2

The poor man's Horsepower. Upon opening backend finish is off but settles with air and finds elegance and power balance. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

This is an insiders wine. You have study, focus and taste a lot wine to know how special this wine can drink. Especially, at its QPR.

There are a lot of people that covet SQN, Caycuse, Horsepower and No Girls. For my palate, these wines either burn the palate with ABV or choke off the fruit with way too much bacon fat and or deeply marinaded grilled meats. Yes, you are drinking expensive, flashy producers but, I would humbly disagree they are better wines than this 2011 Le Clos Du Caillou Vielles Vignes Cuvée Unique. Those other wines should aspire to be everything this 2011 shows and delivers.

This Le Clos Du Caillou has the balance the above wines lack and at a fraction of the price point. I would drink this 2011 over any of the other fore mentioned wines. While this Le Clos Du Caillou is a shade hot, it is not nearly as hot as SQN etc.. Hot ABV alcohol that burns the palate & back of the throat will forever be a fatal flaw in a wine.

The nose reveals, ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, blue & purple fruit mix, poached & back strawberries, black raspberries and both plums. Dark, sweet tarriness, dry, crushed rocks, steeped teas, anise stretching to black licorice, hint of dry herbs with bay leaf leading the way, dry brush, black, dry earth, savory, grilled meats, medium, dark spice, understated baking spices; clove, nutmeg, vanilla and a touch of clove, dark & mid red fruit cola, just a whiff of incense with candied, fresh and withering red & dark florals.

The body is rich and mid full. Tannins just 50% resolved with round, dark tarry teethiness. The structure, tension, length and balance are harmonious...just before their peak. Ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, blue & purple fruit mix, raspberries that haut the center palate on the long set, poached & back strawberries, black raspberries and both plums. Dark, sweet tarriness, dry, crushed rocks, limestone minerals, steeped teas, anise stretching to black licorice, hint of dry herbs with bay leaf leading the way, dry brush, dry black earth, dry stone wrapped in moist clay, savory, grilled meats, some bacon fat, medium, dark spice, understated baking spices; clove, nutmeg, vanilla and a touch of clove, Mix of caramel & mocha powder, dark & mid red fruit cola, just a whiff of incense with candied, fresh and withering red & dark florals. The acidity is phenomenal. The long, ripe, well balanced & textured, elegant finish is memorable and is persistent for several minutes.

Wine paired perfectly with our marinated Tri-tip.

If you are over paying for the above lesser wines mentioned above, you owe it to yourself to seek out and cellar this wine appropriately.

Photos of; Le Clos Du. Caillou, their barrel room, Owners-Sylvie Vacheron & Bruno Gaspard and one of their vineyards. It’s amazing they can grow anything in that stone soil structure.
— 7 years ago

Shay A

9.5

At opening, though slightly funky, it wasn’t as aromatically funky as I was expecting a wine from this region to be. Evidently, it only needed 15-20mins for the full funk to come out. Smoked brisket, teriyaki strip, olive tapenade, and peppercorn. On the palate, specifically the mid palate, this showed more fruit than expected (in a good way) with spiced blackberry and roasted rhubarb. Herbal notes too. This is an iron fist in a velvet glove...the power is up front and then becomes elegant on the back end. Drinking really well now but can hold in this window for 3-5yrs. @Keith Fisher mentioned he thought this was maybe a bit more funky than Horsepower...it’s certainly up there! — 7 years ago

with Weston, Dan and 1 other

George Chen

8.9

Dry earthy. Like horsepower — 9 years ago

Martin Ryan

8.9

Needs a lot more time. All horsepower no handling. Started to reveal itself on day two, so I know it has potential — 10 years ago

Ryan Mayes

9.0

Big Napa Meritage. Lot of horsepower, not very much finesse. I don't drink a ton of Beringer but from memory would characterize this as a more highly concentrated, structured, rounder version of the Knight's Valley cab without the balance or precision of the Reserve. A solid buy at Costco's $33 price point but wouldn't buy at full retail, which I believe is double. At that price point, would go with the Cinq Cepages bottling from another Treasury Wine Estate producer on the west side of the ridge, Chateau St. Jean. — 10 years ago

Anthony Libutti

9.3

Horsepower, horsepower, all this Polo on, I got horsepower. — 10 years ago

with Alexandra

Morgan Harris

Head Sommelier Aureole New York

9.5

15 years young. None of the aggressive SO2 notes you often see in '99s from other relatively large houses. Just pure fruit with tons of horsepower, this is definitely showing and well right now. Toasty autolytic notes blend in seamlessly. This wine feels like good natural bottle age, no forced reduction (a la Ruinart) or oxidation edge (Krug, Bollinger). It has a long window in front of and it should age really gracefully. Impressive. — 11 years ago

Chris Zitzman

8.9

Surprisingly, simply not as awesome as expected. Good, rich and earthy- but without the graceful horsepower I've come to love about so many red burgs. — 12 years ago

with Beth

Shay A

9.4

Got to pop some special bottles when my good friend Shawn came in to town!

We thought it would be fun to open this alongside the Horsepower for a small comparison...as an ‘05, this was shockingly young. Gorgeous aromatic display of dried red flowers, herbs de Provence, underripe blackberries, and a touch of iron. On the palate, it unfurled a bit towards the end of the evening, revealing black currant, raspberries, coffee beans, smoked meats and a tangy mineral driven finish. This needs another 5 years and at that point, this may start approaching triple digits. Thanks @Shawn R . — 6 years ago

with Shawn

Anthony De Blasi

9.2

Wonderfull duo from Le Macchiole. The Paleo (100% Cab Franc) is driven on horsepower and is quite intense while the Scrio (100% Syrah) is somewhat more elegant and smoother. Both fantastic wines! — 7 years ago

with Jeroen and Amanda

Stephen Long

9.3

This is a wicked wine. Medium red/medium garnet. Savory wine for sure. Nose is majority meat ( maybe some beef that’s been left in the sun, or some smoked bacon ), black tea, sour cherry, plum, earth, poo, some floral notes. Palate follows, meat and black tea, strawberry, sour cherry. All of the Cayuse has this similarity for sure. Horsepower Sur Echalas light. — 7 years ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.6

Nice, but not Cayuse or horsepower. Its a close 3rd place
Jeb 98🤷🏼‍♂️ — 7 years ago

A E Weber

8.9

I’m driving a red Camaro because I love the cherry character and horsepower of this California Pinot. It has some body, some earthy minerals, so keep your pedal to the metal. — 7 years ago

Ryan Mayes

9.1

In short, surprised and underwhelmed. The nose is absolutely gorgeous: fresh blue berries and whipped cream. After that, resembles CA in the first few rounds of the Alvarez / GGG fight. Decent attack but weak mid palette. Tannins are spot on, however. If this were a bit more ripe and had more horsepower on this finish it would be far more interesting / enjoyable. — 9 years ago

Bill Bender

9.6

While I love the undeniable sense of place that Cayuse, Horsepower and No Girls provide....I always struggle to catch these prodigious wines in the right drinking window. This was big to be sure but after an 8 hour audouze and 2 hours in the decanter it was a powerful polished and nuanced Syrah like few others I've tried. The fox fur, raw hot dog and saline on the nose are so different than the taste of bramble, deep purple fruit, blackberry compote and volcanic ash that develop on the entry and mid-palate. The last glass was silky smooth on the finish with a substantial and uniquely earthy mouthfeel. Ready to drink now with time and air. Best paired with food but oh so tasty and fun. — 10 years ago

Max Kelly

9.3

Pure CM goodness. Tons of horsepower in a muscular, elegant form. Hints of musky orange blossom, acacia, and oodles of minerality. Great length, good precision...the class of the producer, vineyard, and vintage all show through. — 10 years ago

with Doug, Chris and 1 other

Ryan Mayes

9.4

Love this high horsepower wine. Tasted at the winery on the lovely terrace where everyone is super friendly. A club worth every penny. Earthy, baking spices, black licorice. — 10 years ago

Morgan Harris

Head Sommelier Aureole New York

9.8

So pristine. It'll lack horsepower for some, but what's there is crystalline. Love that it's not trying to impress anyone, just perfectly itself. Drink now or in 20 years. Spotless. — 11 years ago

Chris Zitzman

9.6

Profound and rich for its price (about $60) and a direct contradiction to the idea of the '07 vintage out of California breaking out when young. Surprising horsepower, complexity, and one of the most incredible and enjoyable evolution I've had from the vintage. Good, good stuff that with age will only get better. — 13 years ago