Matt

9.6

Embodies elegance and finesse without sacrificing power. Sexy nose, strawberry confiture, spices plums, ceylon, pepper, hot rocks and gravel, red flowers and savory herbs, worn leather. So silky, sleek tannins, fresh yet soft acid. Just singing right now and clearly has life ahead of it. — 8 years ago

Katherine R

8.9

Delicious on a hot summer evening. If wine was water rushing and flowing over rocks in a stream with fruit trees and bushes on the banks, this would be that wine. — 8 years ago

Y Kwon

9.3

Nice acidity. Sweet apples, honey and pears. Maybe some wet rocks. Initially poured effervescent bubbles like a fine champagne. — 8 years ago

Cameron Myhrvold

9.6

1997 Leoville Barton
Wow this Rocks. A dry and delicious bordeaux. Nicely aged. I would drink this any time. — 8 years ago

Ian Blessing

9.5

Spectacular as always. Started off with typical Cayuse funk that integrated pretty quickly into a kaleidoscope of rich, sweet fruit while never being cloying. Framboise, fresh raspberry, blueberry, tons of violet, and a finish that's carried by crushed black rocks. Cayuse amazes me with its intense flavors that somehow never seem overextracted or heavy. It's the domestic version of an iron fist in a velvet glove. — 9 years ago

Shae Kinsman

9.7

Oh. My. Such focus and precision. Flinty, minerally nose - wet rocks and citrus rind. Amazing concentration on the palate. A mere pup, but so bloody thrilling. Can't wait to watch it age and fill out. Love, love, love! — 10 years ago

Cat Gomes

8.9

A nice and simple dry wine! — 10 years ago

ES

9.0

This wine rocks, balanced, well made, bright fruit, fantastic acidity, wonderful QPR — 8 years ago

Jonathan Wall

9.2

Rocks! More fruity and less savage than the '14.... in a good clean way... but still with a touch of "barn" to remind you where you are. — 8 years ago

Annika van Leynseele

9.0

Chateauneuf-du-Pape-esque. Low acidity and tannins. Berries, spices. Yum! — 8 years ago

Lewis Chester

9.3

2010 vintage. Medium lemon green hue. Medium plus concentration of green lemons, citrus fruit, steely minerals. Complex. Ok the palette, rocks. High tense acidity, creamy medium body texture, full concentration of flavour and long finish. Superb. Drink now until 2027. — 8 years ago

Marshal White

9.0

Pure, intense, long. Tastes like rocks and a cool summer breeze, tense with the threat of lightning. — 9 years ago

Corey Zamora, CSW

9.1

Bright beautiful acidity, wet rocks, intense fruit. #texsom — 10 years ago

Randy Fuller

9.2

Chardonnay, Viognier and Muscat Canelli. Rocks! white has a pale yellow tint in the glass, with a brilliant nose featuring a spray of floral notes with melon and a spicy, herbal twist. The palate offers very bright acidity in a wine that is sweet, but not syrupy. There is a cantaloupe note in the middle and a citrus finish. This is a natural with Japanese noodles, Pad Thai or penne pasta with sun-dried tomatoes. — 10 years ago

DC

9.0

Balanced CDP, full bodied, long round finish — 11 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Alban Vineyards as they state in their label "The first American winery & vineyard established exclusively for Rhone varieties." This Syrah has settled in nicely after 10 years in bottle. I would say it's peaking. On the nose; scorched earth, sweet & slowly baked; blackberries, blueberries, black raspberries, plum, huckleberries and dark cherries. Mint, eucalyptus, milk chocolate, black olive, notes of liqueur, crushed rocks, loamy top soil and lilacs, violets and lavender. The palate is rich and nicely resolved. The body medium-medium plus. The fruits are ripe, creamy and juicy; blackberries, blueberries, black raspberries, plum, huckleberries, dark cherries and strawberries haunt the long fruit set. Mint, eucalyptus, sage, smoked meat, milk chocolate, black olive, notes of liqueur, crushed dry rocks, gritty volcanic minerals, scorched earth, a little bacon fat, underbrush, a whiff of black pepper, lilacs, violets and lavender, great rich, round, fresh acidity with a very good, long, balanced, well structured, finish with length and staying power. I prefer this over the Cayuse I had a couple of weeks ago. Much better balance of fruit, earth, etc.. photos of their Edna Valley vineyard, fruit that needs netting to protect it from the birds, John Alban and the Alban barrel room. Producer notes and history...In 1985, John Alban planted grapes for other people until he bought an estate in 1989. He focused on wines made from Rhône Valley varietals. Alban is one of the pioneers of the Rhone Rangers movement. They are considered to one of the more influential American Rhone producers. In beginning to grow Viognier, Alban said, "I almost single-handedly doubled the world's acreage," referring to a time when its cultivation was reduced to 50 acres or 20 ha in two areas of the Rhône Valley, Condrieu and Château-Grillet. Alban's work, along with that of Josh Jensen of Calera Wine Company (just sold to Duckhorn, ugh!) in San Benito County, helped to significantly expand plantings of Viognier in California at a time when the variety was near extinction. Alban has 250-acre or 100 ha under vine. Their vineyard area extends 60 acres or 24 ha, planted with Syrah, Viognier and Roussanne. The Alban wines produced are; Lorraine Vineyard, Reva Vineyard Syrah, Seymour's Vineyard Syrah, Patrina Alban Estate Syrah and Pandora, a blend of Grenache and Syrah. They also used to produce a dessert wine from 5% botrytis grapes and aged in 50% new oak, called Rotten Luck. You can still find past vintages on Wine-Searcher. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

2009, when Caymus still made wine in their traditional style. Starting with their 12 vintage, they started to let their fruit hang on the vine much longer...just before the grapes begin a shriveled phase. This raises the sugar levels(Brixs) and produces a much sweeter grape/wine. Too sweet for me. This 09 is beginning to see nice evolution but has many years ahead of it before it hits it's peak. The tannins are still very present but beginning to lose their teeth. It's classic in their old style. Dark cassis; of dry and juicy blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, blueberries, olallieberries, Asian spices, touch of herbs, lots of baking spices; cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, caramel, vanilla, black tea, black licorice, dry dark florals, dry crushed volcanic rocks, dark turned soil, stems, leathery, tobacco, nice acidity, strong structure & length, good balance & length. The finish is dry & juicy fruit with loads of spice and baking spices, it sticks on your palate, is round, full bodied and lasts over a minute. Two hours in the decanter and it's still improving. — 8 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

Lemon curd, sweet & ripe, honey, wet rocks, chalk, very fresh with good length and acid. — 10 years ago

Patrick Ayotte

8.9

Lightly colored. Expressive nose that could be described as a mix of lemon juice poured over rocks and sea shells, very mineral and fresh. On the palate it is tight, fresh, salty and mineral with crispy green apple over a vigorous acidity. A real summer wine! Very good+ (89)

Made of Muscadet from 60 year old vines of a 3 ha vineyard. Aged 7 months on lees. Alcohol level of 12% #dansmonverre — 10 years ago

Dave Loretta

9.5

Broiled chicken and mashers paired brilliantly with this "Rocks" vineyard Syrah — 10 years ago