The weekend upon us and we're hosting another dinner party for a couple of friends. Tonight's theme was Rhone wine, so good stuff on deck, with age.
Notes pending... (Entertaining guests first 😉)
Absolutely perfect, yet only coming into it's zone, decade to go here...
Notes from +24H open:
Nose has ripe cherry, dried cherry, dried blackberry, red velvet cake, ripe plum and dry, mineral-ly earth.
Palate has silky-sweet cherry, ripe red currant, (light) cigar wrapper, dried cherry, faint eucalyptus, faint wood notes, dry earth, faint iron notes on the long finish. Mild tannins persist today. Expect to enjoy this vintage another +10Y when held in proper storage.
This bottle was singing at the top of its register last night, slightly diminished today. Absolutely perfect cork, no Durand required for extraction. Acquired a mere two years ago, from a local retailer beginning to close down his shop. He purchased a case on release, stored in his cold cellar; when I got to hunting it only a single bottle remained.
I've had the 2000 vintage before, and it was a treat in a more youthful stage, but a delicacy with our meal last night. We baked a 3lb beef tenderloin (Kinderhook Farm; Valatie, NY) coated in an herb paste then an herbed panko crumb crust with parmesan. About a 50m cook, 30m rest yeilded a perfect 130° center. Served alongside smashed potatoes and roasted brussel sprouts with thick cut bacon. We had fantastic company, connecting again with a wine trade friend and his wife after a few years break in our dining schedules. — 5 years ago

Bonnie’s favorite Pinot Noir, with good reason. It’s just beautiful. — 6 years ago
975 Katie and Tylee Zoodles — 8 years ago
MGM minnetonka. Mild. Easy drinker. Little spice at the end. Would buy again. — 8 years ago
#delicious @ironhorsevynds #impressive #weddingcuvee — 10 years ago
Yummy pick by Jerry! — 13 years ago
Coming from one of the coolest AVAs in Northern CA, I was expecting a fresher version when I opened the first bottle. But that was not the case at all. This is a 2nd bottle, and Iarrived at the same conclusion. Rich and concentrated, but full of varietal characters. Has the structure to go another 8-10 years.
A keeper. — 3 years ago
Stunning nose of brambly dark red fruit and black tea. Bacon fat and scorched clay on the entry followed by a broad beam of melted tannins and fig, iron, Provençal spices and lavender. 45+ second finish. Outstanding, another great bottle though now at its apogee (but likely to stick around and turn to burgundy over time). — 5 years ago
Hot iron, iodine, olive tapenade, beef, creosote, curing salt, pink peppercorn, talcum, garrigue, scorched earth, granite, black raspberry liquor, grapefruit, crushed cherry, creme de cassis, rose petals. Ripe, full of flesh with sinew to back it up, found the balance quite remarkable here. The sun and warmth is felt in the generosity, but the tannins and acidity are well within reason. Granite and iron still at its core. — 5 years ago
Very elegant, silk, medium body, French oak, sexy and mature — 6 years ago
Bought this in 2014 from Lsat Bottle. Should have bought more, it was a steal at the time and it has gotten even better in the last 5 years. Not too acidic, good amount of yeast, and overall excellent sparkling wine. 69% Pinot Noir, 31% Chardonnay — 7 years ago
Enjoyed at Cecconi’s in Dumbo. — 9 years ago
My favorite producer of Crozes Hermitage. Deep dark color with black cherry, creosote, iron, game bird, garrique very complex, spicy, black pepper on the finish. Need to buy more of this vintage. — 11 years ago
Maybe held I bit longer than advisable, but still full of life. — 3 years ago
Loved it. Lush, bold flavors soft finish. — 5 years ago
Nice Chardonnay. — 5 years ago
Color - dark purple garnet. A bold expressive funky perfume fruit nose so classic of Cayuse with mineral-meat, smokey and mint notes lingering with a vanilla toast scent. Juicy and elegant; rich with dark plum-cherry flavors intertwined with a smokey soil bacon bitters taste—the mineral-iron characteristics follow with a tobacco long finish. Looking forward to seeing how the flavors change with different foods and as the wine opens up. Bionic Frog is favorite and definitely a wine to try and store in your cellar. Christophe Baron does it again! — 5 years ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7
Horsepower Syrahs are the only ones I’ve had with more funk than Cayuse.Perfectly balanced wine. — 6 years ago
Wow, this is an amazing and unique SB. Bold, dense, yet very drinkable. Honeydew, apricot, apple and melon. — 7 years ago
Loved it. Tiny beautiful bubbles. A bit sweet for me but the acidic backbone is still present which makes it drinkable. Empty bottle. — 10 years ago
Cape May Cucina Rose with everyone. Good merlot from Napa — 13 years ago
Jeremy.Buss
Excellent on a stand alone basis or in mimosas!! Slight brioche, caramel, butter, and a hint of apricot. Just as good at bottle opening as it was a couple hours later! — 2 years ago