Shay A

9.3

93-94 range

Hard to believe this is a 17yr old WA state Syrah. 100% varietal, all from Les Collines vineyard. 13.9ABV

Sporting a deep purple color even at 17yrs, this feels like it is just now entering prime time. Big aromatics of peppered smoked meats, whole cluster/green herbs, red and blackberry fruits. Floral and balanced with fruit but spices/herbs in the background. Where Cayuse (and all Christophe Baron/Rocks district) wines trend to the savory/sanguine profile (which I enjoy), this balances the dark fruit, smoky/charcoal, savory/spice driven side of Syrah in its typical rustic/feral profile. Nice bridge between cool climate New World Syrah and ripe vintage Cornas. Finish is more vibrant and less requiring of food as the CB wines do.

Followed over three days and shockingly held up. If you have a bottle, open and enjoy but no immediate rush. — 7 months ago

Jason and Jennie

9.1

Not quite as stellar as my previous cayuse bottles. Ok up front, but lacking a bit on the mid palate and finish. — 5 years ago

Michael Seely

9.3

Spank my ass and call me Sally, this wonderful 2008 hits the spot in aces! Very present, very alive. Pleasure sure! — 7 years ago

with Jeff and Joe

RJ Stefanski

9.0

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

Ray Vanderhoff

9.2

Wonderful 100% Washington State Grenache. Cherry, Earth, Black Pepper, Herbal aromas. Cherry, red currant and Vanilla flavors. Light color and body. Great summer red. So Fruit forward, it almost seems that it has a bit of sweetness. (But really bone dry) Hint of chocolate on the finish. Serve it a bit chilled! — 9 years ago

with Mark

Joe Roth

9.3

Very approachable! Still has 3-5 years of shelf life. — 9 years ago

with Michael

Michael Park

9.1

Great dark fruits and well balanced. — 9 years ago

Neal Ferry

9.0

Extremely well done — 10 years ago

Ned Gray Creed

9.3

Very impressed. Savory notes, pinch, baller showing. I like it more than my Cayuse experience. — 11 years ago

with Mark

Ricardo Allison

9.7

Big Washington Merlot. Very good — 13 years ago

Jason Keefer

9.2

Peppery and stemmy, rhubarb and blackberry! Sensory stuff! — 8 months ago

with Natasha

Monique Blanchard

8.9

Great earthy wine. Would buy again — 4 years ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.6

A nice one from Washington.
Two years since my last bottle of 2015, age certainly helped it settle down — 6 years ago

Neil Shah

9.5

Roasted meat — 7 years ago

Matt Robinson

9.3

Unreal wine. Highly recommend this wine. — 8 years ago

Ned Gray Creed

9.5

Delmas is championship. — 8 years ago

with Mark

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

75% Tempranillo, 10% Grenache, 10% Syrah & 5% Carignan. On the nose, ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, pepper, spice, leather, tobacco, dry herbs, smoked meats, mushroom, black licorice & fresh purple florals. Fruits on the palate; blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries and cherries bring up the rear. Black licorice, cigar, pepper, spice, leather, tobacco, dry herbs & dry stones. The tannins are M+ with a M body. There is very nice, structure, length and balance. Definitely has some cellaring ability. The finish is long & rich...50% fruit, 30% spice and 20% earth. Photos of, a vineyard photo hanging in their tasting room, their newer concrete fermenting tanks and another one of their vineyards. — 9 years ago

Neil Shah

9.1

Love the nose. Missing grip. — 10 years ago

Richard Crone

9.3

Awesome right bank of merlot and cab franc! Tannins softening! Long aging potential — 10 years ago

Nathaniel Vitan

9.2

Went with the Pacific NW for the big game. Aromas and notes of black fruits, pepper, and meat. Appropriately big, powerful, but agile. Terrific. — 11 years ago

Andrew Lampasone

Owner Wine Watch Selections

9.4

Wild strawberry fruit with dried floral highlights and some spice and dried tobacco notes. Nice zesty fruit on the tongue bery refreshing red with lovely balace and a spicy finiish most evcellent 2003 col solare a bit of a sundried cherry and fresh plowed earth showing nice development with zesty spice and smooth round tannins fresh earth and cigar box spice. Drinking very nicely black earth. Excellent + — 13 years ago

Lyn Farmer

9.4

This wine is improving with age. An exceptional example of Washington State Syrah, this wine has a beautiful balance of alcohol, acid, fruit and silky tannins. Deep ruby color, the aroma and palate have great intensity without being heavy. Loads of blackberry, violet, black plum, licorice, cedar, clove, tobacco, tar, slate, dried leaves, leather and great minerality. Full bodied with a very long finish. It is a haunting wine with great finesse. — 8 months ago

Doug Adams

9.1

2015. Will improve with more time in the bottle. Decanted for about an hour and it improved significantly. — 6 years ago

Patrick Derdeyn

9.2

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. — 7 years ago

Ned Gray Creed

9.2

That’s a Friday night well played. Glad I have a nugget more of Gramercy options to work through. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

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. — 9 years ago

Michael Kvasnicka

9.5

Fuck yeah — 9 years ago

romo

9.2

Pinto & Bilo playing the borders. — 10 years ago

Lori Mike

9.2

Dark red color. Aromas raspberry jam with cigar box notes slight acid on the mouth followed by flavors raspberry and blueberry. This finish goes on and on and on. — 11 years ago

John Harding

9.5

Vanilla and spice nose. Well rounded berry flavor with hints of spice. Long satisfying finish. Great wine. Had it in Austin for New Years. — 11 years ago

with Jenny