97 points Jeb Dunnuck: "Blended with a good chunk of Viognier (from the same vineyard and co-fermented), the 2018 Syrah Cailloux Vineyard offers a sweet nose of red and blue fruits, lavender, spring flowers, and bacon fat, with subtle classic Rocks notes of mulch and charcoal emerging with time in the glass. Incredibly complex, medium to full-bodied, and seamless, it reminds me of an old-school Côte Rôtie with its exotic, floral, yet meaty style. This cuvée is always one of the more up-front Syrahs in the lineup, yet it ages just as well as the others, possessing a solid 20- to 25-year drink window. Drink: 2021-2046. (5/6/21)"
97 points Owen Bargreen (Vinous): "The 2018 Syrah Cailloux Vineyard is the only Cayuse Syrah that is co-fermented with Viognier (5%). The beautiful honeysuckle aromas from the Viognier mingle with ripe red currants, hoisin sauce, umami and black olive tapenade with smoked brisket undertones. The palate is sinfully good and seamless in texture. Dense dark fruits collide with shades of black truffle, white flowers, umami and bacon fat. Bright and full of verve, with outstanding length and texture, this has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink: 2021-2033. (Oct 2021)"
96 points/'Top 100 Wines of 2021 (#19),' Wine Spectator: "A real knockout Syrah, structured and refined yet bubbling over with personality, offering expressive raspberry, garrigue, warm pebble and smoky beef tones that build tension and polish toward fine-grained tannins. Drink now through 2032. 860 cases made. (10/15/21)"
96 points James Suckling: "This has a fantastic range of savory aromas with smoked meat, herbs, grilled aubergine, bark, dried flowers, shells and blue and black fruit. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, chewy tannins and fresh acidity. Intensely flavorful with earthy, peppery character. Very long. Drink or hold. (7/12/21)"
95 points Wine Advocate: "
94 points/'Cellar Selection,' Wine Enthusiast: "Coming from the first vineyard planted in this area of the valley in 1997 and cofermented with Viognier, the aromas are expressive, with notes of raspberry, orange peel, soot, grilled meat and stem, showing more overt fruit out of the gate than this wine and area often does. The palate is broad in feel, with plentiful pyrazine notes on the finish. It needs time to fully show itself, but the rewards will be plentiful. Best after 2024. Alcohol 14.3%. (Sep 2021)"
94 points Stephen Tanzer (Vinous): "Deep red-ruby. Musky aromas of dark berries, smoked meat, black olive, barbecue sauce, licorice and black pepper; perhaps a bit less floral than the 2017 bottling. Rich, savory and sweet on entry, then silky and refined on the palate, conveying a savory smoky/earthy aspect but also good tangy blackberry and pepper energy, with a note of olive tapenade running through the wine. A wonderfully rich and seamless yet weightless Syrah with no edges whatsoever. Very Rocks in style, but more complex than most examples from this small appellation. Finishes with a fine dusting of broad tannins and lively, mounting, palate-staining length. Perhaps a bit more easygoing than the 2017. Drink: 2023-2032. (Dec 2020)"
97 points Owen Bargreen (Vinous): "The 2018 Syrah Cailloux Vineyard is the only Cayuse Syrah that is co-fermented with Viognier (5%). The beautiful honeysuckle aromas from the Viognier mingle with ripe red currants, hoisin sauce, umami and black olive tapenade with smoked brisket undertones. The palate is sinfully good and seamless in texture. Dense dark fruits collide with shades of black truffle, white flowers, umami and bacon fat. Bright and full of verve, with outstanding length and texture, this has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink: 2021-2033. (Oct 2021)"
96 points/'Top 100 Wines of 2021 (#19),' Wine Spectator: "A real knockout Syrah, structured and refined yet bubbling over with personality, offering expressive raspberry, garrigue, warm pebble and smoky beef tones that build tension and polish toward fine-grained tannins. Drink now through 2032. 860 cases made. (10/15/21)"
96 points James Suckling: "This has a fantastic range of savory aromas with smoked meat, herbs, grilled aubergine, bark, dried flowers, shells and blue and black fruit. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, chewy tannins and fresh acidity. Intensely flavorful with earthy, peppery character. Very long. Drink or hold. (7/12/21)"
95 points Wine Advocate: "
94 points/'Cellar Selection,' Wine Enthusiast: "Coming from the first vineyard planted in this area of the valley in 1997 and cofermented with Viognier, the aromas are expressive, with notes of raspberry, orange peel, soot, grilled meat and stem, showing more overt fruit out of the gate than this wine and area often does. The palate is broad in feel, with plentiful pyrazine notes on the finish. It needs time to fully show itself, but the rewards will be plentiful. Best after 2024. Alcohol 14.3%. (Sep 2021)"
94 points Stephen Tanzer (Vinous): "Deep red-ruby. Musky aromas of dark berries, smoked meat, black olive, barbecue sauce, licorice and black pepper; perhaps a bit less floral than the 2017 bottling. Rich, savory and sweet on entry, then silky and refined on the palate, conveying a savory smoky/earthy aspect but also good tangy blackberry and pepper energy, with a note of olive tapenade running through the wine. A wonderfully rich and seamless yet weightless Syrah with no edges whatsoever. Very Rocks in style, but more complex than most examples from this small appellation. Finishes with a fine dusting of broad tannins and lively, mounting, palate-staining length. Perhaps a bit more easygoing than the 2017. Drink: 2023-2032. (Dec 2020)"
| Product SKU | 341591 |
| Producer | Cayuse |
| Country | United States |
| Region | Washington |
| SubRegion | Columbia Valley |
| Appellation | Walla Walla Valley |
| Varietal | Syrah/Shiraz |
| Vintage | 2018 |
| Size | 750ml |
| Color | Red |
| ABV | 14.3% |
| Ships To |
