Cayuse Armada Syrah 2014
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
From the highest density vineyard planted under the Cayuse label, the 489-case 2014 Syrah Armada Vineyard is about as umami and earthy as it gets. Smoke, fireplace, mushroom, black cherry, currants and olive notes all emerge from this rich, backward, tight and structured Syrah that has incredible purity of fruit, a saline/bloody, meaty character that develops with time in the glass, and tons of tannic bite on the finish. Forget this incredible wine for 4-5 years and enjoy over the following two decades.
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Wine Enthusiast
The aromas are initially more fruit forward than often seen from this area, with notes of plum followed by ash, black pepper, Stargazer lilies, charcuterie and iron. The flavors are palate coating and dense in feel, lingering on the finish. It needs some time in the cellar to truly show its stuff. Best after 2022.
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Wine Spectator
Polished and elegantly complex, with floral huckleberry and smoked spice aromas and alluring raspberry, licorice and bacon notes that finish with refined tannins. Drink now through 2023.
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An adventure in the new world
Christophe Baron grew up among the vineyards and cellars of his family's centuries-old Champagne house, Baron Albert. His sense of adventure, however, led him to become the first Frenchman to establish a winery in Washington State.
While visiting the Walla Walla Valley in 1996, Christophe spotted a plot of land that had been plowed up to reveal acres of softball-sized stones. This stony soil, this terroir, was just like that of some of the most prestigious French appellations. The difficult ground would stress the grapevines, making them produce more mature, concentrated fruit.
He named his vineyard after the Cayuse, a Native American tribe whose name was taken from the French cailloux--which means, rocks. Hours of back-breaking work later, Cayuse Vineyards has become five vineyards encompassing 41 acres.
The majority is planted with Syrah, and the rest dedicated to Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Merlot, Mourvèdre, Roussanne, Tempranillo and Viognier. All of the vineyards are planted in rocky earth within the Walla Walla Valley appellation. Cayuse was the first winery in Washington State to use biodynamic farming methods.