2011 Cayuse, Armada Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 1x750ml

Robert Parker 98

“The 2011 Syrah Armada Vineyard is spectacular, and one of the highlights of this tasting, bursting from the glass with aromas of dark chocolate, smoked duck, blackberries, licorice, cassis, burning embers, tapenade and cracked black pepper. On the palate, it’s full-bodied, layered and mouthwateringly savory, with cool fruit tones, a lovely underlying line of acidity and plenty of youthful energy, concluding with a refined but gently tannic finish. The product of a cool vintage that many dismissed, Baron dropped 80% of his fruit and did a 20% saigné to produce this compelling wine that screams Syrah and Walla Walla-but also more than nods to the Northern Rhône.” [29/06/2018]

Anticipated maturity: 2018-2038

Vinous 93

(13.5% alcohol): Good full red. Wild, musky, expressive aromas of raspberry, game, woodsmoke, pepper, bacon fat, squid ink and black olive tapenade. Plush and salty on the palate, with raspberry and smoked meat flavors accented by subtle minerality. Finishes with plush tannins and lingering notes of smoke, game and spices. For all its fleshiness, there’s something a bit ungiving about this Syrah: is there more to come? (I should note that an earlier bottle was much more backward and gripping, showing little in the way of easy sweetness to its reticent flavors of singed raspberry, peat and briney olive juice. I rated this one 92+? and thought it needed a good six or seven years in the cellar.) [Stephen Tanzer, 12/01/2014]