2014 Cayuse "Armada Vineyard" Walla Walla Valley Syrah

“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. (JD) 99+” (06/2017)

“The Armada Vineyard Syrah was sourced from a high density vineyard, named after the Spanish Armada. Christophe Baron has found that the more vines per acre leads to more tension in the wines. The Syrah spent 8 months in 15% new French oak prior to bottling. The result is a gorgeous, inky colored Syrah, that opens to profound aromatics of blackberry pie, green peppercorn, umami, soy sauce, black tea and barn floor, which continually bring you back to the glass. The salinity and tension of this wine is remarkable, as flavors of sea salt, umami, soy sauce, peat moss are layered with red cherries and raspberry liquor. The elegant quality of this wine is simply alluring, making this sensational Syrah one of the most impressive wines from the region. (OB)” (08/2017)

“Bright ruby-red. Explosive aromas of black raspberry, cranberry and clove are lifted by notes of violet and licorice and complemented by smoky rocky minerality. Tight, intense and gripping, conveying lovely inner-mouth definition and a distinctly primary character to its dark fruit flavors. Beautifully integrated acidity here; Baron notes that the inner-mouth tension of this wine may be due to more shading between the rows owing to the dense planting. Lovely juicy, imploded wine with firm but utterly fine-grained tannins and a long, rising finish featuring chewy notes of pomegranate, smoke and salt. A beauty. (ST) 94+” (10/2017)

“Produced from the densely planted 3ha Armada Vineyard, this produces an incredibly forward nose of sweet cassis and fig with a pronounced edge of smoke and streaky bacon. The texture is dense and rich but the tannins are well managed, and there is enough freshness to enliven the wine and keep it dynamic on the palate. (CC)” (04/2021)

“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. *Top 100 Cellar Selections of 2017* (SS)” (10/2017)

“Polished and elegantly complex, with floral huckleberry and smoked spice aromas and alluring raspberry, licorice and bacon notes that finish with refined tannins. (TF)” (12/2017)