As of this writing, we have just returned home from Cayuse Weekend. We visited only two wineries, Cayuse and Reynvaan. Others we visit other times and some will be visited Spring Release Weekend, May 5-7. 

Our first stop was at Cayuse on Sunnyside Road south of the border. There, 2015 reds and a couple of 2014s were previewed. Here are my notes and scores.

2014 Cayuse "God only Knows" Grenache, Walla Walla Valley - This is an alluring Grenache. Medium brick red colored, it offered a perfumed nose of wild red fruits - raspberry, pomegranate, red currant - with scents of rosebuds, wild flowers, garrigue and incense. The flavors are deliciously supple with medium bodied, yet penetrating red fruits. The back picks up framboise and creme de cassis liqueurs, followed by a long, deliciously juicy moderate tannin finish. 19.5/20 points.

2015 Cayuse Camaspelo, Walla Walla Valley - This Cabernet based blend offers a ruby color and a perfumed nose of blackberries, cherries and plums with scents of wild roses, sweet tobacco, earth and smoldering incense. The flavors mirror the aromatics with thick, deep cored dark fruits that are intermixed with licorice, dark cocoa, dark roast coffee and earth. The back picks up macerated berries, roasted nuts and meats and graphite, followed by a long ripe tannin finish. 19.5/20 points.

2014 Cayuse "The Lovers" Red Wine, Walla Walla Valley - This 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Syrah combination presents a deep ruby color and a rich, smoky nose of raspberry, cherry, plum, and cassis with scents of crushed roses, cedar, sandalwood, tobacco and incense. The flavors are bold and structured, with notes of licorice, dark chocolate, French roast and Rocks minerals. The back picks up macerated berries, roasted walnuts, toasty oak and graphite, all gliding into a long ripe tannin finish. 19.5/20 points.

2015 Cayuse Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, Cailloux Vineyard - Ruby-crimson colored, this emits perfumed aromas of blackberries, blueberries and cassis with scents of crushed  roses, mulberry, lavender, tobacco and violets. The flavors mirror the aromatics with vivid black and blue fruits that are endowed with licorice, cocoa, French roast and Rocks funk and minerals. The back reveals sensations of pressed berries, roasted nuts, toffee and charcoal followed by a long, velvety finish. 19.5/20 points. 

2015 Cayuse Syrah, Walla Walla Valley En Cerise Vineyard - Brilliant crimson colored, this possesses alluring aromas of strawberries, cherries, black currants, red roses, lavender, violets and oriental incense. The flavors are deliciously silky and well delineated, marked by notes of red licorice, cocoa powder, medium roast coffee and dusty minerals. The satiny textured back picks up fraise and cerise liqueurs, creme de cassis and charcoal, followaed by a long, persistently delicious ripe moderate tannin and acid finish. 19.5/20 points.

2015 Cayuse Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, En Chamberlin Vineyard - Deep ruby colored, this has a perfumed nose of wild red fruits, crushed roses, red flowers, lavender and violets, white incense and spice. A bit more compact than the En Cerise, it has deep, multilayered red and blue fruits that are intermixed with red licorice, cocoa, French roast and dusty Rocks minerals. The back reveals sensations of macerated berries, roasted nuts, grilled meats and charcoal, followed by a long, spiced, toasted finish. 19.5/20 points.

2015 Cayuse "Bionic Frog" Syrah, Walla Walla Valley - Sourced from the Cocinelle Vineyard, planted in 1998, this shows a deep ruby color and an earthy, wild smelling nose of dark fruits, roasted meats, crushed roses, garrigue and spiced incense. The flavors are thick and fleshy, marked by black licorice, cacao, French press coffee and dusty rock minerals. The saturation continues on the back with sensations of pressed berries, roasted nuts , cremes de cassis and cacao, followed by a long ripe, chewy tannin finish. 20/20 points.

2014 Cayuse Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, Armada Vineyard - Deep ruby colored, this emits earthy aromas of wild fruits - blackberries, huckleberries, black currants - with scents of black roses, brambles, garrigue, pepper and incense. The flavors mirror the aromatics with chewy dark fruits that are intermixed with licorice, French roast and Rocks minerality. The back picks up roasted berries and nuts, baking spices, creme de cassis, orange peel and burnt charcoal, followed by a long ripe tannin finish. 19.5/20 points.

2015 Cayuse "Impulsivo" Tempranillo, Walla Walla Valley - Sourced from the En Chamberlin Vineyard, this exhibits an inky purple color and an intense nose of dark fruits, mulberry, Spanish lavender, crushed roses, cracked pepper and smoke. The flavors mirror the aromatics with dark fruits that are intermixed with licorice, cacao, chicory coffee and rocks and dust earth. The back reveals roasted berries and chestnuts, mocha, toffee and burnt charcoal, followed by a long, firm, yet ripe tannin finish. 19.5/20 points.

After Cayuse, we drove up to the end of Cottonwood Road to Reynvaan, where we tasted these wines with the Reynvaan Family. The white wines will sell out quickly and the futures pricing for "The Classic" Cabernet Sauvignon ends tomorrow, April 8.

2015 Reynvaan Family Vineyards "In the Rocks" Viognier, Walla Walla Valley ($60) - Brilliant gold colored, this wine emits seductive aromas of white peach, mango, passion fruit, honeysuckle, jasmine and white incense. The flavors are deliciously ripe, yet well delineated, framed by bright fruit acids on the lingering finish. 19.5/20 points.

2015 Reynvaan Family Vineyards Grenache Blanc, Walla Walla Valley ($60) - This 100% varietal wine shows a light gold color and fresh aromas of pear, peach, star fruit, jasmine and white incense. The flavors are crisp and lively, yet accented with notes of brioche, orange peel and strawberry, imbued with pear skin and stony minerals. On the finish, a creamy texture counterpoints the crisp, citrusy acidity on the lingering finish. 19.5/20 points.

2015 Reynvaan Family Vineyards "Queen's Road" White Wine ($65) - From the "In the Rocks" Vineyard, this Marsanne, Viognier blend offers a brilliant gold color and rich aromas of pear, peach, orange and quince, with scents of honeysuckle, jasmine, lemon verbena and dried meadow grass. The flavors are alluring and well defined, combining vivid white fruits, peach stone, pear skin with distinct Rocks minerality. The back picks up pêche and poire liqueurs and toasted nuts, followed by a lingering, white pepper and spice dusted finish. 19.5/20 points.

2015 Reynvaan Family Vineyards "The Classic" Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley (3 pack $225) - From In the Rocks, this offers a deep ruby color and a classic Cabernet nose of blackberry, cherry, plum and cassis, with scents of black roses, tobacco, cedar, sandalwood, bay leaf, rubbed sage and incense. The classicism continues on the palate with deep cored dark fruits that are marked by licorice, dark chocolate, French roast and dusty rock minerals. The back reveals sensations of macerated berries, roasted walnuts, mocha, toffee, and pencil lead, followed by a lingering ripe tannin finish. Shows great concentration and elegance throughout. 19.5/20 points.

No Review Blog Next Week

Tomorrow morning, April 8, we will be leaving Walla Walla for the Westside for a vacation, celebrating Lynn's birthday. The next Review Blog posting will be on Monday, April 17.