Horsepower Vineyards
The Tribe Vineyard Syrah
Walla Walla Valley, Oregon/Washington, USA
Got to pop some special bottles when my good friend Shawn came in to town!
My third bottle to pop of the evening. These are love it or hate it style wines, and I fall on the “love it” side every single time. The type of wines that can express the terroir of this area is just incredible. In true to Cayuse/Christophe Baron style, this is a savory packed punch wrapped in elegance. This is actually the inaugural vintage for HP, and even at 8/9 yrs of age, this is still quite youthful. Aromatically, it’s a heady display of soy, teriyaki, green olive, peppercorn crusted smoked meats, currant and spicy rhubarb. The palate shows just a touch more heft than most traditional high end northern Rhône Syrahs, but aside from that, it’s a dead ringer. The savory/iron driven components from the nose continue, but there is great acid followed by herbs de Provence and lots of wildflowers/potpourri for a floral finish. I followed this over 48hrs and it powered through the entire time. So much complexity here. My thanks to @Bill Bender for helping me try this.
Got to pop some special bottles when my good friend Shawn came in to town!
My third bottle to pop of the evening. These are love it or hate it style wines, and I fall on the “love it” side every single time. The type of wines that can express the terroir of this area is just incredible. In true to Cayuse/Christophe Baron style, this is a savory packed punch wrapped in elegance. This is actually the inaugural vintage for HP, and even at 8/9 yrs of age, this is still quite youthful. Aromatically, it’s a heady display of soy, teriyaki, green olive, peppercorn crusted smoked meats, currant and spicy rhubarb. The palate shows just a touch more heft than most traditional high end northern Rhône Syrahs, but aside from that, it’s a dead ringer. The savory/iron driven components from the nose continue, but there is great acid followed by herbs de Provence and lots of wildflowers/potpourri for a floral finish. I followed this over 48hrs and it powered through the entire time. So much complexity here. My thanks to @Bill Bender for helping me try this.
Owner/Wine Director Spuyten Duyvil, Fette Sau, St. Anselm & Gotham Artisanal Provisions
Horsepower is the winery/label by Christophe Baron (Cayuse Vinyards)
Horsepower is the winery/label by Christophe Baron (Cayuse Vinyards)
Mar 5th, 2015Young, but it's got potential. Lighter on the oak than most of the other Cayuse tasted.
Young, but it's got potential. Lighter on the oak than most of the other Cayuse tasted.
Mar 5th, 2015
Also bitter, but better than the Grenache.
Also bitter, but better than the Grenache.
Sep 14th, 2014
Good quality. Style not really my thing. There’s a medicinal quality to the nose that I can’t get past. A little carbonic too. Didn’t change much with air.
Good quality. Style not really my thing. There’s a medicinal quality to the nose that I can’t get past. A little carbonic too. Didn’t change much with air.
May 21st, 2020A nose that leaps at you. Gentle strawberries. Silk tannins.
A nose that leaps at you. Gentle strawberries. Silk tannins.
Nov 8th, 2018Black fruit. Graphite and charcoal. Pepper like a northern Rhône Syrah. A little heat.
Black fruit. Graphite and charcoal. Pepper like a northern Rhône Syrah. A little heat.
Nov 5th, 2018
Violets, dark fruit, bacon fat, licorice, lavender, crushed rocks. Could easily be mistaken for one of the pinnacle wines of northern Rhone. Absolutely addictive.
Violets, dark fruit, bacon fat, licorice, lavender, crushed rocks. Could easily be mistaken for one of the pinnacle wines of northern Rhone. Absolutely addictive.
Mar 19th, 2017
SUPER funky. This is the third christophe baron of the night and my favorite. This wine is a bit polarizing. Some love it. Some dislike it. If you are in the latter group please send your bottles my way
SUPER funky. This is the third christophe baron of the night and my favorite. This wine is a bit polarizing. Some love it. Some dislike it. If you are in the latter group please send your bottles my way
Jul 24th, 2016
Well made wine with hints of blood orange, olive and meat, but overall not really my cup of tea.
Well made wine with hints of blood orange, olive and meat, but overall not really my cup of tea.
May 17th, 2016