A JOURNEY FROM CHAMPAGNE TO WALLA WALLA
In the heart of Walla Walla, Washington, lies a winery that encapsulates centuries of winemaking tradition and a passion that runs deep in its founder's veins. Christophe Baron, the visionary behind Cayuse Vineyards, traces his roots back to the Champagne region of France, where he walked the family vineyard with his father and grandfather from a tender age. Born into a lineage of wine growers, Baron's destiny as a vigneron was ingrained in his blood—an inheritance that would shape his life's journey.
After studying viticulture in Champagne and Burgundy, Baron embarked on a quest for knowledge and adventure, traveling across continents in pursuit of his winemaking dreams. It was a chance encounter with the Walla Walla Valley during an internship that ignited Baron's fascination with the region's potential. Drawn by the unique terroir reminiscent of the cobblestones of southern Rhone and Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Baron set his sights on Walla Walla, forsaking his plans in Oregon to establish Cayuse Vineyards on what seemed like inhospitable terrain.
What appeared to many as a reckless endeavor—a vineyard amidst acres of stones—proved to be Baron's stroke of genius. Undeterred by skepticism, Baron saw beyond the surface, recognizing the potential for greatness in the rugged landscape. With unwavering determination and a belief in the principle that vines thrive in adversity, Baron planted his first vines in the Stones of the Walla Walla Valley, a move that would shape the future of winemaking in the region.
Since its inception in 1997, Cayuse Vineyards has flourished, evolving from a solitary ten-acre plot to encompassing five distinct vineyards spanning over 47 acres. Baron's relentless pursuit of excellence and his willingness to challenge convention have been rewarded with acclaim, with Cayuse wines consistently garnering praise both regionally and nationally. Each bottle is a testament to Baron's vision and the unique character of Walla Walla's terroir, capturing the essence of the land and the spirit of its founder.
Cayuse stands as a beacon of innovation and tradition, a testament to the transformative power of passion and perseverance. Baron's journey from the vineyards of Champagne to the rugged terrain of Walla Walla embodies the essence of winemaking—a fusion of heritage, craftsmanship, and an unyielding commitment to quality. For enthusiasts and collectors alike, Cayuse wines offer more than just a taste; they provide a glimpse into the soul of a region and the indomitable spirit of its winemaker..
CURRENT RELEASES
TOP SOURCE Red Wine, Columbia Valley ‘Grenache’ 2021
Aged for 20 months in neutral French oak the 2021 Top Source Grenache boasts a deep ruby-blue core with a shimmering light red rim. Displaying those wonderful Grenache-like notes of blue plums, red cherries, dusty herbs, and wet-tilled earth, it gifts lovely minerality across the palate. It finishes with plush tannins and ample acidity. 692 cases made.
93 POINTS
TOP SOURCE Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2021
The 2021 Top Source Syrah was aged for 20 months in 10% new French oak barrels, while the deep ruby-purple core glows under bright light in the glass. Dusty and earthy on the nose to start, it eventually opens up to notes of red and black cherries, marionberries, dry earth, cedary herbs, bacon fat, and crushed olives. Tannins are present but not overpowering while the mouthwatering acidity brings everything together on the long finish. A small production of 95 cases were made.
93 POINTS
CAYUSE Viognier, Walla Walla Valley ‘Cailloux Vineyard’ 2022
With 10 months of aging in concrete and stainless steel tanks, the 2022 Cailloux Vineyard Viognier by Cayuse was outstanding at every turn. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity that helps the lush fruit flavors dance across the tongue. Aromas and flavors of white peaches, delicate citrus, white wildflowers, and sweet spice are all here and wonderfully combined. A long-lasting finish completes the wine. Only 159 cases made. Highly recommended.
96 POINTS
CAYUSE Rosé, Walla Walla Valley ‘Edith’ 2022
The lovely 2022 Edith Rosé from Cayuse was aged for 10 months in concrete and stainless steel vats and is made from 100% Grenache fruit. Beautiful to look at with its light pink salmon color that shines in the glass, it’s fresh, vigorous in the mouth, and pops with notes of green apple, raspberry essence, and fresh white wildflowers. Perfect levels of acidity aid in the long-lasting finish. I wouldn’t be surprised if this would drink well for 8-10 years with proper cellaring. Just 149 cases produced.
94 POINTS
LA RATA Red Wine, Walla Walla Valley 2021
The beautiful 2021 La Rata is a blend of 60% Grenache, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Syrah that rested in 100% neutral French oak barrels for a total of 21 months in neutral French oak barrels. It gifts a lovely blue-ruby core with a shimmering neon red rim in the glass. Bright red cherry and black raspberry aromas start things off, followed by shades of earthy herbs, dried flowers, and smooches of white grapefruit zest. Lovely tannins coat the mouth while the perfected levels of acidity finish things off. 148 cases were produced.
95 POINTS
NO GIRLS Red Blend, Walla Walla Valley ‘Double Lucky #8’ 2021
The tech sheets didn’t specify what exactly is in this wine in terms of fruit, but it’s a delicious bottle of wine from the team at Cayuse for a very reasonable price for what you get. Aged for 21 months in 100% neutral French oak barrels, it boasts notes of dark cherries, blue plums, dried flowers, and noticeable peppercorn spice on the nose. Smooth tannins merge with the mouthwatering acidity and spicy finish that goes on for minutes. If bottles are still available, I recommend buying as many as you can and drinking them over the next 10 years or more. 587 cases made. Highly recommended.
96 POINTS
NO GIRLS Grenache, Walla Walla Valley ‘La Paciencia Vineyard’ 2021
100% Grenache comprises the 2021 La Paciencia Vineyard No Girls which is aged for 21 months in all neutral French oak. I always love the Grenache coming from Cayuse and the 2021 No Girls La Paciencia is another wonderful example of why people love this wine. It’s aged for 21 months in neutral French oak and sports a stunning medium ruby-blue core with a light pink rim in the glass. Boasting tons of earthy and spicy notes at first glance, merging with gorgeous red-cherry, crushed strawberry, and blue plum aromas and flavors on the finish, it has the acidity and tannin structure to go the distance. 345 cases produced. Highly recommended and editor’s choice.
97 POINTS
NO GIRLS Syrah, Walla Walla Valley ‘La Paciencia Vineyard’ 2021
Coming from Syrah vines that were planted in The Rocks in 2004, the 2021 La Paciencia Syrah from No Girls rested in 100% neutral French oak for 21 months. Presenting a brooding purple-ruby core with a neon purple rim, it starts off with stunning Syrah notes of dark cherries, blue plum skin, grilled meats, pencil shavings, and shades of earthiness that pop from the glass. Tannins are very well structured and crunchy, while the acidity is perfectly balanced with all the spice, earth, and fruit that sit wonderfully on the back palate on the finish. 356 cases were made. Highly recommended.
96 POINTS
NO GIRLS Tempranillo, Walla Walla Valley 2021
The gorgeous 2021 Tempranillo from No Girls saw approximately 25% new French oak during 21 months of aging and boasts a brooding deep blue-purple core with a lighter purple rim. Dark fruits abound with notes of bramble, blackberries, smoked earth, dried purple flowers, and just a hint of green peppercorn. Rich and decadent, the ripe tannins and lovely acidity carry the finish through. A bit over 300 cases were made. Highly recommended.
96 POINTS
CAYUSE Grenache, Walla Walla Valley ‘God Only Knows’ 2021
The 2021 God Only Knows Grenache by Cayuse is aged for 10 months in all neutral oak French barrels. Another incredible God Only Knows, this time the 2021 vintage, that sports a lovely medium fluorescent ruby core with a light pink rim. Bountiful aromas of black cherries, red raspberries, dusty earth, violets and mountain sage spill from the glass. Silky tannins merge with a backbone of lemony acidity and an enticing mouthfeel. It’s another example of why Grenache from Washington State is making news across the country. 538 cases made. Highly recommended.
98 POINTS
CAYUSE Red Wine, Walla Walla Valley ‘Flying Pig’ 2021
The 2021 Flying Pig by Cayuse is a mélange of 59% Cabernet Franc, 31% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and aged for 18 months in approximately 30% new French oak. Another incredible Flying Pig from Cayuse with the Cabernet Franc dominance shining through. Earthy with shades of green peppercorn, wet-tilled earth, and cedary herbs, it pops out of the glass with notes of blackberries, mountain blueberries, cassis, dried herbs, and licorice root. Wonderfully balanced, the focus is on the crunchy tannins and lovely blue and black fruit finish with just a touch of ground pepper that flows over the back palate. Only a little over 200 cases were made. Highly recommended.
97 POINTS
CAYUSE Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley ‘The Lovers Bordeaux Blend’ 2021
Aged for 21 months in about 30% new French oak the 2021 The Lovers from Cayuse blends 90% Cabernet Sauvignon with 10% Syrah. Presenting a brooding deep purple core with a neon red rim, it commences with complex aromas of freshly picked blackberries, blueberry pie, and blue plums alongside notes of toasted baking spices, sweet anise, and shades of cedar and vanilla. The Syrah gives it some of those meaty characteristics which I love. Full-bodied with rich tannins and a lofty, enveloping mouthfeel, it finishes rich and long. A small amount of 227 cases were made
96 POINTS
CAYUSE Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley ‘Camaspelo’ 2021
The 2021 Camaspelo by Cayuse is a blend of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon that saw 30% new French oak for 18 months. It’s a rich, decadent effort from the team at Cayuse and sports a lovely nose of black raspberries, black plums, boysenberries, and whiffs of dried flowers and pencil shavings. It’s a baby and needs some time in the bottle to come together with its grippy tannins. A lovely wine that will age well for another 15-20 years. 368 cases made. Better in 2025.
95 POINTS
CAYUSE Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley ‘The Widowmaker’ 2021
The 100% Cabernet Sauvignon ‘The Windowmaker’ by Cayuse rested for 18 months in approximately 30% new French oak barrels. Displaying an eye-popping dark purple core with a neon blue rim in the glass, this is another winner from the winemaking team at Cayuse. Dark baked plums, boysenberries, crushed herbs, forest breeze, dusty earth, and sweet vanilla are all present in the glass and incredibly integrated. The full-bodied mouthfeel isn’t overpowering and is pleasantly balanced with the lush, sweet tannins. 228 cases were produced. Highly recommended.
96 POINTS
CAYUSE Syrah, Walla Walla Valley ‘Cailloux Vineyard’ 2021
Aged for 18 months in 15-20% new French oak barrels, the 2021 Cailloux Syrah by Cayuse is a blend of 97% Syrah and 3% Viognier which gives it a lovely lift of florality on the nose. Stunning on the nose with those lovely “Rocks” characteristics, this was actually the first vineyard that Christophe planted in the area and it shows by the elegance and depth of the wine. Boisterous notes of black fruit, bacon fat, ground black peppercorn, and cedary herbs pounce out of the glass. It’s fleshy, earthy, and spicy and has this lovely pink grapefruit tone that I adore. 785 cases produced. Highly recommended and editor’s choice.
98 POINTS
CAYUSE Syrah, Walla Walla Valley ‘En Cerise Vineyard’ 2021
The gorgeous 2021 En Cerise Syrah from Cayuse is 100% Syrah that saw 15-20% new French oak for 18 months during aging. A lovely medium to dark blue-purple core with a lighter red rim, the 2021 En Cerise is impressive delivering scintillating aromas and flavors of black cherries, blue plums, crushed olives, black-peppered charcuterie, and dried violets. An interesting ox-blood characteristic hits the mid-palate and melds perfectly with the crunchy tannins, lofty acidity, and earthy, peppery finish. 379 cases made. Better in 2025. Highly recommended.
97 POINTS
CAYUSE Syrah, Walla Walla Valley ‘En Chamberlin Vineyard’ 2021
Also checking in with 100% Syrah, the 2021 En Chamberlin Syrah from Cayuse rested in 15-20% new French oak for 18 months and it’s another wonderful example from the Cayuse family of Syrahs. More earthy and smoky than its siblings, it starts off with complex notes of wet-tilled earth, crushed pink peppercorn, dusty herbs, grilled meats, and dried purple flowers. Blue and black fruit hit the palate, alongside the sweet tannins and mouthwatering acidity. It’s a wine that changes over time in the glass so give this some time to develop and enjoy it over a few hours. 392 cases were crafted. Highly recommended.
97 POINTS
CAYUSE Syrah, Walla Walla Valley ‘Bionic Frog’ 2021
Always one of my favorites every single year, the 2021 Bionic Frog from Cayuse rested in 15-20% new French oak for 18 months and is made from 100% Syrah grapes. Presenting a gorgeous neon ruby-magenta core with a neon pink rim in the glass, this perfect example of Syrah from Cayuse sports scintillating notes of ripe, crushed red and black cherries, marionberries, fat drippings from grilled beef ribs, black olive tapenade, whole peppercorns, dried mushrooms, and wet earth. Another wine from Cayuse that deserves time - time in the bottle to develop and time in your glass while you are enjoying it as it constantly changes during the tasting experience. Sweet, rounded tannins and mouthwatering acidity finish things off. A little over 500 cases were made. Highly recommended and editor’s choice.
100 POINTS
CAYUSE Syrah, Walla Walla Valley ‘Armada Vineyard’ 2021
The impressive 2021 Armada Vineyard Syrah from Cayuse is another 100% Syrah from The Rocks that saw 15-20% new French oak for a total of 21 months of aging. You immediately have the sense of place in this wine and in a blind, I could pick it out every time. Gorgeous, intriguing notes of grilled meats, dried purple roses, and white peppercorns meld with the blue and black fruit with a smidgeon of white grapefruit zest that pops out of the glass on the nose. Tannins are firm and pleasant and pair perfectly with the lemony acidity and lengthy earthy finish that goes on for minutes. 636 cases were produced.
98 POINTS
CAYUSE Syrah, Walla Walla Valley ‘Wallah Wallah Special #15’ 2021
Coming only in magnums, the 2021 Wallah Wallah Special #15 is made from 100% Syrah fruit from the Rocks and also saw approximately 10-15% new French oak during aging. Because of the magnum-only format, and the perfect structure, this wine should age for quite some time in bottle. Commencing with notes of sweet plums, toasted cinnamon sticks, blackberries, cedary herbs, and grilled meats, it moves to a lush, rounded mouthfeel that envelops the entire palate on the finish. Another lovely wine by Cayuse! 477 cases made. Highly recommended.
97 POINTS
CAYUSE Tempranillo, Walla Walla Valley ‘Impulsivo’ 2021
The 2021 Impusivo comes from old-vine Tempranillo planted about 25 years ago in the Rocks District and saw 50% new French oak for 18 months. Dusty earth, black and red cherries, and brown mushroom powder start things off with notes of grilled meats and saline playing second fiddle. Full-bodied, rich, and powerful, it gifts present tannins and perfect levels of acidity that keep everything in balance. Just over 400 cases were crafted. Highly recommended.
97 POINTS
HORSEPOWER Grenache, Walla Walla Valley ‘Fiddleneck Vineyard’ 2021
The 2021 Fiddleneck Vineyard Grenache by Horsepower saw 100% neutral French oak for 15 months.
276 cases were made and displays a gorgeous neon ruby core with a light pink rim. Gorgeous notes of crushed red cherries, macerated strawberries, mountain sagebrush, farmed earth, and tangelo pith combine with smooth tannins and a satiny finish. The length goes on for minutes on this amazing bottle of Grenache from Cayuse/Horsepower. Just 275 cases produced. Highly recommended.
98 POINTS
HORSEPOWER Grenache, Walla Walla Valley ‘Sur Echalas Vineyard’ 2021
The 2021 Sur Echalas Vineyard Grenache by Horsepower rested for 15 months in 100% neutral French oak barrels. Another stunning bottle of Grenache from the team at Cayuse/Horsepower, this one gifts an eye-popping glimmering ruby red core with a pinkish rim. Gobs of minerality and saline start things off with plenty of crushed red fruit, red and black licorice, cedary herbs, and wet stone tones hitting hard on the palate. The mouthfeel is elongated and enveloping in all aspects and it finishes long and smooth. 284 cases were made. Highly recommended and editor’s choice.
99 POINTS
HORSEPOWER Syrah, Walla Walla Valley ‘Sur Echalas Vineyard’ 2021
The always scintillating Sur Echalas Vineyard Syrah from Horsepower is a 100% Syrah masterpiece that was aged for 15 months in 100% neutral French oak barrels. A brooding deep blue-purple core with a light purple rim in the glass, this is a stunning example of Syrah with an intricate nose of black-peppered charcuteries, toasted anise, brown mushrooms, dried blue and purple flower petals, combined with a mélange of blue and black fruits. With sweet, smooth tannins and crunchy acidity it’s a wine that you will remember drinking for years after you experience it. It’s that good. 345 cases made. Highly recommended.
99 POINTS
HORSEPOWER Syrah, Walla Walla Valley ‘High Contrast Vineyard’ 2021
I loved the 2021 High Contrast Syrah from Horsepower. Resting on 100% neutral French oak for a total of 15 months, the sense of place is insane on this wine. Delivering a full-throttled experience from start to finish, this is my favorite from the 2021 Horsepower lineup and really shows what the winemaking team of Cayuse can produce. Insane complexity envelopes the nose and the palate and with time, it changes, giving a different experience with every sip. Gorgeous black plum, boysenberries, grilled beef ribs, bacon fat, crushed olives, whole green peppercorn, and cedary herbs start things off nicely. As the wine develops, you are gifted with a mesmerizing note of grilled grapefruit zest and toasted spice. A finish that goes on forever, this is a wine that you will want to keep in your cellar and enjoy over the next 10-15 years. Perfection in a bottle. 420 cases were crafted. Editor’s choice and highly recommended.
100 POINTS
HORSEPOWER Syrah, Walla Walla Valley ‘The Tribe Vineyard’ 2021
The 2021 The Tribe Syrah by Horsepower also spent 15 months in 100% neutral French oak barrels and has a glowing bluish-purple core with a light neon red rim. I’m splitting hairs with my scores to determine which Horsepower wines I like the most. I’m sure if I opened these bottles again in a year, the order would change because they are all phenomenal and deserve space in your cellar. The 2021 Tribe Vineyard Syrah boasts notes of crushed marionberries, powdered graphite, wet earth, umami, and toasted baking spices on the nose and on the palate. On the finish, the wine becomes meaty and earthy in character. 556 cases made. Highly recommended.
98 POINTS
HORS CATEGORIE Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2021
Always one of the top Syrahs to come out of Washington State, the 2021 Hors Categorie was aged 18 months in 100% neutral French oak barrels, allowing the stunning terroir to shine through. It’s always my favorite of the Cayuse lineup year after year, and this one is no exception. It literally is brilliant winemaking that shows the brilliance of the Cayuse team. Earthy on the nose to start with powerful aromas of wet earth, dried herbs, and dusty road that moves to aromas and flavors of dried blueberries, dark cherries, blue plum skins, and shades of oven-baked bacon fat, crushed Spanish olives, and sweet vanilla bean. Savory, earthy, spicy, and fruity all at the same time, it’s an incredible effort - Bravo! 313 cases were crafted - if you can find a bottle, secure it and cellar it for the next 5-6 years before enjoying. You can thank me later. Highly recommended and editor’s choice.
100 POINTS