Cayuse, Walla Walla Valley, Armada Vineyard, Syrah 2018

Received in Original Carton 97 Points Jeb Dunnuck A beautiful as well as a classic expression of this cuvée, the 2018 Syrah Armada Vineyard reveals a medium ruby/plum color that's almost translucent. This is followed by a big, exotic, Rocks-driven nose of blackcurrants, sweet mulch, violets, bacon fat, charcoal, and exotic spices (among other things). Incredibly complex aromatically, with plenty of savory herb, graphite, and earthy notes, it nevertheless has a wonderful core of sweet fruit. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, with ripe tannins, a layered, elegant mouthfeel, and terrific balance, it opens up nicely with air and will benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age. It's capable of evolving for two decades. This is a hard mailing list to crack, yet winemaker Christophe Baron continues to deliver the goods, releasing singular, exotic, incredible wines from his bevy of single vineyards in the Rocks region of the Walla Walla Valley.  05/2021 97 Points Owen Bargreen, Vinous The 2018