Cayuse Vineyards
Bionic Frog Walla Walla Valley Syrah
Walla Walla Valley, Oregon/Washington, USA
First time tasting this, and Mikey @Mike R was generous enough to bring a bottle for all of us to try.
The name implies brash opulence, but this bottle was nothing like that; quite the opposite. Lots of white pepper on the nose and palate. Notes of fresh tobacco and a whiff of olives on the mid palate. Not sweet or tannic, just moderate in a good way. Gonna take another look on day two, but this is special juice. Love you, @Mike R.
First time tasting this, and Mikey @Mike R was generous enough to bring a bottle for all of us to try.
The name implies brash opulence, but this bottle was nothing like that; quite the opposite. Lots of white pepper on the nose and palate. Notes of fresh tobacco and a whiff of olives on the mid palate. Not sweet or tannic, just moderate in a good way. Gonna take another look on day two, but this is special juice. Love you, @Mike R.
This is now the second time in the past year that I have been able to sample the 2012 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Bionic Frog’ Syrah. Wild blackberry compote and Umami tones combine with green olives and Hoisin sauce with smoked duck on the nose. The gorgeous aromatics bring you back to the glass for more enjoyment. Once on the palate the seamless texture really impresses. Layers of roasted figs and boysenberry collide with minerals, lemon rind, smoked brisket, milk chocolate and dried sage with a light dusting of white pepper on this complex palate. This is extremely complex and delicious Syrah to sit and deconstruct. Either way, if you are sitting with this wine, consider yourself very lucky. Still fresh and vibrant, with good weight, the 2012 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Bionic Frog’ Syrah will enjoy at least another eight years ahead of it. But why wait? Drink 2020-2028- 98
This is now the second time in the past year that I have been able to sample the 2012 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Bionic Frog’ Syrah. Wild blackberry compote and Umami tones combine with green olives and Hoisin sauce with smoked duck on the nose. The gorgeous aromatics bring you back to the glass for more enjoyment. Once on the palate the seamless texture really impresses. Layers of roasted figs and boysenberry collide with minerals, lemon rind, smoked brisket, milk chocolate and dried sage with a light dusting of white pepper on this complex palate. This is extremely complex and delicious Syrah to sit and deconstruct. Either way, if you are sitting with this wine, consider yourself very lucky. Still fresh and vibrant, with good weight, the 2012 Cayuse Vineyards ‘Bionic Frog’ Syrah will enjoy at least another eight years ahead of it. But why wait? Drink 2020-2028- 98
Nov 29th, 2020
To celebrate 5,500 reviews on Vivino, here is a beautiful wine from Washington State.
Dark ruby in color with a short brick rim.
Sweet nose of blackberries, black currants, sweet cherries, cedar, leather, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco, herbs and black pepper.
Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity and long legs.
Dry and fruity on the palate with sweet cherries, plums, blueberries, oak, light vanilla, spices, espresso, cola, light vegetables, leather, earth, tobacco, vinaigrette, peppercorn, pencil lead, light bell pepper and dark chocolates.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cranberries.
This is a great Syrah from Washington State. Showing great complexity with a nice mouthfeel. Elegant, yet rich. Just Beautiful.
This 12 year old is drinking very nicely now and will continue to age nicely in the next decade.
Needs 3 hours to open up properly and show some tannins.
Wine Enthusiasts 100 points. Robert Parker 97 points.
I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.
Tasty and delicious.
14.4% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$275.
To celebrate 5,500 reviews on Vivino, here is a beautiful wine from Washington State.
Dark ruby in color with a short brick rim.
Sweet nose of blackberries, black currants, sweet cherries, cedar, leather, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco, herbs and black pepper.
Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity and long legs.
Dry and fruity on the palate with sweet cherries, plums, blueberries, oak, light vanilla, spices, espresso, cola, light vegetables, leather, earth, tobacco, vinaigrette, peppercorn, pencil lead, light bell pepper and dark chocolates.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cranberries.
This is a great Syrah from Washington State. Showing great complexity with a nice mouthfeel. Elegant, yet rich. Just Beautiful.
This 12 year old is drinking very nicely now and will continue to age nicely in the next decade.
Needs 3 hours to open up properly and show some tannins.
Wine Enthusiasts 100 points. Robert Parker 97 points.
I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.
Tasty and delicious.
14.4% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$275.
Notably more extracted and aggressive than the Armada Cayuse of the same vintage. But impressive in its purity, fruit more on the red-purple spectrum, with a grapey element that works. Impressive.
Notably more extracted and aggressive than the Armada Cayuse of the same vintage. But impressive in its purity, fruit more on the red-purple spectrum, with a grapey element that works. Impressive.
May 15th, 2018
Owner of the girl & the fig, the fig cafe & winebar, Author of Plats du Jours, the girl & the fig's Journey through the Seasons in Wine Country and the girl & the fig Cookbook
Petroleum, thin-ish, hard to taste after the alban lorraine, expected more - given that interesting wine
Petroleum, thin-ish, hard to taste after the alban lorraine, expected more - given that interesting wine
Mar 23rd, 2018
Probably my favorite bottle so far. Great texture and balance. There is a green note on the finish but more green pepper than underripe. Almost like a dash of Cabernet. Silk, low tannin (?) not soft great acid
Probably my favorite bottle so far. Great texture and balance. There is a green note on the finish but more green pepper than underripe. Almost like a dash of Cabernet. Silk, low tannin (?) not soft great acid
Aug 30th, 2017
Pours deep purple in color. ON THE NOSE: smoke, tobacco and game. ON THE PALATE: deep dark fruit, tobacco, leather and spice. Full bodied and a long ass finish! Only one left 😠 it just gets better and better
Pours deep purple in color. ON THE NOSE: smoke, tobacco and game. ON THE PALATE: deep dark fruit, tobacco, leather and spice. Full bodied and a long ass finish! Only one left 😠 it just gets better and better
Jul 22nd, 2017
2007, pepper iron plush mouth very fine tannins
2007, pepper iron plush mouth very fine tannins
2 people found it helpfulJul 8th, 2014