Cayuse Vineyards
Camaspelo Cabernet Sauvignon Blend
Walla Walla Valley, Oregon/Washington, USA
As a die-hard fan of the Rocks funk, the profile of these wines are totally up my alley. That being said, even I admit that these desperately need food to be at their best. This was no different.
Followed over two days. Two hr double decant day one.
60/30/10 cab/merlot/Tempranillo. Up front, signature Cayuse funk (iron, savory whole cluster herbal profile). Tempranillo really shining. Nothing BDX about this. Thin, spicy, peppery. Black cherry but mostly underripe with a metallic finish.
Day two, I paired this with food (grilled chicken and beef) and this wine transformed in to a totally different wine. Much more heft and core of sweet, ripe fruit. Like a cool vintage left bank Bordeaux but without Brett. Floral, soft pipe tobacco, dark fruits, fig. The overly savory vibe of day one is non-existent on day two.
Perfect example of a wine that simply needs time to evolve for those who find the Cayuse funk too intense (I don’t mind it, but also appreciate it as a layer, not a main player in a wine).
As a die-hard fan of the Rocks funk, the profile of these wines are totally up my alley. That being said, even I admit that these desperately need food to be at their best. This was no different.
Followed over two days. Two hr double decant day one.
60/30/10 cab/merlot/Tempranillo. Up front, signature Cayuse funk (iron, savory whole cluster herbal profile). Tempranillo really shining. Nothing BDX about this. Thin, spicy, peppery. Black cherry but mostly underripe with a metallic finish.
Day two, I paired this with food (grilled chicken and beef) and this wine transformed in to a totally different wine. Much more heft and core of sweet, ripe fruit. Like a cool vintage left bank Bordeaux but without Brett. Floral, soft pipe tobacco, dark fruits, fig. The overly savory vibe of day one is non-existent on day two.
Perfect example of a wine that simply needs time to evolve for those who find the Cayuse funk too intense (I don’t mind it, but also appreciate it as a layer, not a main player in a wine).
