Horsepower Vineyards
High Contrast Vineyard Syrah
Walla Walla Valley, Oregon/Washington, USA
The 2019 Syrah High Contrast Vineyard is hauntingly dark and herbal in the glass, with masses of crushed rock and citrus-tinged blackberries forming its alluring bouquet. This is soft-textured yet vividly fruit-focused, with licorice-tinged black currant mixing with salty minerals and a hint of mint that lights up the palate. Brilliant acidity adds a lovely energy here, as nuances of sage and rosemary resonate on through the lightly structured finale. I love the contrasting mix of savory tension and sweet fruit that keeps me guessing at each tilt of the glass. The High Contrast Vineyard was planted in 2013 in soils that contain a higher percentage of sandy loam to rocks. (Eric Guido, Vinous, March 2023)
The 2019 Syrah High Contrast Vineyard is hauntingly dark and herbal in the glass, with masses of crushed rock and citrus-tinged blackberries forming its alluring bouquet. This is soft-textured yet vividly fruit-focused, with licorice-tinged black currant mixing with salty minerals and a hint of mint that lights up the palate. Brilliant acidity adds a lovely energy here, as nuances of sage and rosemary resonate on through the lightly structured finale. I love the contrasting mix of savory tension and sweet fruit that keeps me guessing at each tilt of the glass. The High Contrast Vineyard was planted in 2013 in soils that contain a higher percentage of sandy loam to rocks. (Eric Guido, Vinous, March 2023)
Mar 3rd, 2023
This is a great quality Syrah from Washington State. Very stinky, in a good way. I had it blind and called it just by smelling it.
Harsh on the palate with black fruits, oak, spices, vanilla, peppercorn, wet leaves, earth, olives, mushrooms, vegetables, tobacco and espresso.
Full bodied and smooth with medium acidity. Very rich and extracted.
Dry and fruit forward with great complexity.
Thank you Barry for sharing.
Took 3 hours to open up, and it may not have been enough time.
Still extremely young and would be better in 5 years. Will age nicely in the next 25 years. A 95+ point wine in 10 years.
I paired it with heavy appetizers.
14.3% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$200.
This is a great quality Syrah from Washington State. Very stinky, in a good way. I had it blind and called it just by smelling it.
Harsh on the palate with black fruits, oak, spices, vanilla, peppercorn, wet leaves, earth, olives, mushrooms, vegetables, tobacco and espresso.
Full bodied and smooth with medium acidity. Very rich and extracted.
Dry and fruit forward with great complexity.
Thank you Barry for sharing.
Took 3 hours to open up, and it may not have been enough time.
Still extremely young and would be better in 5 years. Will age nicely in the next 25 years. A 95+ point wine in 10 years.
I paired it with heavy appetizers.
14.3% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$200.
Identified this as Cayuse Syrah (blind). Love this style
Identified this as Cayuse Syrah (blind). Love this style
Apr 2nd, 2022
Its been awhile since the funk in the trunk👍🏼
Jeb’s 💯 point review as follows
From a vineyard planted in 2013, the 2016 Syrah High Contrast saw loads of stems and mostly neutral barrels. This thrilling wine has a Chave Hermitage-like purity and class as well as gorgeous notes of cassis, black raspberries, smoked earth, and graphite. It's deep, pure and layered, incredibly layered, pure, and long, with a finish that won't quit. This isn't for those looking for an inky, massive wine, but it’s pure class, complete, amazingly long, and elegant. Give bottles a few years in the cellar and it’s going to shine for 15-20 years.
Its been awhile since the funk in the trunk👍🏼
Jeb’s 💯 point review as follows
From a vineyard planted in 2013, the 2016 Syrah High Contrast saw loads of stems and mostly neutral barrels. This thrilling wine has a Chave Hermitage-like purity and class as well as gorgeous notes of cassis, black raspberries, smoked earth, and graphite. It's deep, pure and layered, incredibly layered, pure, and long, with a finish that won't quit. This isn't for those looking for an inky, massive wine, but it’s pure class, complete, amazingly long, and elegant. Give bottles a few years in the cellar and it’s going to shine for 15-20 years.
Deep ruby color. Aromas of Kalamata olive, iodine, pepper, wet blacktop and violets. On the palate, peppered smoky meat and black fruit.
🥇 98 points - Wine Enthusiasts
🥇 97 points - Jeb Dunnuck
🥇 96 points - James Suckling
🥇 95 points - Robert Parker
🥇 93 points - Wine Spectator
Deep ruby color. Aromas of Kalamata olive, iodine, pepper, wet blacktop and violets. On the palate, peppered smoky meat and black fruit.
🥇 98 points - Wine Enthusiasts
🥇 97 points - Jeb Dunnuck
🥇 96 points - James Suckling
🥇 95 points - Robert Parker
🥇 93 points - Wine Spectator
You can smell this 2 feet away, which is either great if you like the funk or bad if it stinks 😷 as my wife says🤷🏼♂️ more for me I guess
You can smell this 2 feet away, which is either great if you like the funk or bad if it stinks 😷 as my wife says🤷🏼♂️ more for me I guess
Sep 22nd, 2020If you’re into the Washington funk, wow this takes the cake on funk!
Jeb 100 parker/lisa 96. All depends on your palate. Had friends who thought their wine went bad🤷🏼♂️ obviously not fans of Washington Syrah.
If you’re into the Washington funk, wow this takes the cake on funk!
Jeb 100 parker/lisa 96. All depends on your palate. Had friends who thought their wine went bad🤷🏼♂️ obviously not fans of Washington Syrah.
What a nose on this one!
Check out the way the light shines through the glass & leaves those ruby red circles on the granite. That’s basically how much the nose stands out. Definitely worthy of the 100 💯 from Jeb.
What a nose on this one!
Check out the way the light shines through the glass & leaves those ruby red circles on the granite. That’s basically how much the nose stands out. Definitely worthy of the 100 💯 from Jeb.
Erik had this 2 years ago
Erik had this 2 years ago
Aug 14th, 2022