Sur Echalas Vineyard Grenache

Even as someone who loves the funk, I find these HP wines to need every bit of 10yrs to really unfurl and balance out. In my opinion, the Syrah with similar age shows a bit more dark fruit whereas this was more red floral.

Double decanted an hour, then consumed over the next 2-3hrs. Last glass was the best, but not overly different from the first. There is still signature funk, crunchy and green stems, peppered raspberries, olive, and iron, but the red floral/potpourri notes started to jump alongside a citrus/pomegranate flair. Great nervy acidity and tannin. Desperately needs food (went well with charcuterie board). If you enjoy these with some balance, this is starting to enter that window.

Moderately saturated medium red. Dark raspberry, flowers, iron, red cherry and smoked meat on the alluring nose. Dense, rich, mouthcoating wine with an attractive balance of red berries, smoked meat and wild herbs. A very savory style: less fruity than the Cayuse version but boasting a thicker, longer, sweeter finish than the No Girls Grenache from the same stable. Possesses strong material to buffer its tannins. Finishes broad and quite long, with a suggestion of nutty richness. (13.5% alcohol) (Stephen Tanzer, Vinous, December 2020)

The 2013 ‘Sur Echalas Vineyard’ Grenache is simply captivating now at the six year mark. An aromatic melange of teaberry with wet stone, pomegranate seed, Umami and iodine greet you, showing some thrilling range right upon opening. The palate shows off its silky texture that gently glides across the mid-palate. Ripe red fruits dance with shades of blood orange zest, cigar ash,, damp earth and stony tones that all collect momentum on the palate. Thrilling at this stage in its development, the 2013 Horsepower ‘Sur Exhalas Vineyard’ Grenache will provide drinking enjoyment for at least another seven to ten years. Drink 2018-2025- 97

(Tasted on 7/30/18 with Christophe Baron at Cayuse)
The ‘Sur Echalas Vineyard’ Grenache is a stunning new bottling by superstar vigneron Christophe Baron and assistant vigneronne Elizabeth Bourcier. The head-turning bouquet entices with potpourri, wild strawberry, tobacco leaf, wet stone and shades of Umami with blood orange zest and charcuterie on this highly complex and satisfying nose. The palate is lithe and light on its feet, as the wine simply dazzles across the palate. The marvelous salinity produces gobs of mouth-watering acidity. Leather, tarragon, orange zest, red cherry candy and shades of guava puree with white truffle shavings all round out this highly gratifying palate. The range imparted in the wine is second to none. The texture to this wine is also absolutely gorgeous as the wine has a seamless quality that gracefully dances across the mid-palate. Monumental, profound and a delight to savor now, this ‘Sur Echalas’ Grenache up there with the best of its kind in North America. Drink 2019-2029- 99

Beautiful nose of smoke, violet, black tea and bright cherry. Crisp acidity and lively red fruit flavors. Concentrated flavors of tea, black fruit and crunchy cranberry - delicious

Losing power on day 3, best on days 2 & 1. The most elegant of the franchise. More delicious than the #cayuse bottlings.

Good for 60min ..... then it feel apart. #grenache

Horsepower is the winery/label by Christophe Baron (Cayuse Vinyards)

Weirdly bitter. Did not like.

The least annoying in the franchise. Good structure with a beef pairing (lots of fat, please).