Cayuse Cailloux Syrah 2020

Cayuse Cailloux Syrah 2020 is a captivating red from one of Washington State’s most sought‑after estates, sourced from the iconic Cailloux Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley. Co‑fermented with 4% Viognier, it marries deep, savory Syrah character with lifted aromatics and remarkable finesse. This bottling has become a modern benchmark for Rhône-style wines in the United States, consistently celebrated for its individuality and cellar‑worthy structure.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2020 Cailloux Syrah shows a deep magenta core with vibrant, purple-tinged hues at the rim. The nose is wonderfully expressive yet tightly focused, opening with spicy, savory tones and a touch of reduction that blows off to reveal layers of dried and fresh herbs, black and green peppercorns, bitter black tea, dark cherry skin, and wilted flowers from the Viognier component. On the palate, this is medium to full-bodied, with a firm, fine-grained tannic frame that builds gradually and adds impressive structure. Flavors of stewed and macerated cherries are intertwined with roasted almonds, hints of vanilla from its time in French oak, and an underlying mineral streak. The finish is long, generous, and distinctly food-friendly, with spice and savory nuances lingering on the tongue. While already engaging now with a brief decant, this vintage has excellent aging potential and should evolve gracefully over 10–15 years, gaining further complexity and integration.

Production
Cailloux Vineyard is situated in the Walla Walla Valley on the famed cobblestone soils of what is now known as the Rocks District—a unique terroir of river stones over sandy loam that naturally limits yields and enhances concentration, structure, and savory detail. The 2020 Cailloux Syrah is crafted predominantly from Syrah co‑fermented with 4% Viognier, a traditional Côte‑Rôtie technique that heightens aromatics and adds silkiness to the texture. Grapes are carefully harvested by hand at optimal ripeness, ensuring strict selection in both vineyard and cellar. Fermentation typically takes place in small lots with native yeasts to capture site expression, followed by 18 months of maturation in French oak barrels, around 20% of which are new, lending subtle toasty and vanilla notes without overpowering the wine’s distinctive mineral and herbal character. The 2020 vintage is limited, with just 10,392 bottles produced.

Food & Serving
This Syrah’s savory spice, dark fruit, and firm structure make it particularly versatile at the table. It pairs beautifully with grilled lamb chops, braised short ribs, roast duck, or game dishes such as venison, and it also complements wild mushroom ragù, charred vegetables, and aged hard cheeses like Comté or Manchego. Serve at 16–18°C (60–65°F) to showcase its aromatic complexity and balance. Decant for 1–2 hours in its youth to soften the tannins and allow the reduction and peppery nuances to unfurl, and expect even more nuance to emerge with extended aeration.

Producer
Cayuse Vineyards was founded by French vigneron Christophe Baron, who famously discovered the stony, riverbed soils of Walla Walla’s Rocks District in the late 1990s and recognized their kinship with the great terroirs of the Rhône Valley. At a time when few believed in the potential of these cobblestone fields, Cayuse led the charge, pioneering biodynamic farming and low‑intervention winemaking in the area. Today, the estate is one of the most acclaimed producers in the Pacific Northwest, particularly renowned for its site-specific Syrahs, which have garnered critical acclaim and a devoted following. The Cailloux Vineyard bottling is one of Cayuse’s flagship wines, helping to define the distinct identity and global reputation of the Walla Walla Valley for world‑class, terroir‑driven Syrah.

We deliver within 2 - 6 business days. You can choose whether it should be to a parcel shop or home delivery. Free delivery to both parcel shops and your front door. Our store partners primarily use GLS, DPD, UPS and DHL for deliveries. We cover deliveries to the majority of countries in Europe.