2020 Cayuse Syrah Bionic Frog Syrah

2020 Cayuse Syrah Bionic Frog

98 JS

From the critics:

97 JD

96+ VM

96 WE

95 RP

92 WS

This is dark and earthy with blackberry bush, black raspberries, baking spices and black soil. Full-bodied with depth and finesse. So wide and plush, with tight but refined, silky tannins that show some creaminess. Seamless and long, with an array of floral and spicy flavors to the dark fruit. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.

James Suckling | 98 JS

Another brilliant Syrah from this team, the 2020 Syrah Bionic Frog reveals a translucent ruby hue to go with a rocking bouquet of ripe framboise and mulberry-like fruits as well as notions of smoked earth, spring flowers, rose petals, ground pepper, graphite, and crushed stone. (It has more than a passing resemblance to a great vintage of Jamet’s Côte Rôtie Côte Brune.) Incredibly complex, medium to full-bodied, and elegant on the palate, it has ripe, integrated tannins, flawless balance, and a great finish. It’s a stunning Syrah that deserves 3-5 years of bottle age and will evolve for two decades in cold cellars.

Jeb Dunnuck | 97 JD

Darkly alluring and savory, the 2020 Syrah Bionic Frog smolders up from the glass with a burst of wild herbs, tomato leaf, dark earth and black currants. Supremely silky, this soothes with its ripe fruits and sweet inner florals, yet there’s a savory, nearly sultry core. Lavender nuances resonate throughout. It tapers off long and staining, leaving a tinge of juicy acidity to balance, as violet inner florals linger throughout the pleasantly chewy finale.

Vinous Media | 96+ VM

The iconic frog, with its aromas and flavors of blackberries, black tea, beeswax, grilled meat and leather, once again hops into one’s heart. Its thick and pleasing texture coats the palate, while citrus-like acidity lights the path. Cue Iggy Pop’s "Lust for Life" on the turntable and dig in.

Wine Enthusiast | 96 WE

Dark-fruited, bold and juicy aromas waft from the glass of the 2020 Syrah Bionic Frog with hints of black raspberries, soy, olive and crème de violette. The nose is fresh, floral and packed with notions of roasted herbs and succulent spiced cherries. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is balanced on the palate with savory flavors, an umami essence and a lingering, firm tannic edge that will remain food friendly for over a decade. The wine rested for a year and a half in about 20% new French oak barrels. 6,336 bottles produced.

Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95 RP

Precise and nuanced, with handsome huckleberry, river stone and black olive accents that build tension toward the long, savory finish. Drink now through 2030. 543 cases made.

Wine Spectator | 92 WS

Type of Wine	Washington Red
Varietal	Syrah : Something magical occurred when two ancient French grapes procreated and the varietal of Syrah entered the world of winegrowing. The exact time period of its inception is still undetermined; however, the origin of Syrah’s parentage confirms it was birthed in the Rhone Valley. DNA testing performed by UC Davis has indicated that Syrah is the progeny of the varietals Dureza and Mondeuse Blanche, both of Rhone origin. Syrah dominates its native homeland of Northern Rhone and has become one of the most popular grape varietals in the world. Syrah, Shiraz and Petite Sirah have often been confused and misunderstood, some consumers believing them to all be the same grape, while others thinking the opposite. Petite Sirah is actually the offspring of Syrah and Peloursin and though related, is an entirely different grape variety. Its official name is Durif, for the name of the French nurseryman who first propagated the varietal in the 1880s; it is called Petite Sirah in California (due to the resemblance of Syrah, but smaller berries). Syrah and Shiraz are the same grape. Producers in Australia have been labelling Syrah as “Shiraz” since James Busby first introduced the varietal to the continent. The Scottish viticulturist brought Syrah from France to Australia in the middle of the 18th century and labelled the cuttings as “Sycras” and “Ciras,” which may have led to the naming. Most California vintners label their bottlings as Syrah and of course in French style and tradition, the name of the village or area the grape is cultivated dictates the label name. The Syrah grape is at home in Northern Rhone where the climate is cool and the terroir is filled with gravel, schist, limestone, iron, granite and sandy soils. It thrives on rocky, hilly terrain with a southern exposure, due to its need for sunlight. Syrah is a very vigorous grape with a spreading growth habit. The berries are small to medium oval shaped blue-black and tend to shrivel when ripe. Today, Syrah is one of the most popular and widely planted grape varietals in the world, covering almost 190,000 hectares across the earth’s surface. It is the only red grape variety permitted by AOC regulations in the appellations of Hermitage and Cote-Rotie, where it has breathed life into some of the most tremendous wines on the planet. Languedoc-Roussilon has the most surface area planted in France with 43,200 hectares dedicated to Syrah. The varietal is used for blending in Southern Rhone, Provence and even Bordeaux. Syrah has spread worldwide from Australia to California and South Africa to Spain creating the ‘New World’ hype of the varietal. Since the 1990’s, Syrah winegrowing and production has increased exponentially; for example, in 1958 there were a mere 2,000 hectares planted in France. By 2005 that number increased to over 68,000 hectares and today it is well over 70,000. The same holds true for California, Australia and other ‘New World’ producers that have jumped “all in.” World-wide there are approximately 190,000 hectares of Syrah currently being cultivated. The allure of Syrah has taken the world by storm, but is important to note where the hype began. Long before Syrah was being stamped with ‘New World’ or of ‘cult status,’ the tremendous quality of Hermitage was being written about in Thomas Jefferson’s diary. Today, the grape variety can be grown, fashioned, named and enjoyed in a myriad of ways, but the quality of Syrah grape remains the same – incredible.
Country	US : As one of the most prolific and innovative wine regions in the world, America is a joy to explore. Most wine connoisseurs will agree that the nation's finest and most compelling wines are being produced today, which means that we have front-row seats to one of the most inspirational stories in wine history. While other regions tend to focus on specific wine styles and have somewhat strict rules as to which varietals you could grow, areas like California have few such restrictions in place. As a result, creative visionaries behind America's most reputable estates have been able to develop compelling, unique, and innovative styles, with a level of terroir expression that rivals even France's largest giants.
Region	Washington : While California definitely owns the spotlight when it comes to excellent American wines, Washington winemakers should certainly not be underestimated. While their traditional focus was set firmly on refreshing, illustrious white wines, they've adopted French red varietals like Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Since then, they've been achieving excellence in both categories and can compete with the world's most prestigious viticultural titans. Flavor-wise, you can expect a healthy amount of variety when it comes to Washington's finest wines. From acidic and fruity bottles that can shake you up from even the deepest slumber or sadness to rich and ripe powerhouses that command the respect of everyone in the room after as much as a single whiff. Juicy raspberries that gently tickle your tongue, deep and noble blackberries, intense cherries and earthen oak - these are the flavors that characterize this region, despite the presence of an entire orchestral symphony of other aromatic notes. A sampling of fine wine from Washington is a lot like being seduced, so why not uncork one of these bottles for a potential or existing partner? With a drink of this quality, those romantic sparks will turn into a fireworks display, as your emotions are laid bare and intensified, and you make a connection that can last a lifetime.
Subregion	Columbia Valley
Appellation	Walla Walla

Producer	Cayuse Vineyards : The Domaine of Cayuse is located in the Stones of the Walla Walla Valley, where it is said “The Stones hold the secret.” Over the past twenty years, Christophe Baron has made it his mission to carve out food-friendly wines of incredible depth and character from the almost mythical plot of treasured, and now historic land. The young and impetuous, French Vigneron visited the little-known town of Walla Walla and fell in love with its seemingly useless stone covered farmland. There were many who doubted such a venture could turn bountiful. However, that is simply just what happened, silencing the nay-sayers; who are probably still trying to allocate some of his highly sought after wines. Cayuse produces 3,500 cases of a multitude of varieties; Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Merlot, Tempranillo and Viognier. The varietals hail from five different vineyards - Cailloux, Coccinelle, En Cerise, En Chamberlin, and Aramada. The vineyards and their locations are important to the identity of the wines themselves as their true fingerprints are in the minerality. Each wine is true to the unique terroir of the vineyards. Christophe says, “You want to taste the place.” So… do the stones hold the secret, as a brash, young visiting vigneron believed? Christophe probably deserves more credit himself for his farming methods: which is biodynamical, completely free of chemicals, pesticides and fungicides. His efforts at cultivating the land to develop healthier soil is astounding. But, then again, there is an allure in mythical stories.