Christophe Baron

Today we would like to feature the wines of Christophe Baron. We are fortunate to have deep options from all three of his critically acclaimed Washington wineries. It was the acres of stones that impressed him in Walla Walla, he had planned to purchase land in Willamette and try his hand at Pinot Noir. He could not get those stones out of his mind, and on a fateful trip in 1997 he set out to model the southern Rhone valley and Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Creating Cayuse with a deep focus on site specific Rhone-varietals. His next venture started as a side-project with his Cayuse general manager, Trevor Dorlan, No Girls is a lesson in wines from the La Paciencia vineyard. Horsepower is yet another Walla Walla winery that continues a focus on Rhone varietals, but here a nod to history with only featuring vineyards that are tilled by horse-drawn plows.

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Producer	Vint.	Wine	Price	Qty	Order
		USA Red
Cayuse	2013	Camaspelo Proprietary Blend Slightly Raised Cork	$109	2
	WA 94 (6/2016): Leading off the 2013s, the 332-case 2013 Camaspelo is made from 81% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19% Merlot that was aged all in puncheons. Notes of iron, red and black currants, licorice and lead pencil characteristics emerge from this medium to full-bodied, elegant, complex Bordeaux blend that would pass undetected in a lineup of Pauillacs. Give it 3-4 years of cellaring and drink through 2033.   VM 93+ (11/2016): Healthy dark red. Very black aromas of cassis, blackberry, black olive, spices and mint. Densely packed and very sweet, boasting a terrific combination of urgent crushed cassis and black cherry fruit and savory complexity. Not yet hugely complex or particularly floral, but this very intense wine is still a baby. Finishes very long and savory, with youthfully edgy tannins and excellent energy and lift. Stephen Tanzer.   WS 93 (8/2016): Broad and expressive, layered with cherry, blackberry, cocoa and floral flavors playing against refined tannins that carry the long finish. Has terrific presence and harmony. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2018 through 2023. 332 cases made.
	2016	Edith Grenache Rose	$59	1
	WS 90 (11/2018): (this wine now spends 24 hours on its skins, up from 15 previously; according to assistant winemaker Elizabeth Bourcier, "it's getting more body without really dark color"): Pale pink. Aromas of strawberry, watermelon and spices. Nicely concentrated, tactile wine that's technically dry at less than two grams per liter but offers a seductive hint of sweetness, plus a bit of CO2 spritz. With its sound acidity, this slightly dusty wine would pair well with oysters. This is more like a Sancerre Rosé than something from farther to the south. Christophe Baron makes this wine from six rows of vines grown specifically for rosé, cropped higher than his red Grenache and picked at between 21.5 and 22 degrees Brix.
	2010	God Only Knows Armada Vyd. Grenache	$119	3
	WA 93+ (6/2013): The almost all Grenache 2010 God Only Knows (named as such because the full blend is unknown, or so we’re told) is a complex, elegant version of this wine, with a Rayas-like perfume of kirsch, white pepper, stem, herbes de Provence and a gamey meatiness that comes out with air. Medium to full-bodied, silky and seamless on the palate, with juicy acidity, polished tannin and a light, clean texture, it lacks the back-end concentration of a top vintage, yet possesses brilliant purity and balance. It will benefit from short-term cellaring and impress for upwards of a decade. Drink 2015-2020.   VM 93 (12/2013): Good medium red. Knockout aromas of musky raspberry, black olive, smoke, leather and brown sugar, lifted by an ineffable floral topnote. All silky texture and perfume in the mouth, showing brisk peppery lift to the flavors of raspberry and gunflint. The long, building finish boasts very suave tannins and lovely retention of fresh fruit. This wine reminded me of a Chateauneuf du Pape from Domaine de Marcoux.
	2014	The Widowmaker En Chamberlin Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon	$199	3
	WS 93 (7/2017): Plush, expressive and well-structured, with savory black cherry and stony mineral aromas and dense but polished licorice and espresso flavors that linger toward refined tannins. Best from 2019 through 2025. 505 cases made.
	2016	The Widowmaker En Chamberlin Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon	$159	3
	JD 94-96 (4/2018): The 2016 Widowmaker En Chamberlin Vineyard offers a ruby/plum color to go with a singular bouquet of lavender, crème de cassis, campfire, and truffle. It’s medium to full-bodied, silky, and elegant on the palate, with a rounded, sexy texture and perfect balance. It shows slightly more sous bois and Rocks character than the 2015 did at this stage and I expect it will drink nicely right out of the gate.
Horsepower Vineyards	2012	Sur Echalas Vyd. Grenache	$149	1
	WS 96 (6/2015): Dark, dense and focused, yet surprisingly light-footed, layering chalk and wet rock minerality through the ripe and meaty cherry and clotted cream flavors. Complex and inviting, this is long as a midsummer day. Drink now through 2025. 203 cases made.   WA 95 (6/2015): Sporting a transparent ruby color, the 2012 Grenache Sur Echalas Vineyard is Rayas-like in its perfume (I served this blind to a great taster and they guessed 2001 Rayas) of kirsch, blackberry, ground pepper, gunpowder and floral-laced nuances. Full-bodied, elegant and layered, I thought it showed more flesh and texture from barrel, but it's still a gorgeous Grenache. Drink it anytime over the coming decade or more.   VM 94 (11/2015): (13.1% alcohol): Moderately saturated medium red. Mesmerizing aromas of raspberry, peony, garrigue, smoke and earth; would anyone not pick this blind as a French wine? Dry, saline and superconcentrated, with raspberry and earth flavors conveying superb penetration and energy. Finishes with big, dusty tannins and Outstanding length and spicy lift. A great American Grenache. Christophe Baron's biodynamically farmed Sur Echalas Vineyard, planted in 2008, is the densest in Walla Walla Valley, with 4,840 vines per acre (i.e., three feet by three feet spacing). Stephen Tanzer.
	2012	Sur Echalas Vyd. Grenache	$194	1
	WS 96 (6/2015): Dark, dense and focused, yet surprisingly light-footed, layering chalk and wet rock minerality through the ripe and meaty cherry and clotted cream flavors. Complex and inviting, this is long as a midsummer day. Drink now through 2025. 203 cases made.   WA 95 (6/2015): Sporting a transparent ruby color, the 2012 Grenache Sur Echalas Vineyard is Rayas-like in its perfume (I served this blind to a great taster and they guessed 2001 Rayas) of kirsch, blackberry, ground pepper, gunpowder and floral-laced nuances. Full-bodied, elegant and layered, I thought it showed more flesh and texture from barrel, but it's still a gorgeous Grenache. Drink it anytime over the coming decade or more.   VM 94 (11/2015): (13.1% alcohol): Moderately saturated medium red. Mesmerizing aromas of raspberry, peony, garrigue, smoke and earth; would anyone not pick this blind as a French wine? Dry, saline and superconcentrated, with raspberry and earth flavors conveying superb penetration and energy. Finishes with big, dusty tannins and Outstanding length and spicy lift. A great American Grenache. Christophe Baron's biodynamically farmed Sur Echalas Vineyard, planted in 2008, is the densest in Walla Walla Valley, with 4,840 vines per acre (i.e., three feet by three feet spacing). Stephen Tanzer.
	2013	Sur Echalas Vyd. Grenache	$135	1
	WA 95 (6/2015): Aged in puncheon and neutral oak and bottled in August of 2014, the 2013 Grenache Sur Echalas Vineyard sports a transparent ruby color to go with classic Grenache notes of wild strawberries, peppery herbs, licorice, hints of iron and good minerality that comes out more on the finish. Similar in style to the 2012, with a savory edge, this medium to full-bodied beauty has fine tannin, a supple, sexy texture and a great finish. It should hit prime time around age 4-6 and drink nicely through 2028.
	2013	Sur Echalas Vyd. Grenache	$160	2
	WA 95 (6/2015): Aged in puncheon and neutral oak and bottled in August of 2014, the 2013 Grenache Sur Echalas Vineyard sports a transparent ruby color to go with classic Grenache notes of wild strawberries, peppery herbs, licorice, hints of iron and good minerality that comes out more on the finish. Similar in style to the 2012, with a savory edge, this medium to full-bodied beauty has fine tannin, a supple, sexy texture and a great finish. It should hit prime time around age 4-6 and drink nicely through 2028.
	2015	Sur Echalas Vyd. Grenache	$119	1
	JD 94 (4/2018): The 2015 Grenache Sur Echalas Vineyard is a classic expression of both the terroir and the variety. Black cherries, strawberries, ground pepper, and forest floor notes all flow to a medium to full-bodied, silky Grenache that has incredible character and depth. Drink it over the coming decade.
	2015	Sur Echalas Vyd. Grenache	$142	2
	JD 94 (4/2018): The 2015 Grenache Sur Echalas Vineyard is a classic expression of both the terroir and the variety. Black cherries, strawberries, ground pepper, and forest floor notes all flow to a medium to full-bodied, silky Grenache that has incredible character and depth. Drink it over the coming decade.
	2012	Sur Echalas Vyd. Syrah	$125	1
	WA 97 (6/2015): Another wine I was able to taste multiple times, the 2012 Syrah Sur Echalas Vineyard is the most voluptuous, sexy and textured of the lineup. Giving up classic, Old World Syrah notes of blackcurrants, black olives, smoked meats, ground pepper and violets, this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness and is gorgeous, concentrated and expansiveness on the palate, with plenty of of mid-palate depth and length. The tannin becomes more and more apparent with time in the glass. This needs 3-4 years to round into form, and will keep for 15-20 years. As with all of these 2012s, decant if drinking anytime soon.   VM 93+ (11/2015): Dark ruby. Black raspberry, cassis, smoked meat, white pepper, lavender and brown spices on the nose; very aromatic Syrah in a Côte Blonde style. Dense, savory, superconcentrated dark fruit and meat flavors unsullied by new oak. Wonderfully supple, balanced wine but not yet forthcoming. Finishes with big but very suave tannins. This needs some time in the cellar to express its underlying fruit. Stephen Tanzer.   WS 92 (6/2015): Starts off aromatic and generous, with plum and currant flavors, but turns steely and tight as the mineral notes overstep the fruit, coming together in a savory, sinewy style that keeps up the intensity without great weight. Drink now through 2022. 242 cases made.
	2012	Sur Echalas Vyd. Syrah	$145	1
	WA 97 (6/2015): Another wine I was able to taste multiple times, the 2012 Syrah Sur Echalas Vineyard is the most voluptuous, sexy and textured of the lineup. Giving up classic, Old World Syrah notes of blackcurrants, black olives, smoked meats, ground pepper and violets, this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness and is gorgeous, concentrated and expansiveness on the palate, with plenty of of mid-palate depth and length. The tannin becomes more and more apparent with time in the glass. This needs 3-4 years to round into form, and will keep for 15-20 years. As with all of these 2012s, decant if drinking anytime soon.   VM 93+ (11/2015): Dark ruby. Black raspberry, cassis, smoked meat, white pepper, lavender and brown spices on the nose; very aromatic Syrah in a Côte Blonde style. Dense, savory, superconcentrated dark fruit and meat flavors unsullied by new oak. Wonderfully supple, balanced wine but not yet forthcoming. Finishes with big but very suave tannins. This needs some time in the cellar to express its underlying fruit. Stephen Tanzer.   WS 92 (6/2015): Starts off aromatic and generous, with plum and currant flavors, but turns steely and tight as the mineral notes overstep the fruit, coming together in a savory, sinewy style that keeps up the intensity without great weight. Drink now through 2022. 242 cases made.
	2013	Sur Echalas Vyd. Syrah	$159	3
	WA 97 (6/2015): Up with the top three or four Syrahs in the vintage, the 2013 Syrah Sur Echalas Vineyard, which was bottled in August of last year, offers a complex, savory, mineral-laced style to go with a complex bouquet of ground herbs, pepper, beef blood, dried flower and cured meats. This is a full-bodied Syrah that has considerable mid-palate density, fine tannin and good overall freshness (although I'm sure the pH is 4 or higher). Like the 2012, it needs 2-3 years of bottle age and will drink well for 15 years or more.
	2014	Sur Echalas Vyd. Syrah	$112	1
	WA 97 (6/2017): Another soot, tar, mineral, bacon fat and smoked dark fruit driven beauty is the 2014 Syrah Sur Echalas Vineyard. Made from 100% Syrah, this peppery, bloody, iodine, full-bodied, concentrated effort has building tannin, a great mid-palate and a salt-laced finish. It's another unique, singular beauty that's going to benefit from short term cellaring and keep for two decades.   WS 93 (7/2017): Plump yet structured, with a delicate core of lively acidity and stony tannins, supported by rich black raspberry, tapenade and bacon flavors. Drink now through 2024. 271 cases made.
	2014	Sur Echalas Vyd. Syrah	$135	1
	WA 97 (6/2017): Another soot, tar, mineral, bacon fat and smoked dark fruit driven beauty is the 2014 Syrah Sur Echalas Vineyard. Made from 100% Syrah, this peppery, bloody, iodine, full-bodied, concentrated effort has building tannin, a great mid-palate and a salt-laced finish. It's another unique, singular beauty that's going to benefit from short term cellaring and keep for two decades.   WS 93 (7/2017): Plump yet structured, with a delicate core of lively acidity and stony tannins, supported by rich black raspberry, tapenade and bacon flavors. Drink now through 2024. 271 cases made.
	2014	Sur Echalas Vyd. Syrah	$159	2
	WA 97 (6/2017): Another soot, tar, mineral, bacon fat and smoked dark fruit driven beauty is the 2014 Syrah Sur Echalas Vineyard. Made from 100% Syrah, this peppery, bloody, iodine, full-bodied, concentrated effort has building tannin, a great mid-palate and a salt-laced finish. It's another unique, singular beauty that's going to benefit from short term cellaring and keep for two decades.   WS 93 (7/2017): Plump yet structured, with a delicate core of lively acidity and stony tannins, supported by rich black raspberry, tapenade and bacon flavors. Drink now through 2024. 271 cases made.
	2015	Sur Echalas Vyd. Syrah	$135	5
	JD 93+ (4/2018): The 2015 Syrah Sur Echalas Vineyard is a savory, tertiary effort that’s reminiscent of red wine filtered through a rocky riverbed. Earth, chalky minerality, wood smoke, and sous bois notes, as well as both red and black fruits, give way to a medium to full-bodied, seamless Syrah that has light tannin, no hard edges, and a singular, transparent character. It’s going to gain weight with 2-3 years in bottle and drink well for a decade.
	2012	The Tribe Vyd. Syrah	$139	3
	WA 97 (6/2015): More gamy, bloody and meaty than the Sur Echalas Vineyard Syrah, the 2012 Syrah The Tribe Vineyard is a full-bodied, elegant, concentrated and structured effort that gives up complex notes of savory dark fruits, beef blood, dried herbs, pepper and olives. It's another incredible Syrah that needs short-term cellaring, but will have two decades of evolution.   WS 93 (6/2015): Supple and expressive, with plum and currant flavors and stony overtones combining with hints of black olive and white pepper, adding depth to a distinctive profile on a medium-weight frame that punches above its weight. The deft balance plays against nubby tannins. Drink now through 2025. 463 cases made.   VM 93+ (11/2015): (14.1% alcohol; as with the Echalas Vineyard, the Tribe is cultivated with draft horses): Dark ruby. Aromas of black cherry, liquefied lamb tartare, paprika and black licorice, plus a note of medicinal reserve. Hugely sweet and concentrated but carrying a good bit of unabsorbed CO2 and showing less finesse today than the Cayuse Syrah bottlings from the 2012 vintage. Inky and primary, with strong underlying minerality. This is distinctly Brune while the Echalas Syrah is more Blonde. Finishes with substantial ripe tannins and a slight bitter edge that will require cellaring. Stephen Tanzer.
	2014	The Tribe Vyd. Syrah	$169	2
	WA 96+ (6/2017): From a site that's next to En Chamberlin that's planted with a 4x4 spacing (the Sur Echalas is 3x3), the 2014 Syrah The Tribe Vineyard offers more fruit (blackberry, black cherry) as well as beautiful notes of violets, rose petal, pepper and earth. Fermented with 100% whole clusters and aged in neutral puncheons, this full-bodied beauty has fine tannin, juicy acidity and a great finish. It's in direct contrast to the more masculine, meaty, umami style of the Sur Echalas Vineyard. Give it 2-3 years and it too will be long lived!   VM 93 (10/2017): (13.2% alcohol; this 3-1/2-acre vineyard planted to small-berried Alban Syrah clones--Baron described them as Petit Serine--is situated next to En Chamberlain): Bright ruby-red. Captivating black pepper lift to the aromas of purple fruits, violet, leather and smoke; reminded me of Cornas. Dense, savory, rich and dry, with its purple fruit flavors currently overshadowed by saddle leather and salty minerality, plus a hint of peppery rawness. Finishes with plush, fine-grained tannins. Despite this wine's plump, savory, high-pH mouth feel, it needs time to blossom in the bottle. Stephen Tanzer.   WS 93 (7/2017): Balances power and finesse, with distinctive plum, bacon fat and black olive aromas and dense yet polished blackberry and stony mineral flavors that lead to big but refined tannins on the finish. Drink now through 2024. 520 cases made.
	2015	The Tribe Vyd. Syrah	$119	1
	JD 95+ (4/2018): Cut from the same cloth, the 2015 Syrah The Tribe Vineyard offers slightly more depth and length. Blackcurrants, ground pepper, smoked earth, and a beef broth-like meatiness all emerge from this full-bodied, deep, layered Syrah that offers more purity and floral nuances with time in the glass. Like the Sur Echalas Vineyard release, it has silky tannin, integrated acidity, and a great finish. Give it 2-3 years of bottle age and it’s going to drink nicely for a decade. If drinking anytime soon, don’t be afraid to give all these Horsepower releases plenty of airtime.
	2015	The Tribe Vyd. Syrah	$133	3
	JD 95+ (4/2018): Cut from the same cloth, the 2015 Syrah The Tribe Vineyard offers slightly more depth and length. Blackcurrants, ground pepper, smoked earth, and a beef broth-like meatiness all emerge from this full-bodied, deep, layered Syrah that offers more purity and floral nuances with time in the glass. Like the Sur Echalas Vineyard release, it has silky tannin, integrated acidity, and a great finish. Give it 2-3 years of bottle age and it’s going to drink nicely for a decade. If drinking anytime soon, don’t be afraid to give all these Horsepower releases plenty of airtime.
	2015	The Tribe Vyd. Syrah	$135	1
	JD 95+ (4/2018): Cut from the same cloth, the 2015 Syrah The Tribe Vineyard offers slightly more depth and length. Blackcurrants, ground pepper, smoked earth, and a beef broth-like meatiness all emerge from this full-bodied, deep, layered Syrah that offers more purity and floral nuances with time in the glass. Like the Sur Echalas Vineyard release, it has silky tannin, integrated acidity, and a great finish. Give it 2-3 years of bottle age and it’s going to drink nicely for a decade. If drinking anytime soon, don’t be afraid to give all these Horsepower releases plenty of airtime.
	2016	The Tribe Vyd. Syrah	$149	2
	JD 97+ (4/2019): The 2016 Syrah The Tribe is largely in the same mold with a gamy, meaty, backward profile. Smoked meats, earthy dark fruits, ground pepper, and wood smoke are all present in this medium to full-bodied, concentrated Syrah that’s going to benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age and cruise for 15-20 years.
No Girls	2008	Walla Walla Valley La Paciencia Vyd. Grenache	$115	1
	2010	Walla Walla Valley La Paciencia Vyd. Grenache	$119	2
	WA 94 (6/2013): Showing the house style, which is generally more finesse driven than the wines of Cayuse, the 2010 Grenache La Paciencia Vineyard is a gorgeously complex, elegant effort that has both richness and freshness. A 100% Grenache that sees no new oak whatsoever, it possesses exotic aromas and flavors of lavender, olive, river rock and spiced meats that are all grounded by a sweet core of black cherry-like fruit. Medium to full-bodied, transparent and supple, with a deft, seamless texture, juicy acidity and Outstanding length, this beautifully done 2010 will drink well for 7-8 years. Drink now-2020.
	2011	Walla Walla Valley La Paciencia Vyd. Grenache	$105	1
	WA 94 (6/2014): The 2011 Grenache La Paciencia Vineyard is 100% Grenache that was harvested on October 23 and aged 22 months in neutral puncheons. Elegant and finesse driven, with a sweet bouquet of wild strawberries, mint, game, rose petal and dried flowers, it is medium to full-bodied, seamless and silky on the palate, with no hard edges. Already delicious, it will drink beautifully over the coming decade or more.   VM 92+ (12/2014): (13.8% alcohol; made entirely in neutral puncheons; a project involving Cayuse’s Christophe Baron and several of his employees; Baron’s assistant winemaker Elizabeth Bourcier has essentially assumed winemaking responsibilities for the No Girls wines): Good medium red. Musky strawberry, raspberry, black truffle and black pepper on the nose; a bit higher-pitched than the God Only Knows Grenache Christophe Baron also makes under his Cayuse label. Concentrated and saline, offering piquant peppery lift to the extremely primary red berry flavors. Sharply delineated, very elegant Grenache made without any new oak. Less rich than the God Only Knows (these vines, mostly from Alban clones, were planted between 2003 and 2005) but with more early punch. Finishes firm and smoky, with savory tannins and excellent verve. Baron recommends serving this wine with white meats or with Asian-style hardshell crab. The La Paciencia Vineyard is located just north of the very stony, high-density Armada Vineyard. The only significant difference between the two parcels is that the rows in La Paciencia are angled differently and get less direct sunlight. Stephen Tanzer.   WS 92 (8/2015): Sensationally complex and subtle, with spicy, savory and smoky nuances around a core of pure currant and plum fruit. The aftertaste reveals a bitter radish bite, but the overall effect is warm, deft and inviting. Drink now through 2019. 236 cases made.
	2011	Walla Walla Valley La Paciencia Vyd. Grenache	$115	5
	WA 94 (6/2014): The 2011 Grenache La Paciencia Vineyard is 100% Grenache that was harvested on October 23 and aged 22 months in neutral puncheons. Elegant and finesse driven, with a sweet bouquet of wild strawberries, mint, game, rose petal and dried flowers, it is medium to full-bodied, seamless and silky on the palate, with no hard edges. Already delicious, it will drink beautifully over the coming decade or more.   VM 92+ (12/2014): (13.8% alcohol; made entirely in neutral puncheons; a project involving Cayuse’s Christophe Baron and several of his employees; Baron’s assistant winemaker Elizabeth Bourcier has essentially assumed winemaking responsibilities for the No Girls wines): Good medium red. Musky strawberry, raspberry, black truffle and black pepper on the nose; a bit higher-pitched than the God Only Knows Grenache Christophe Baron also makes under his Cayuse label. Concentrated and saline, offering piquant peppery lift to the extremely primary red berry flavors. Sharply delineated, very elegant Grenache made without any new oak. Less rich than the God Only Knows (these vines, mostly from Alban clones, were planted between 2003 and 2005) but with more early punch. Finishes firm and smoky, with savory tannins and excellent verve. Baron recommends serving this wine with white meats or with Asian-style hardshell crab. The La Paciencia Vineyard is located just north of the very stony, high-density Armada Vineyard. The only significant difference between the two parcels is that the rows in La Paciencia are angled differently and get less direct sunlight. Stephen Tanzer.   WS 92 (8/2015): Sensationally complex and subtle, with spicy, savory and smoky nuances around a core of pure currant and plum fruit. The aftertaste reveals a bitter radish bite, but the overall effect is warm, deft and inviting. Drink now through 2019. 236 cases made.
	2011	Walla Walla Valley La Paciencia Vyd. Grenache Wrinkled Label	$115	1
	WA 94 (6/2014): The 2011 Grenache La Paciencia Vineyard is 100% Grenache that was harvested on October 23 and aged 22 months in neutral puncheons. Elegant and finesse driven, with a sweet bouquet of wild strawberries, mint, game, rose petal and dried flowers, it is medium to full-bodied, seamless and silky on the palate, with no hard edges. Already delicious, it will drink beautifully over the coming decade or more.   VM 92+ (12/2014): (13.8% alcohol; made entirely in neutral puncheons; a project involving Cayuse’s Christophe Baron and several of his employees; Baron’s assistant winemaker Elizabeth Bourcier has essentially assumed winemaking responsibilities for the No Girls wines): Good medium red. Musky strawberry, raspberry, black truffle and black pepper on the nose; a bit higher-pitched than the God Only Knows Grenache Christophe Baron also makes under his Cayuse label. Concentrated and saline, offering piquant peppery lift to the extremely primary red berry flavors. Sharply delineated, very elegant Grenache made without any new oak. Less rich than the God Only Knows (these vines, mostly from Alban clones, were planted between 2003 and 2005) but with more early punch. Finishes firm and smoky, with savory tannins and excellent verve. Baron recommends serving this wine with white meats or with Asian-style hardshell crab. The La Paciencia Vineyard is located just north of the very stony, high-density Armada Vineyard. The only significant difference between the two parcels is that the rows in La Paciencia are angled differently and get less direct sunlight. Stephen Tanzer.   WS 92 (8/2015): Sensationally complex and subtle, with spicy, savory and smoky nuances around a core of pure currant and plum fruit. The aftertaste reveals a bitter radish bite, but the overall effect is warm, deft and inviting. Drink now through 2019. 236 cases made.
	2012	Walla Walla Valley La Paciencia Vyd. Grenache	$129	5
	WA 95 (6/2015): There are 298 cases of the 2012 Grenache La Paciencia Vineyard and it’s unquestionably the best vintage of this wine to date. Offering fabulous intensity in its strawberry, raspberry, spice, pepper and floral bouquet, this beauty hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a supple, elegant texture and a seamless, lengthy finish. This wows with its purity and finesse-driven style more than for weight or richness, and it should evolve nicely given its overall balance. Drink 2016-2024.   VM 92 (11/2015): (done entirely in neutral barrels and concrete): Moderately saturated pale red. Old World nose offers scents of raspberry, cranberry, smoke, flint, peony, rose petal and pink peppercorn. A juicy, pure wine with lovely precision and finesse, with the red berry flavors complicated by saline minerality; the mouthfeel here is distinctly Burgundian. Finishes with slightly edgy tannins and acidity but still offers considerable early appeal for its sheer verve. A fascinating Washington Grenache. Elizabeth Bourcier, who is "assistant vigneronne" at Cayuse, has recently taken over responsibility for the No Girls wines. She noted that the crop level here was just 1.2 tons per acre; the Paciencia vineyard is situated just north of Armada, in the Rocks district.
	2012	Walla Walla Valley La Paciencia Vyd. Grenache	$139	2
	WA 95 (6/2015): There are 298 cases of the 2012 Grenache La Paciencia Vineyard and it’s unquestionably the best vintage of this wine to date. Offering fabulous intensity in its strawberry, raspberry, spice, pepper and floral bouquet, this beauty hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a supple, elegant texture and a seamless, lengthy finish. This wows with its purity and finesse-driven style more than for weight or richness, and it should evolve nicely given its overall balance. Drink 2016-2024.   VM 92 (11/2015): (done entirely in neutral barrels and concrete): Moderately saturated pale red. Old World nose offers scents of raspberry, cranberry, smoke, flint, peony, rose petal and pink peppercorn. A juicy, pure wine with lovely precision and finesse, with the red berry flavors complicated by saline minerality; the mouthfeel here is distinctly Burgundian. Finishes with slightly edgy tannins and acidity but still offers considerable early appeal for its sheer verve. A fascinating Washington Grenache. Elizabeth Bourcier, who is "assistant vigneronne" at Cayuse, has recently taken over responsibility for the No Girls wines. She noted that the crop level here was just 1.2 tons per acre; the Paciencia vineyard is situated just north of Armada, in the Rocks district.
	2013	Walla Walla Valley La Paciencia Vyd. Grenache	$113	2
	WA 95 (6/2016): Leading off the 2013s from bottle, the 2013 Grenache la Paciencia Vineyard is getting up there with some of the top Grenache releases to come out of the New World. Incredibly perfumed, with notes of herbes de Provence, flowers, dried strawberries and assorted red fruits, it’s medium to full-bodied, seamless and impeccably balanced. The buzz words here are perfume, complexity and elegance. It’s also worth noting that the Grenache vines for this wine come from the famed Rayas lieu-dit in Chateauneuf du Pape.   WS 93 (7/2017): Sleek and polished, with a structured backbone, offering floral raspberry and bacon fat aromas and layered red plum and cracked pepper flavors that linger toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2023. 304 cases made.   VM 92 (11/2016): (13.6% alcohol; from a crop level of just 1.2 tons per acre, according to winemaker Elizabeth Bourcier): Moderately saturated medium red. Musky raspberry and strawberry fruit aromas are complicated by smoke, flint, olive tapenade and a note of garrigue on the perfumed nose. Delivers an intriguing sweet/savory character to its flavors of red berries, cherries in cream, flinty minerals and smoke. Suppler than past vintages of this wine but still quite precise in the middle palate. The resounding finish is firmly tannic and long, leaving an impression of weightlessness that's rare for Grenache in the New World. This fruit is actually harvested later than Cayuse's Armada Grenache but it shows no lack of lift. Stephen Tanzer.
	2014	Walla Walla Valley La Paciencia Vyd. Grenache	$105	4
	WA 96 (6/2017): Leading off the 2014s, the 2014 Grenache la Paciencia Vineyard was partially destemmed, vinified in concrete tanks and aged all in neutral foudres and 600-liter barrels. It’s a totally gorgeous red that gives up complex notes of rose petals, black cherries, olive brine, underbrush and ample salinity that literally makes you salivate. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated, and yet ethereally textured and elegance, give bottles a couple years and enjoy through 2026.
	2015	Walla Walla Valley La Paciencia Vyd. Grenache	$119	1
	WA 96 (4/2018): Starting with the 2015 Grenache La Paciencia from bottle, this brilliant wine tastes like a Chambolle-Musigny mixed with a Châteauneuf du Pape from Rayas! Strawberries, raspberry liqueur, green olive, and floral notes all flow to a medium-bodied, ethereally textured, beautiful Grenache that has plenty of intensity, yet just dances on the palate with no weight or heaviness. Enjoy this elixir over the coming 7-8 years.
	2015	Walla Walla Valley La Paciencia Vyd. Grenache	$125	2
	WA 96 (4/2018): Starting with the 2015 Grenache La Paciencia from bottle, this brilliant wine tastes like a Chambolle-Musigny mixed with a Châteauneuf du Pape from Rayas! Strawberries, raspberry liqueur, green olive, and floral notes all flow to a medium-bodied, ethereally textured, beautiful Grenache that has plenty of intensity, yet just dances on the palate with no weight or heaviness. Enjoy this elixir over the coming 7-8 years.
	2011	Walla Walla Valley La Paciencia Vyd. Syrah	$115	2
	WA 95 (6/2014): In the same mold, with the buzzwords being finesse and elegance, the 2011 Syrah La Paciencia Vineyard offers textbook pepper, olive tapenade, smoke and crunchy berry fruits in its medium to full-bodied, seamless and beautifully textured profile. Showing impressive complexity and already hard to resist, I-d lean towards drinking bottles over the coming decade as well.
	2011	Walla Walla Valley La Paciencia Vyd. Syrah	$119	6
	WA 95 (6/2014): In the same mold, with the buzzwords being finesse and elegance, the 2011 Syrah La Paciencia Vineyard offers textbook pepper, olive tapenade, smoke and crunchy berry fruits in its medium to full-bodied, seamless and beautifully textured profile. Showing impressive complexity and already hard to resist, I-d lean towards drinking bottles over the coming decade as well.
	2012	Walla Walla Valley La Paciencia Vyd. Syrah	$129	2
	WA 95+ (6/2015): The 2012 Syrah La Paciencia Vineyard sports a darker ruby color to go with lots of savory dark fruits, crushed rock-like minerality, smoke and violets. One of the meatier, masculine Syrahs from Elizabeth, this full-bodied, layered, nicely concentrated beauty will drink well over the coming decade. Drink 2015-2025.   VM 93 (11/2015): (13.3% alcohol): Bright, moderately saturated medium ruby. Compelling floral lift to the aromas of dark raspberry and smoke; shows Côte-Rôtie-like finesse and perfume. Firm acidity and underlying mineral energy give lift to the wine's raspberry fruit, but the palate feel is essentially soft. The pH here is close to 4.0 but the wine's saline minerality keeps the wine alive. Finishes with notes of dusty crushed basalt and wet stone, and a subtle hint of raw meat. This singular Washington Syrah should be accessible relatively early.
	2012	Walla Walla Valley La Paciencia Vyd. Syrah	$139	4
	WA 95+ (6/2015): The 2012 Syrah La Paciencia Vineyard sports a darker ruby color to go with lots of savory dark fruits, crushed rock-like minerality, smoke and violets. One of the meatier, masculine Syrahs from Elizabeth, this full-bodied, layered, nicely concentrated beauty will drink well over the coming decade. Drink 2015-2025.   VM 93 (11/2015): (13.3% alcohol): Bright, moderately saturated medium ruby. Compelling floral lift to the aromas of dark raspberry and smoke; shows Côte-Rôtie-like finesse and perfume. Firm acidity and underlying mineral energy give lift to the wine's raspberry fruit, but the palate feel is essentially soft. The pH here is close to 4.0 but the wine's saline minerality keeps the wine alive. Finishes with notes of dusty crushed basalt and wet stone, and a subtle hint of raw meat. This singular Washington Syrah should be accessible relatively early.
	2013	Walla Walla Valley La Paciencia Vyd. Syrah	$109	5
	VM 94 (11/2016): Bright medium red. Highly perfumed scents of red raspberry, strawberry, flint, iodine and iron, plus a hint of orange peel that Christophe Baron attributes to magnesium in the soil. Not a particularly fleshy style but compellingly aromatic and precise, offering Côte-Rôtie-like notes of flint, black olive and violet and a lightly balsamic quality. Finishes with harmonious tannins and excellent length. This is already utterly captivating. Stephen Tanzer.   WS 94 (7/2017): Sleek and evocative, with expressive aromas of violet, blackberry and smoky meat and harmonious flavors of blueberry, dark Asian spice and grilled anise. Soft tannins finesse the finish. Drink now through 2024. 305 cases made.   WA 93 (6/2016): Moving to the Syrah, the 2013 Syrah la Paciencia is another pretty, perfumed, medium to full-bodied effort that reminds me of a Cote Rotie from the southern, Cote Blonde end of the appellation. Crushed flowers, raspberries, violets, incense and dried herbs all emerge from this elegant, seamless Syrah that has fine tannin and a clean, focused finish. It will drink well for a decade.
	2014	Walla Walla Valley La Paciencia Vyd. Syrah	$105	3
	WA 96 (6/2017): The 2014 Syrah la Paciencia Vineyard was also vinified in concrete and aged in neutral barrels. Its deep ruby/mostly opaque color is followed by a deep, slightly closed bouquet of smoked black fruits, cured meats, black olive and violet/floral aromas and flavors. Like all of the wines here, it's seamless and elegant on the palate, yet has plenty of authority, depth and length.
	2015	Walla Walla Valley La Paciencia Vyd. Syrah	$125	1
	WA 96 (4/2018): The 2015 Syrah La Paciencia Vineyard is just slightly darker in color than the Grenache (not by much) and offers more blackberry, peppery meats, ground herbs, and smoke. Beautifully textured, medium to full-bodied, seamless, and with building minerality, it’s another singular wine from this estate that will continue drinking nicely for a decade.
	2012	Walla Walla Valley La Paciencia Vyd. Tempranillo	$113	2
	WA 95 (6/2015): There are 298 cases of the 2012 Grenache La Paciencia Vineyard and it’s unquestionably the best vintage of this wine to date. Offering fabulous intensity in its strawberry, raspberry, spice, pepper and floral bouquet, this beauty hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a supple, elegant texture and a seamless, lengthy finish. This wows with its purity and finesse-driven style more than for weight or richness, and it should evolve nicely given its overall balance. Drink 2016-2024.   VM 92 (11/2015): (done entirely in neutral barrels and concrete): Moderately saturated pale red. Old World nose offers scents of raspberry, cranberry, smoke, flint, peony, rose petal and pink peppercorn. A juicy, pure wine with lovely precision and finesse, with the red berry flavors complicated by saline minerality; the mouthfeel here is distinctly Burgundian. Finishes with slightly edgy tannins and acidity but still offers considerable early appeal for its sheer verve. A fascinating Washington Grenache. Elizabeth Bourcier, who is "assistant vigneronne" at Cayuse, has recently taken over responsibility for the No Girls wines. She noted that the crop level here was just 1.2 tons per acre; the Paciencia vineyard is situated just north of Armada, in the Rocks district.
	2015	Walla Walla Valley La Paciencia Vyd. Tempranillo	$109	6
	WA 97 (4/2018): Lastly, the 2015 Tempranillo La Paciencia offers ample cedarwood, bloody meat, blackcurrants, and violets aromatics in a rich, full-bodied, beautifully layered package. It carries the most weight and depth of the cuvées from Boucier, as well as tannin, yet it’s already impossible to resist. Drink this beauty anytime over the coming 10-15 years.
	2013	Walla Walla Valley Tempranillo	$85	1
	VM 92+ (11/2016): Bright ruby-red. Dark aromas of black raspberry, blackberry and licorice lifted by rose petal. Sweet, plush dark raspberry and black cherry fruit flavors show noteworthy energy, with the sexy rose petal quality providing a lively foil to the wine's salinity. Finishes with building, ripe tannins that should hold this wine for a decade or more. Stephen Tanzer.
	2013	Walla Walla Valley Tempranillo	$89	8
	VM 92+ (11/2016): Bright ruby-red. Dark aromas of black raspberry, blackberry and licorice lifted by rose petal. Sweet, plush dark raspberry and black cherry fruit flavors show noteworthy energy, with the sexy rose petal quality providing a lively foil to the wine's salinity. Finishes with building, ripe tannins that should hold this wine for a decade or more. Stephen Tanzer.
	2013	Walla Walla Valley Tempranillo	$92	1
	VM 92+ (11/2016): Bright ruby-red. Dark aromas of black raspberry, blackberry and licorice lifted by rose petal. Sweet, plush dark raspberry and black cherry fruit flavors show noteworthy energy, with the sexy rose petal quality providing a lively foil to the wine's salinity. Finishes with building, ripe tannins that should hold this wine for a decade or more. Stephen Tanzer.
	2013	Walla Walla Valley Tempranillo	$95	3
	VM 92+ (11/2016): Bright ruby-red. Dark aromas of black raspberry, blackberry and licorice lifted by rose petal. Sweet, plush dark raspberry and black cherry fruit flavors show noteworthy energy, with the sexy rose petal quality providing a lively foil to the wine's salinity. Finishes with building, ripe tannins that should hold this wine for a decade or more. Stephen Tanzer.
	2015	Walla Walla Valley Tempranillo	$109	6
	WA 97 (4/2018): Lastly, the 2015 Tempranillo La Paciencia offers ample cedarwood, bloody meat, blackcurrants, and violets aromatics in a rich, full-bodied, beautifully layered package. It carries the most weight and depth of the cuvées from Boucier, as well as tannin, yet it’s already impossible to resist. Drink this beauty anytime over the coming 10-15 years.
		USA White
Cayuse	2012	Cailloux Vyd. Viognier	$59	1
	WA 93 (6/2014): The 2012 Viognier Cailloux Vineyard is a knockout that will compete with the best examples of this variety coming out of both Washington and California. Aged all in concrete, without blocking any malolactic fermentation, it offers fabulously clean, pure notes of tangerine, citrus, white peach and flowers to go with a medium-bodied, juicy, yet layered and textured profile on the palate. It’s superb and will drink nicely for 4-5 years.
	2013	Cailloux Vyd. Viognier	$69	1
	WA 93 (6/2015): I think one of the greatest Viognier's coming out of the US is Baron's Cailloux Vineyard. The 2013 Viognier Cailloux Vineyard offers terrific citrus blossom, stone fruits, white flowers and seashell notes in a classy, vibrant and racy style. It doesn't have the flesh or richness of a top Condrieu, but it has fabulous purity and length. Drink it over the coming 2-3 years.   VM 89 (11/2015): (13.9% alcohol; vinified with whole clusters in concrete eggs and stainless steel): Pale, bright yellow. Sexy nectarine and peach pit aromas show a distinct cyanic quality and a suggestion of crushed rock. Boasts lovely fruit intensity with supporting minerality. A touch warm but boasts excellent energy considering the fact that most of the wine went through malolactic fermentation.
	2016	Cailloux Vyd. Viognier	$109	2
	WA 94 (6/2018): Baron now opts to ferment his Viognier in concrete eggs and stainless steel after a very gentle whole cluster pressing, eschewing new oak, and the result is fresher, brighter wines, a shift exemplified by the 2016 Viognier Cailloux Vineyard. Offering up notions of fresh peach, apricot, waxy lemon rind and flowers, it's a full-bodied, textural and expansive white with lovely precision despite its volume and a stony, almost saline finish.
		USA Red
Cayuse	2013	Armada Vyd. Syrah	$119		Sold Out
	2017	Edith Grenache Rose	$54		Sold Out
	JD 92 (4/2019): The 2017 Rose is also beautiful, with a light pink color and a vibrant bouquet of white peach, crushed rocks, white flowers, and pineapple notes. It's medium-bodied, layered, vibrant and fresh, yet has more texture and depth than past vintages.   WA 91+ (12/2019): The 2017 Grenache Rosé Edith has a classic rose color with a pinkish/salmon hue and a structured nose, indicating that this is a focused and serious rosé. Medium-bodied on the palate, the wine has a citrus-driven core and a soft, focused mineral character, revealing cranberry, strawberry and raspberry flavors on the mid-palate. The wine has exciting focus, balance and prominent tension, with a dusty raspberry note as it lingers on the long finish, making me feel compelled to finish the bottle. Only 148 cases were made.
Horsepower Vineyards	2013	Sur Echalas Vyd. Grenache	$109		Sold Out
	WA 95 (6/2015): Aged in puncheon and neutral oak and bottled in August of 2014, the 2013 Grenache Sur Echalas Vineyard sports a transparent ruby color to go with classic Grenache notes of wild strawberries, peppery herbs, licorice, hints of iron and good minerality that comes out more on the finish. Similar in style to the 2012, with a savory edge, this medium to full-bodied beauty has fine tannin, a supple, sexy texture and a great finish. It should hit prime time around age 4-6 and drink nicely through 2028.