2021 Cayuse Vineyards Armada Vineyard Syrah Walla Walla Valley, USA
$174.99 USD
Press
100 Points. … An otherworldly effort from this warm vintage … this opens with an intense bouquet of iodine, chorizo and red rose petals that combine with orange blossom, tar and sweet pipe tobacco. The palate is viscous and smooth with a marvelous sense of mouthfeel, weight and finesse … utter perfection in the glass with its oyster sauce and rocky soil accents on the palate. Loaded with mouth-watering acidity and weight, what a pleasure this is to consume now. —Owen Bargreen, owenbargreen.com
98 Points. … Gorgeous, intriguing notes of grilled meats, dried purple roses, and white peppercorns meld with the blue and black fruit with a smidgeon of white grapefruit zest that pops out of the glass on the nose. Tannins are firm and pleasant and pair perfectly with the lemony acidity and lengthy earthy finish that goes on for minutes. —Jeremy Young, International Wine Report
97+ Points. One of the bigger, richer wines in the lineup … This deeper ruby/plum-hued Syrah boasts a big, masculine bouquet of smoked red and black fruits, sauteed mushrooms, cured meats, iron, and cold fireplace nuances (it almost has a Graves-like character) that flows to a medium to full-bodied, rich, concentrated Syrah with terrific overall balance, ripe tannins, and a great finish … it needs lots of air to show at its best and will ideally be given 4-5 years in the cellar. It's going to hit its 20th birthday in fine form. —Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com
96 Points. Displaying a lighter color with a medium ruby hue, the 2021 Syrah Armada Vineyard has a spicy, complex, broad and structured nose, with fresh aromas of black cherries, blackberry skin, violets and rose blossoms. The palate, firm and food friendly, features a distinctive tannic edge that's meant for red meats. Unmistakably Syrah from Walla Walla Valley, this is a gorgeous beauty, and I'm going back to finish the glass. —Anthony Mueller, The Wine Advocate
95 Points. The Armada sails into port behind a tailwind of black cherry, wet terra-cotta, cumin and smoked pork-belly aromas. The wine's mouthfeel is seamless and slick, allowing dried cherry, espresso and roasted red-pepper flavors to glide along. Elevated acidity keeps everything lively. —Michael Alberty, Wine Enthusiast
95 Points. The aromas reach out and grab you, with notes of sea salt, charcuterie, peony, grill plate, and gravel. The palate brings volume, outrageous intensity, and richness, with savory flavors speckled throughout along with floral notes. Savory and floral notes persist on the minutes-long finish. It’s shockingly good. —Sean Sullivan, Northwest Wine Report
95 Points. Very structured and firmly tannic, this muscular wine comes from tightly spaced vines that give a low yield and lots of concentration. Floral and spicy aromas lead to rich, dark cocoa, blackberry and baked blueberry flavors restrained by the sandy, full tannins. —James Suckling, jamessuckling.com