2017 Cayuse Vineyards Impulsivo Tempranillo Walla Walla Valley, USA

Winemaker Notes
"A longer term prospect will be the Impulsivo, which is 100% Tempranillo brought up in puncheons. It has tons of black and blue fruits, smoked earth and graphite, as well as full-bodied richness, building tannin and top-notch purity. It has a lot of tannin, so it won?t be one to open right on release"

Press
Press 95 Points Jeb Dunnuck
While I don’t think the 2017 Impulsivo matches the 2016, it’s certainly not far off. Showing the more elegant style of the vintage, it offers a gorgeous perfume of smoked black cherries, redcurrants, green tobacco, bloody meat, sandalwood, and Asian spices that opens up with time in the glass. Ethereal, medium to full-bodied, and seamless on the palate, it has flawless balance, polished tannins, no hard edges, and a great, great finish. It’s just beautifully put together and one of the more approachable vintages of this cuvée. It can be drunk with incredible pleasure today (give it an hour decant) or cellared for 15+ years or more.

Rated 94 Points James Suckling
The softness and caressing nature to this red is most enjoyable, delivering cherry, chocolate and walnut flavors. It’s full-bodied, yet juicy and satisfying. No reason to wait on this one. Drink or hold.

Rated 94 Points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2017 Impulsivo begins with an expressive and aromatic nose with roasted blackberries, oak spice tones and charred cherry skin with elements of dusty purple flowers and baked earth. Full-bodied, the wine is expressive and deliciously balanced across the mid-palate before showing exotic spice elements, dried tobacco and cedar plank across the long-lingering finish. For Tempranillo lovers out there, this is a simply delicious wine that represents a New World-style expression of Tempranillo and a clear winner. Rating: 94+

Rated 92 Points Wine Enthusiast
The aromas are locked up out of the gate, opening to reveal notes of fresh tobacco, moist earth, orange rind and cherry. The palate has a pleasing sumptuousness to the mouthwatering earth, savory, olive and citrus flavors. The texture is lovely.