In This Newsletter:
Cayuse & Friends Sale
Collector’s Corner: Leonetti
Cayuse & Friends Sale
Stock Up & Save On
Cayuse / Christophe Baron Champagne / Horsepower / No Girls
Cayuse & Friends Sale
Collector’s Corner: Leonetti
Cayuse & Friends Sale
Stock Up & Save On
Cayuse / Christophe Baron Champagne / Horsepower / No Girls
“These are singular wines well worth the effort to track down… As I’ve said numerous times, Christophe Baron and assistant winemaker Elizabeth Bourcier produce some of the most singular and impressive wines out there.” —Jeb Dunnuck, Wine Advocate
It’s no secret that we’ve long admired the wines from Christophe Baron (and the man himself). This Champagnois-turned-Oregonian more or less put The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater on the map.
His Walla Walla portfolio now includes Grenache, Syrah, Tempranillo, and more sourced from Oregon and Washington. Representing the pinnacle of the region’s reds, we’re never surprised when top notch scores are released. We’re just pleased as punch that we can offer you these mailing list-mostly gems, including Champagnes from his family’s vines!
It’s no secret that we’ve long admired the wines from Christophe Baron (and the man himself). This Champagnois-turned-Oregonian more or less put The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater on the map.
His Walla Walla portfolio now includes Grenache, Syrah, Tempranillo, and more sourced from Oregon and Washington. Representing the pinnacle of the region’s reds, we’re never surprised when top notch scores are released. We’re just pleased as punch that we can offer you these mailing list-mostly gems, including Champagnes from his family’s vines!
Cayuse / Christophe Baron Champagne / Horsepower / No Girls
5% off any 3-6 in-stock bottles
10% off any 7+ or more in-stock bottles
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Sale ends Saturday, April 12th at 9 am Pacific.
5% off any 3-6 in-stock bottles
10% off any 7+ or more in-stock bottles
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Sale ends Saturday, April 12th at 9 am Pacific.
We offer twenty-four in-stock Cayuse options on sale now, including:
Christophe Baron ‘Les Alouettes’ Brut Nature, Champagne 2019 1.5L Displayed Price: $269, that’s $255.55 at 5% off and $242.10 at 10% off, 2 magnums in stock now
James Suckling 97 points “This is a supremely poised and elegant Champagne. Lots of grapefruit, honeycomb, white tea, citron peel, white apricots and salted almonds here, yet it’s linear and racy, with tight bubbles and a cool yet intense and very long finish. 100% pinot meunier from a vineyard planted in 1968. From organically grown grapes. In magnums only. Zero dosage. Disgorged May 2023. Drink or hold.”
Christophe Baron ‘Les Hautes Blanches Vignes’ Brut Nature, Champagne 2019 1.5L Displayed Price: $269, that’s $255.55 at 5% off and $242.10 at 10% off, 4 magnums in stock now
James Suckling 95 points “Very creamy and focused Champagne with notes of cherry blossoms, jasmine, pink grapefruit, white peaches, fennel and brioche. It’s medium-bodied with a very fine and delicate mousse that dances across the palate. Bone dry with beautiful balance and length. 100% pinot meunier from a vineyard planted in 1969. From organically grown grapes. In magnums only. Zero dosage. Disgorged May 2023. Drink or hold.”
Horsepower Vineyards High Contrast Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $169, that’s $160.55 at 5% off and $152.10 at 10% off, 2 bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 96 points “The 2020 Syrah High Contrast Vineyard is youthfully restrained, with blackberry and clove offset by wet stone and sage. This is soft and enveloping, with silken textures and ripe black fruits, all energized by brilliant acidity. This finishes with a salty flourish, gripping the palate with youthful tension. Spiced citrus mingles with silty tannins as savory hints of rosemary fade. This is so giving today, yet also beautifully balanced for the cellar.”
Horsepower Vineyards The Tribe Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2016 750ml Displayed Price: $169, that’s $160.55 at 5% off and $152.10 at 10% off, 13 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 97+ points “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.”
Horsepower Vineyards The Tribe Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2017 750ml Displayed Price: $169, that’s $160.55 at 5% off and $152.10 at 10% off, 10 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “Beautiful notes of red and black raspberries, tobacco, plum sauce, loamy earth, and loads of floral notes emerge from the 2017 Syrah The Tribe Vineyard, another tight, closed wine that’s going to benefit from bottle age. Medium to full-bodied, with notable freshness as well as plenty of underlying structure, it reminds me of Côte Rôtie from the Cote Blonde lieu-dit with its incredible floral character as well as its seamless texture. Beautifully done and one of the standouts in the lineup in 2017, give bottles a healthy decant if drinking any time soon, and my money is on it benefiting from 2-3 years of bottle age and evolving for 15-20 years or more.”
Horsepower Vineyards The Tribe Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $179, that’s $170.05 at 5% off and $161.10 at 10% off, 10 bottles in stock now
Anthony Mueller-Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2019 Syrah The Tribe Vineyard starts with a stemmy, fresh and savory nose with a delightful meaty aroma and dusty florals before wafting with a succulent raspberry skin essence. Medium to full-bodied, the Syrah displays a vibrant mineral tension and spicy mouthfeel before subtle flavors of dried herbs sway with a firm tannic structure. The wine continues to evolve and unpack over the long, lingering finish with a pleasing smoky nuance and persistent peppery note. Give it a few more years in the bottle before opening. Bravo!”
No Girls La Placiencia Vineyard Tempranillo, Walla Walla Valley 2016 750ml Displayed Price: $119, that’s $113.05 at 5% off and $107.10 at 10% off, 7 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “Similarly colored, the 2016 Tempranillo La Paciencia Vineyard offers an exotic bouquet of black cherries, violets, chocolate, tobacco, smoke, and candied orange rind. It’s deep, beautiful, savory, and full-bodied, with a thrilling texture. It’s another incredibly elegant, singular wine from this estate. 321 cases.”
Cayuse Vineyards Armada Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $159, that’s $151.05 at 5% off and $143.10 at 10% off, 10 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 97+ points “One of the bigger, richer wines in the lineup, the 2021 Syrah Armada Vineyard comes from a high-density vineyard located just beside the cellar and was brought up all in demi-muids. 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. As with the other 2021s here, 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.”
Cayuse Vineyards God Only Knows Armada Vineyard Grenache, Walla Walla Valley 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $149, that’s $141.55 at 5% off and $134.10 at 10% off, 3 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “Rocking raspberries, strawberries, rose petals, ground pepper, sappy garrigue, and a hint of iron all emerge from the 2021 Grenache God Only Knows, another pretty, medium-bodied, elegant, finesse-driven Grenache from this team that’s just about overflowing with character. With ripe, polished tannins, beautiful balance, and a great finish, it has the class to evolve gracefully for 10-12 years.”
Cayuse Vineyards Impulsivo Tempranillo, Walla Walla Valley 2017 750ml Displayed Price: $149, that’s $141.55 at 5% off and $134.10 at 10% off, 2 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “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.”
Cayuse Vineyards Impulsivo Tempranillo, Walla Walla Valley 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $138, that’s $131.10 at 5% off and $124.20 at 10% off, 23 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 95 points “Enticing aromas of black cherries, blackberries, licorice, cloves, green chilis and dark chocolate. It’s full-bodied with fine-grained tannins. Beautifully deep, fleshy and inky, with excellent freshness, too. Spicy and attention-grabbing. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
Cayuse Vineyards Impulsivo Tempranillo, Walla Walla Valley 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $159, that’s $151.05 at 5% off and $143.10 at 10% off, 8 bottles in stock now
Anthony Mueller-Wine Advocate 95 points “Admittedly, I’m a lover of Tempranillo from Spain. While this is nothing close to the Rioja expression, the 2021 Impulsivo does have plenty of admirable qualities, possessing a generous profile of dusty, dark red fruit, with aromas that slowly release from the glass with elements of beef broth and sour plum reduction. Medium to full-bodied, the palate shows considerable weight and texture before displaying silky tannins with a delightful umami essence. After last year’s vintage, I’m happy to say this bottling is back on track and firing on all cylinders. The wine aged 18 months in 50% new and neutral French oak demi-muids, foudre and barrels. 4,824 bottles produced.”
The team at Leonetti consistently releases some of the most stunning Bordeaux-style reds in Walla Walla. These elegant wines are “reference point” releases not to be missed!
In Stock Now:
Leonetti Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley 2021 750ml $119 special, 26 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 97+ points “The classic 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon from this reference point estate checks in as 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, 5% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and the balance Malbec raised 22 months in once-filled oak and neutral oval botti. Its vivid purple hue is followed by a perfumed, youthful bouquet of cassis and blue fruits that give way to more graphite, chalky minerality, violets, and spicy oak. It’s deep, rich, and medium to full-bodied on the palate, with a gorgeous mid-palate, ripe, building, polished tannins, and fabulous length on the finish. This absolutely brilliant Cabernet Sauvignon needs to be forgotten for 2-4 years and will evolve gracefully over the following two decades. It’s another sensational wine from the talents of Chris Figgins.”
Leonetti Cellar Merlot, Walla Walla Valley 2022 750ml $95 special, 16 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “All Merlot aged in once-filled and neutral oak, the 2022 Merlot sports a vivid ruby/purple hue as well as solid aromatics of ripe black cherries, cedary herbs, dried flowers, and a kiss of background oak. It’s medium to full-bodied, has a pure, elegant mouthfeel, polished tannins, and a great finish. It will keep from 10-12 years with ease.”
Leonetti Cellar Reserve, Walla Walla Valley 2016 750ml $199 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 99 points “The 2016 Reserve is similar in color (it might be even inkier at the rim) and is a blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Malbec, and 5% Cabernet Franc that spent 22 months in a mix of 75% new and 25% once-used French oak barrels. It offers sensational notes of crème de cassis, graphite, crushed rocks, smoke tobacco, and perfectly integrated oak. These all flow to a ripe, powerful, yet seamless and incredibly elegant wine that has nothing out of place, building tannins, awesome purity of fruit, and a massive finish. Reminding me of the 2010, yet made in a more elegant style, this magical wine is drinkable today but will benefit for 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for 3-4 decades. Hats off to Chris Figgins for another awe-inspiring wine.”
In Stock Now:
Leonetti Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley 2021 750ml $119 special, 26 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 97+ points “The classic 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon from this reference point estate checks in as 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, 5% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and the balance Malbec raised 22 months in once-filled oak and neutral oval botti. Its vivid purple hue is followed by a perfumed, youthful bouquet of cassis and blue fruits that give way to more graphite, chalky minerality, violets, and spicy oak. It’s deep, rich, and medium to full-bodied on the palate, with a gorgeous mid-palate, ripe, building, polished tannins, and fabulous length on the finish. This absolutely brilliant Cabernet Sauvignon needs to be forgotten for 2-4 years and will evolve gracefully over the following two decades. It’s another sensational wine from the talents of Chris Figgins.”
Leonetti Cellar Merlot, Walla Walla Valley 2022 750ml $95 special, 16 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “All Merlot aged in once-filled and neutral oak, the 2022 Merlot sports a vivid ruby/purple hue as well as solid aromatics of ripe black cherries, cedary herbs, dried flowers, and a kiss of background oak. It’s medium to full-bodied, has a pure, elegant mouthfeel, polished tannins, and a great finish. It will keep from 10-12 years with ease.”
Leonetti Cellar Reserve, Walla Walla Valley 2016 750ml $199 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 99 points “The 2016 Reserve is similar in color (it might be even inkier at the rim) and is a blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Malbec, and 5% Cabernet Franc that spent 22 months in a mix of 75% new and 25% once-used French oak barrels. It offers sensational notes of crème de cassis, graphite, crushed rocks, smoke tobacco, and perfectly integrated oak. These all flow to a ripe, powerful, yet seamless and incredibly elegant wine that has nothing out of place, building tannins, awesome purity of fruit, and a massive finish. Reminding me of the 2010, yet made in a more elegant style, this magical wine is drinkable today but will benefit for 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for 3-4 decades. Hats off to Chris Figgins for another awe-inspiring wine.”
Don’t miss our additional sales going on now:
Merkelbach
5% off any 6-11 in-stock bottles of Merkelbach
10% off any 12+ or more in-stock bottles of Merkelbach
Oregon Rosé
5% off any 3-6 in-stock bottles of Oregon Rosé
10% off any 7+ or more in-stock bottles of Oregon Rosé
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Merkelbach sale ends Thursday, April 10th at 9 am Pacific. Oregon Rosé sale ends Friday, April 11th at 9 am Pacific.