2010 Cayuse Syrah Bionic Frog - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (1/21/2024)
Like all of the recent TN's in CT on the ten Frog, I whole hardily agree, this is quite an achievement for what is possible with WA St Syrah. A lot of things where in alignment last night. First, the 2010 was a hybrid vintage in terms of style; this bottle showed a bit of older wild Cause funk which married perfectly with the more mineral driven traits of more recent vintages. I’m pretty sure this was not aged in the “Magic Casks” that used in the early inceptions of the BF. Second, perfect timing on its aging curve; I found the 2010’s (and many other WA wines) to be really developing nicely and at 14’s years in, very much in a sweet spot with no concerns of things dropping off anytime soon. Third – and a shameless plug for the chef, this was magnificent with this little black pepper and cumin rubbed lamb stew last night with sugar snap peas. Perfect pairing. Spectacular wine. (97 points)
Thank you! Normally I would be serving a full throttle Zin (like a Carlisle Montafi) but I drink Bedrock and Carlisle all the time and wanted something different and a special bottle. I played around with maybe a Rioja - initially kicked the tires on a RLH Tondonia, but I think the assertiveness of the dish might overpower - looked at some other Rioja’s like a Prado Enea or even a Ygay GR. This led me to then thinking of Cayuse Impulsivo (Tempranillo) and finally settled on a Frog. Yes, I do spend all week thinking over food wine pairings
Very, very nice, Dale. I’m totally with you on many (many) of the 2010s from Washington. It’s been a favorite vintage of mine in that the wines were produced in historically very cold vintage, but the grapes were able to sufficiently ripen and produced wonderfully-proportioned wines. Alas, I don’t have any 2010 Cayuse and am down to 25 bottles from WA 2010. Very nice TN!
Nice note Dale. I still have some of the 2010s so looking forward to trying them. What is the reference to “Magic Casks?” I don’t think I have heard that story…
" Baron used so-called “magic casks” made by Burgundy producer Dominique Laurent’s small cooperage (thick-staved, very fine-grained barrels from old trees in the Tronçais forest that Laurent personally selects) from the outset through 2008, including about 20% new oak. He bought his first 1,200-liter foudre in 2009 and now ages each new vintage of the Bionic Frog in a single foudre and the rest in 600-liter puncheons, about 15% new. Beginning with vintage 2006, Baron has fermented the Bionic Frog mostly in concrete, which he feels gives more mid-palate texture to the wine than stainless steel."
It is actually a free read and great write up by ST - I miss that guy’s writing and notes.:
Oh interesting. Like you I really liked Tanzer – his palate was the closest to mine. I find Gilman useful though not sure we always agree, but more likely than not we do!
