The only Syrah bottled in 2015 due to issues with corks, the 2015 Syrah Armada Vineyard is a classic expression of this vineyard and gives up a rocking bouquet of ripe black cherries, peat moss, sous bois, tapenade and scorched earth. It’s medium to full-bodied, silky and polished on the palate, with sweet tannin, impeccable balance, and great finish. Drink it anytime over the coming 10-15 years. The unfortunate news at Cayuse this year was issues with the corks on their 2015 releases. For whatever reason, paraffin wax, which is used to coat the outside of corks, ended up being pushed into the bottle during bottling leaving particles as well as an oily residue in the wines. The only 2015s to be released were the Armada Syrah, God Only Knows, and The Lovers. This is heartbreaking, and I still remember tasting these fabulous wines from barrel. Hat’s off to Christophe Baron and his team at Cayuse for discovering the problem, not releasing faulty wines, and refunding consumers’ money. The 2015s that were bottled showed beautifully, and certainly, the 2016s are also terrific wines.

Significantly more lifted and graceful than expected, the 2015 Syrah Armada Vineyard opens with an earthy blend of crushed rocks, black olive tapenade, wilted violets, dried strawberries and licorice. Its textures are elegant and refined, silken and round, with dark red and black fruits that take on a saline mineral intensity toward the finish. Just gently tannic and classically dry the 2015 leaves hints of tart blackberry and a peppery tinge that lingers on. It’s important to note that Cayuse lost the majority of its production to faulty corks in 2015, so for collectors looking to enjoy a Syrah from Christophe Baron in this vintage, the Armada is your only choice. Luckily, it’s also an incredibly beautiful wine with an open and broad drinking window.

The 2015 Syrah Armada Vineyard comes from biodynamically farmed vines planted in 2001, and the wine was matured for 21 months in around 20% new French oak. The nose is bursting with layers of cassis, coffee beans, violet, spearmint and meaty undertones. The full-bodied palate is powerfully styled. Its minty, floral flavors are structured by high levels of powdery tannins and vibrant acidity, and it has a long, latent finish. It hasn’t yet reached its peak. 514 cases were made.