DESCRIPTION
The oldest son of the centuries-old Champagne house, Baron Albert, his family has worked their land in the Marne Valley of France since 1677. As recently as 1957 horses still did all of the vineyard cultivation.
Horsepower represents a return to that time, to a simplicity of craftsmanship and purpose that has been largely lost in the modern translation. It’s a window to the Old World—right here in the new.
2021 Horsepower Vineyards Syrah High Contrast Vineyard
100 Points Editor's Choice
... the sense of place is insane on this wine. Delivering a full-throttled experience from start to finish, this is my favorite from the 2021 Horsepower lineup and really shows what the winemaking team of Cayuse can produce. Insane complexity envelopes the nose and the palate and with time, it changes giving a different experience with every sip. Gorgeous black plum, boysenberries, grilled beef ribs, bacon fat, crushed olives, whole green peppercorn and cedary herbs start things off nicely. As the wine develops, you are gifted with a mesmerizing note of grilled grapefruit zest and toasted spice. A finish that goes on forever, this is a wine that you will want to keep in your cellar and enjoy over the next 10-15 years. Perfection in a bottle ... Editor’s choice and highly recommended. —Jeremy Young, International Wine Report
99 Points
The astonishingly good High Contrast Syrah comes from a vineyard that is set on a combination of ancient cobblestones and silty loam soils... this shows plenty of stony nuances on the nose alongside citrus rind, charcuterie, black olive tapenade and shades of dark truffle crudo. The palate shows great length, weight and salty undercurrents, as the weight of this wine alongside the mouth-watering acidity really makes this shine. There is little doubt that this is the finest edition of this wine made yet as this stunning Syrah flirts with perfection. Enjoy now and over the next eight plus years. —Owen Bargreen, owenbargreen.com
97 Points Editor's Choice
Black currants and orange zest complement the meaty aroma of a Wagyu tomahawk grilling over a wood fire. Flavors of blackberries, dark plums, oregano and thyme are supported by brawny tannins and lemony acidity: Musclé et sauvage. —Michael Alberty, Wine Enthusiast
96+ Points
Instantly impressive in the glass, the Syrah presents dark, firm and savory notes that sway with elements of roasted espresso beans. It's bold, juicy and food friendly, with a medium body that grows in complexity across the palate, offering incredible depth and precision. The wine offers notes of spiced plum compote, black raspberry jus and meaty and savory flavors, leading to a long, lingering, ever-evolving finish. This Syrah is one to buy! You'll likely want to decant this beauty and let it rest for an hour before consuming it. —Anthony Mueller, The Wine Advocate
96 Points Critic’s Choice
High Contrast is always one of the most fascinating wines in this producer’s portfolio, with the vines located at the edge of the ancient cobblestone riverbed that runs through the area. This vintage commands attention, with aromas of charcuterie, black olive tapenade, green herb, and fire pit, showing some initial reduction. Soft, sumptuous, sneakily intense savory flavors follow. A crazy-long, 60 seconds or more, flower and savory-filled finish caps it off. It’s a wine so good it’s hard to find words that do it justice. —Sean Sullivan, Northwest Wine Report
96 Points
Redcurrants, smoky black cherries, ground pepper, leafy underbrush, and bloody, incredibly meaty nuances all emerge from the 2021 Syrah High Contrast Vineyard, a classic Syrah from this region that's medium to full-bodied, has a pure, layered mouthfeel, and a great finish. As with the other Syrahs in the lineup, it needs 2-4 years of bottle age and will see its 20th birthday in fine form. —Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com
96 Points
Grown in a vineyard where rocky soil alternates with ribbons of more fertile topsoil, the wine exudes hickory-smoked bacon, singed herb and pepper aromas before deep blackberry, beef jus and grilled plum flavors coat the palate. It’s moderately tannic, medium-bodied and long on the finish. From biodynamically grown grapes. Best from 2028. —James Suckling, jamessuckling.com
95 Points
... Explosive, with an intense bouquet of incense, lavender, cedar shavings, dried orange peels and red plums. Nearly creamy in feel, this possesses a core of cooling acidity that lifts the experience. Ripe wild berry fruits contrasted by a savory herbal thrust swirl throughout the glass. Saline minerals emerge toward the close as the 2021 finishes spicy with a mouth-watering quality that nicely offsets its edgy tannins.—Eric Guido, Vinous
