Cayuse Wines

Cayuse Camaspelo 2000
$73.99- highly recommended by Avalon
I know that this winery is known for its Syrah, but this Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine is my favorite of his current releases. Maybe my prejudice for wines that evolve and improve with age is showing, but this Meritage blend, heavy on the Cabernet Sauvignon, seems a better investment for aging than Cayuse's famous Syrahs. The wine is made with grapes from the same stony vineyard that has become famous for its intense flavors, but the Cabernet Sauvignon grape, by its nature, provides more complexity than the fruity Syrah.

“Camaspelo”, named for the famous chief of the Cayuse tribe, is deeply, darkly styled. The nose of this Meritage combines tobacco, cigar smoke, and cassis and the flavors are dense yet balanced and lively, incorporating fascinating hints of mulberry, currant, plum, green olive, and fresh tobacco with a dense undercurrent of oaky fruit. This wine should be fascinating to open over the next 10 years.

Cayuse Syrah "Cailloux" 2000
$74.99
The famous one, 93 points for the 99 vintage in Wine Spectator, although that was before the big price increase (the 99 sold for $40). This wine has spurred on the "super-premium" category of NW Syrah and we are now seeing a number of $50-80 Syrahs from small wineries. The wine is wonderful, but my prejudice for complexity with ageability prevents me from getting as enthused about it as I am about his Camaspelo (above). Still, this is the one, we get hundreds of requests for it, and we have a few bottles available.

Cayuse Syrah "En Cerise" 2000
$74.99
Tasting Notes from the winery: "Tremendously fruity with a solid spine. En Cerise Vineyard was previously an old cherry orchard, hence its name. It truly tastes of juicy black cherries, with slight smoke and saltiness." 203 cases made.

SALE Continues
Kiona Red Wines
Kiona is one of our favorite NW wineries, producing great, rich red wines at very reasonable prices for 20 years. Their 2000 Cab is pretty much a clone of the 99 that was named one of the top 100 Wines of the World by Wine Spectator, and their 99 Reserve Cab is a steal, even better than the regular Cab, we think. shop here....

Archery Summit Red Hills Estate 2000
$70.00 Wine Spectator rating 92 points

Pinot Noir Renegade Ridge 2000
$59.99 Wine Spectator rating 92 points

Archery Summit Pinot Noir Estate 2000 $150.00 Wine Spectator rating 94 points

New and Sale Wines

Chateau Ste Michelle
Chardonnay Indian Wells Vineyard 2000
$16.99 regular $23
Wine Spectator rating 90 points
CSM has deeply discounted this wine. They say: "This elegant wine shows aromas of Golden Delicious apple, sweet lemon and a hint of mineral and baking spice. This wine is bright and lively and exhibits flavors of apple, lemon and vanilla cream. Serve with salmon, fresh crab, pork and poultry." We say- yupp, super value for stocking up your cellar. How do they so consistently offer such reasonably priced wines?

Elk Cove Syrah Del Rio Vineyard 2001
$28.00
A lush, creamy, deeply fruity dark red wine reminiscent of boutique Zinfandel, with an extra dose of gaminess. Great promise for the future.

Elk Cove Riesling Late Harvest 2002 750 ml
$15.99 highly recommended
Something special. Robert Parker (Wine Advocate) says: "Oregon's Elk Cove produces the state's best sweet Rieslings." -

Andrew Rich Syrah 2001
$23.99 highly recommended
IIt's out, and as usual it is a wonderful value. Sells out every year within a few weeks, let us know if you'd like some of this vintage.

Andrew Rich, what can you say- one of Oregon's wine treasures. His dog Romeo (a Vizsla, and we know what they are like) says he's the reason the wines are so good, but we think Andrew might have something to do with the winemaking also. This Syrah is just about the best foir the price that ou can find from the NW.

Ponzi Vineyards Pinot Noir "Tavola" 2001 $16.99
An everyday Pinot Noir from one of Oregon's oldest and most respected wineries.

Ponzi Vino Gelato 2001
$26.99
A dessert wine made from post harvest frozen Riesling grapes grown from our over 30-year old vines at the Estate Vineyard. Vino Gelato is bottled in a beautiful 375ml bottle.
"It is lively with honey, crisp peach flavors and a sweetness quickly followed up by natural acidity, keeping the wine balanced and fresh." - Luisa Ponzi----- Only 300 cases made, very limited.

Abacela Syrah 2000
$29.99
Southern Oregon fruit, Earl continues to make some of our favorite wines, working with Southern Rhone and Spanish varietals and producing exemplary wines at very reasonable prices. This is lovely juice, drink now with heary cheese, spicy paella, rack of lamb.

Canoe Ridge Merlot 2000
SALE $21.00 was $29.99
This Merlot reveals Bing cherry and sweet Willamette raspberry aromas, offset by a floral undertone reminiscent of orange blossoms. The mouth is supple and velvety, and exhibits a fairly large structure with an excellent fruit-to-acid ratio. Bright cranberry acidity, plush blueberry and briar fruit along the palate open up for a long, chocolatey finish. At this price, hard to go wrong. -JY

Rex Hill Pinot Noir Maresh 2000
$54.00
Wine Spectator rating 92 points
Wine Spectator says: " Rex Hill’s oldest vineyard was 30 years old in 2000, and it shows in the depth of this plump, polished and generous wine. Its tangy blackberry, plum and floral-spice flavors echo beautifully as the finish expands and lasts, picking up a smoky note. Drink now through 2010.—H.S.