Horsepower The Tribe Vineyard Syrah 2018

Horsepower Vineyards is one of Washington State's most singular and uncompromising estates: a project founded by winemaker Christophe Baron, the visionary behind Cayuse Vineyards, with a commitment to farming entirely by horse, without any mechanization whatsoever. The vineyards are planted in the ancient cobblestone soils of the Walla Walla Valley, the same dramatic, rock strewn terroir Baron pioneered at Cayuse. The combination of biodynamic farming, horse cultivation, and these extraordinary soils produces Syrah of remarkable depth and complexity that has earned Horsepower a devoted cult following among collectors worldwide.

The Tribe Vineyard Syrah is one of Horsepower's single-vineyard bottlings, expressing the particular character of a specific cobblestone site within the estate. The 2018 vintage in Walla Walla was warm and generous, and the wine reflects that richness while retaining the mineral tension and savory complexity that are the hallmarks of great cobblestone Syrah. Deep, almost opaque ruby-purple in the glass, the nose is intense and layered: dark plum, blackberry, smoked meat, and violet intertwined with iron, black pepper, olive, and a deep, stony minerality. On the palate, the wine is massive and structured, with firm, concentrated tannins, a rich, powerful mid-palate, and a finish of extraordinary length and complexity.

The Horsepower Tribe Vineyard Syrah 2018 is a collector’s wine of the highest order, built for the cellar and magnificent alongside roasted game, braised short ribs, or aged hard cheeses once it finally opens up.