Cayuse, Widowmaker Chamberlin Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley

Pretty, soft, delicate and delicious. A little bit of Bret on the nose, but not tainted. It may have been a bit past prime but was perfect for a filet and baked potato. Marked the anniversary of my heart attack, aka a widowmaker! Enjoy

2007 vintage

Similar to prior notes.

2004 vintage

Reddish brown w/slight bricking, and legs that hang on the glass for weeks. After a 3-hour decant, displays aromas of violets, peat moss in a cedar forest, dark fruit, black olive & herbs, to name a few. Smooth on the palate, adding vegetal tastes, mushroom, as well as eucalyptus. Long, complex finish.

2004 vintage

The wine has become even more difficult to peg as a Cabernet, and likely near the end of its run. Gamey, leather & green pepper aromas. The tannins are receded, and the more air time the more cherry flavors dominate. A nice quaff, albeit not the structure one would expect from a powerhouse cab.

2007 vintage

Perfect cork, slight clear bricking, ruby edge with dark purple center. Purchased from Cayuse ex-cellar library sale in mid-2018. Decanted 90 minutes. This was a show stopper, preferred by the group even over a 2008 Quilceda Creek that still has some development in front of it. Violets and fireplace on the nose. Intense red and blue fruits, complex spices, soft, well-integrated tannins, and a slight sweetness on the lengthy finish. This is fully at peak and the best widowmaker I've …

2004 vintage

Last of three bottles, the last one I had 12 years ago (and wasn’t very impressed). This one, however, was lovely. Easier to peg as a Cayuse wine than a Cab, but the funk wasn’t overpowering. Beautiful, soft tannins, silky mouthfeel. Several tasters guessed French. Either way, a very nice wine.

2004 vintage

As many have noted, this is very soft. It seems a bit too soft to me. There is a creaminess to this that is a bit offputting to me. I suspect, given the other reviews, that this is more of a personal preference. There is just not a lot of complexity here. When I compare to the Cayuse syrahs, I don't find here the amazing complexity and intellectual engagement that the latter provide. When I compare to other Cabs (Bdx, …

2007 vintage

What an amazing wine. So soft and subtle for a Cayuse. Fruit is multi layered with cherries giving way to currants giving way to berries. Such a fresh smooth wine.

2007 vintage

Nice. Some characteristics similar to their Rhône’s. Ready to drink now but no rush to open.

2007 vintage

Perhaps waited too long..but this showed no Cabernet intensity or deep rich body. It was reminiscent of a standard $15 table wine. Very disappointing given the price.

2004 vintage

Q2 2018 Tasting - Aged Washington Wines (The Apt) : Wine #1: Had been very excited to try this. First time with a Widowmaker. Clearly could keep going, but had a decent age to it. A touch of funk to this. A bit oiley almost with some minerals. (1 penny)

2004 vintage

Q2 - 2018 Tasting - Aged Washington State Wines (NYC) : 1/11 wines tasted double blind. No funk on the nose, so I was surprised this was a Cayuse. On the palate this seemed mature with nicely resolved tannins, lots of tobacco and good acidity. Very nice but not a stand out in the line up as I tend to like the funkier smelling wines. 0 pennies voted by me - 1 penny voted by group.

2004 vintage

Tasted the 2006 WM alongside the 2007. Both after a 2.5 hour decant. The wines differentiated themselves over time, reinforcing the need for a long decant. Enjoyed both wines immensely. The 2006 started out somewhat hot. Aromas of Cayuse funk, cedar cuttings, tobacco, stone, slight dark fruit and vanilla. Initially challenged the palate to locate much fruit; mostly cedar tinge, with vanilla and burnt sugar. The wine evolved over time allowing the dark fruit to come forward and highlighted prune/plum, …

2007 vintage

Drinking after an 05 and it's a step down from that. But still good wine.

2004 vintage

Fire in the whole

2007 vintage

My tasting of 12 Christophe Baron wines. This was medium dark color, mostly opaque. Typical cabernet cassis nose, slight herbal qualities. Medium-full bodied, dark fruits, plums. Very soft, round, drinkable. Fully mature, would drink over the next year or so. Ric

2004 vintage

Rich and ethereal, this lacked a bit of substantial to be a better wine. Very interesting though. PDQ93

2007 vintage

Thai Chicken Pizza for NFL Championship Sunday smooth deep dark purple cherry, plum, meat solid one note of fun Cabernet on the palate love to buy this on the list

2007 vintage

With Doug, Cathy and Jen for a belated Jens birthday at Pair. A bit more tired than I remember. Some nice traditional cab flavors. More savory than sweet or fruity. Tasted older than it is. Perhaps a slightly off bottle? Still quite enjoyable but not as impressive as the last bottle.

2004 vintage

wow, bit of cayuse funk gives way to amazing currants, berries and cherries. Finish just lingers.

2004 vintage

corked :-(

2007 vintage

Still a bit restrained, but a lot lurking underneath. Definitely needs more time to evolve. Nose is a bit short, but hints of cedar, leather, earth, red fruits. Very smooth palate – no harshness or heat at all. Very nice weight in the mouth. Subdued hints of bright cherries/cassis, vanilla/caramel, and other (delicious) things that I cant quite identify. No hint of the sought after/dreaded Cayuse funk. After a few hours started to open up and evolve. Finish became longer …

2004 vintage

Bold and beautiful Washington State Cab, they're really making a run for the Napa crown. Fruit forward rich nose and a nice thick velvety texture coupled with a 40+ second finish makes this one a winner. I WANT MORE!!!

2007 vintage

Popped and let breath for 60 minutes. Was worried about the overly funky 04 vintage but this was screaming good. Light Cayuse-funk, cassis, cherry, smoked meat, light wood, earth, salty minerals, and plums. Matched nicely with pasta with tomato, proscuitto, gorgonzola, fontina, misc mushrooms, basil, and parm-regg. Some fine tannins suggest more life ahead. Long finish with no noticeable heat. Well balanced with a great mouthfeel. Had alongside an 05 Ovid which came off less complex and hotter. 7-10 years …

2004 vintage

Meat juice, cherries, tobacco, pepper, and red currant. Smooth mouthfeel with a medium finish. Perfect with ribeye.

2007 vintage

Awesome Cayuse rocky flavor. Jut terrific.

2004 vintage

Big prototypical cayuse "burnt olive" nose, but that blew off more than it does on the syrhas. A big wine which improved greatly as it opened. Red fruit and alcohol gave the (false) impression of sweetness. A very interesting wine which gained in enjoyment as it evolved. Long finish. Definitelyl a joy to drink on multiple levels. I'm not sure it's improving as it was starting to show some age visually and on the palate.

2004 vintage

Deep and dense and getting better and better all evening. Starting out a touch one diminutional but adding depth and complexity all evening.

2004 vintage

Blind CA Cult Cab Tasting (Snohomish, WA) : Tasted blind (sort of). (Group's #1 (my #2)) – 6 first place votes, 5 second place votes, 1 third place vote – The nose had very briny aromas and all the usual suspects in the Cayuse funk. This was easily identified not only as a ringer, but as a Cayuse Widowmaker. If the bottle doesn't give it away (super big and heavy), surely the nose or at least the palate will. As …

2007 vintage

Sat in the decanter for about 1.5 hours. As I popped the pacifier off this baby to decant, a wave of aromas fulled the room. A piece of toast scrubbed on the inside of a Traeger BBQ, topped with briny olve tapenade and cherry preserves, then drizzled with blackberry brandy came to mind. The cherries and blackberries were still on the nose as we sat down with some lamb chops as well as some smoky plums, vanilla, and saline. More …

2007 vintage

Blind California Cult Cabernet Tasting (Mill Creek, WA) : Tasted blind... sort of. The unique bottle of the Widowmaker plus the sheer number of Cayuse fans that were in the room made it almost impossible for this not to get recognized even before tasting it. There was no funk on this wine. Not overly complex, but still very nice dark cherry flavors with some herbal notes. Huge mouthfeel and a long finish. My favorite of the flight.

2004 vintage

i have to start by saying that i am a huge fan of cayuse wines, but i will admit that they're not for everyone, both in taste and price. widowmaker is no exception. very interesting wine - meaty, salty, dirty wine. actually, amazing how salty this wine tastes. but, make no mistake, this is a good wine, with exceptional balance (especially for how young it is) and a long, lingering finish. another great wine from cayuse. and, if you're a …

2007 vintage

The first reaction from everyone after their first sip was a nodding of the head and a this is good (reminded me of the scene in Pulp Fiction when Quinten Tarantino gives Harvey Keitel that cup of coffee). Lots of herbs, spicy oak, and just a hint of bell pepper on the nose. Handfulls of plums, currants, and pomegranates that balanced out the earthiness. Medium bodied with a nice interplay of savory vs. sweet. Chewy finish. 93 pts.

2004 vintage

Barrel sample. Everyone else seemed to think this was very un-cab like but to me it was very cab like. Powerful, demanding, and muscular. Cassis and plums with a decent tannic bite and some heat. I loved it! 94-96 pts.

2007 vintage

Quick release party notes. Muted nose, pepper, smooth elegant but not huge like everything else. don't remember enough to score

2007 vintage

The incredible nose starts out with cooked raspberry, currant, plum, and buttered artichoke?! Raspberry and cherry start and finish on the palate. No overbearing tannins or oak. Smoky game, light mint, and leather on the mid palate. The finish is more dark fruit that goes on and on. Great mouthfeel. this wine is soooo silky and velvety. Went well with rib-eye. The best Cab I have had in awhile, maybe since the 1996 Shafer Hillside Select a few years back. …

2004 vintage

Surprising lack of tannins for a 2004 cab. Smooth mouthfeel, good nose of dark fruits, but lacking in the finish, which seemed to fall away after a few seconds.

2004 vintage

A deep garnet color, with a nose of black currants and raspberry. The most exceptional part is the silkiness of the mouthfeel, with perfectly balanced acids, tannins, alcohol and fruit.

2004 vintage

had a lil mini blind taste 4 us! I put option B in my nose & was positive it was cayuse! I was a lil torn on which variatel, the green olive shud had told me cab, but the mint/eucalyptis reminded me so much of the Armada syrah! I agree it was the wine of the nite (I think I sneaked the last taste of it 2 )

2004 vintage

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Cayuse, Widowmaker Chamberlin Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley

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