2016 Horsepower, The Tribe Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, Washington, USA
Critics reviews
Grown in the 3-acre The Tribe Vineyard and planted at 3.5’ x 3.5’ spacing. Biodynamically farmed.
The two keywords for The Tribe Vineyard Syrah are intensity and density. This wine is savoury and distinctly different from the Sur Echalas. There is more fruit purity here, less funk on the nose.
The aromatic salts drive it, so characteristic of the stones of southern Walla Walla and bring a sense of refinement and delicacy. Finessed and textural.
It is friendlier and more approachable than the Sur Echalas, with a delicious balance and still those characteristic accents of grey salts and dried, salted meats.
Drink 2020 - 2032
Elaine Chukan Brown, JancisRobinson.com (July 2022)
The 2016 Syrah, The Tribe Vineyard, has complex aromas of peppercorn-crusted meat, iodine and smoke, along with crushed violets and a wet river rock minerality.
The wine is medium to full-bodied on the palate, showing soft tones of underbrush that add to the range of the expressions on the palate, later moving to a delicate stemmy note with a flutter of Sakura.
The finish is thoughtful and complete, with good focus and balance. Only 525 cases were produced.
Drink 2020 - 2040
Anthony Mueller, Wine Advocate (December 2019)
This has such impressive, silky black fruit with interwoven spices and subtle, meaty nuances. The intensity of the fruit is dialled up in this wine.
A very pure, bright fruit core here pushes out of the mid-palate with a lot of energy and stony, graphite-like notes. This has a wealth of dark berries on offer.
Such length and balance. Planted at 8,500 vines per hectare.
Drink or hold. Best from 2022.
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com (July 2019)
The 2016 Syrah The Tribe is mainly in the same mould with a gamy, meaty, backward profile. Smoked meats, earthy dark fruits, ground pepper, and wood smoke are all present in this medium to full-bodied, concentrated Syrah that will benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age and cruise for 15-20 years.
Drink 2022 - 2037
Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com (April 2019)
Full, bright medium red. Alluring, vibrant scents of raspberry, steak tartare and Benedictine herbs are lifted by a floral top note and complicated by a faint barnyard note that screams out Rhône Valley. Then dense, savoury and alive, with its intense red raspberry fruit joined by a slightly meaty wildness and perked up on the back by black pepper.
A classic Old World style of Syrah with terrific definition and lift and a very long, rising finish featuring dusty, well-supported tannins. This utterly captivating wine boasts rare persistence for seven-year-old vines and should age well.
Drink 2022 - 2032
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous.com (December 2019)
About this WINE
Horsepower Vineyards
Located in Walla Walla Valley, Washington, USA, Horsepower Vineyards was founded by Christophe Baron, a French vigneron and winemaker regarded for his dedication to traditional winemaking techniques and biodynamic farming practices. Baron is also the proprietor of Cayuse Vineyards, another esteemed regional winery.
The vineyards, predominantly Syrah, are situated on the southern side of the Walla Walla Valley. The unique terroir of the area, characterised by well-drained, stony soils and a distinct microclimate, contributes to the production of exceptional wines.
One key feature that sets Horsepower Vineyards apart is its commitment to using traditional, labour-intensive methods in winemaking. The vineyard is known for using draft horses to plow the fields, hence the name "Horsepower." This dedication to old-fashioned techniques and the utmost attention to detail in both the vineyard and the cellar contribute to the distinctive character of their wines.
Walla Walla Valley
In the southeastern part of Washington State, USA, Walla Walla Valley is a prominent and acclaimed wine-producing region extending into northeastern Oregon. The valley’s viticultural roots date back to the mid-19th century, making it one of the oldest wine regions in the Pacific Northwest.
A semi-arid climate with hot summers and cold winters characterizes the region. It also benefits from the Cascade Mountain Range to the west, which shields the valley from excessive rainfall, creating an ideal environment for grape cultivation. The dry and sunny conditions contribute to the development of ripe and flavorful grapes, while cool nights help to preserve acidity, resulting in balanced and vibrant wines.
The valley’s diverse soils, primarily composed of loess (wind-blown silt) and well-draining basalt, create a patchwork of terroirs that add complexity and character to the wines. Additionally, ancient flood deposits contribute to the valley’s fertile landscape, further supporting grapevine growth.
Walla Walla Valley is renowned for its red wines, particularly Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah, which thrive in the region’s climate and soils. These red varieties are known for their rich fruit flavors, supple tannins, and aging potential. Excellent white wines, such as Chardonnay and Riesling, are also produced, which benefit from the valley’s diurnal temperature variation and well-drained soils.
The wine is characterized by a strong sense of community and collaboration among winemakers, fostering a culture of quality and innovation. Many wineries in the region are small, family-owned operations dedicated to handcrafted and sustainable winemaking practices.
Syrah/Shiraz
A noble black grape variety grown particularly in the Northern Rhône where it produces the great red wines of Hermitage, Cote Rôtie and Cornas, and in Australia where it produces wines of startling depth and intensity. Reasonably low yields are a crucial factor for quality as is picking at optimum ripeness. Its heartland, Hermitage and Côte Rôtie, consists of 270 hectares of steeply terraced vineyards producing wines that brim with pepper, spices, tar and black treacle when young. After 5-10 years they become smooth and velvety with pronounced fruit characteristics of damsons, raspberries, blackcurrants and loganberries.
It is now grown extensively in the Southern Rhône where it is blended with Grenache and Mourvèdre to produce the great red wines of Châteauneuf du Pape and Gigondas amongst others. Its spiritual home in Australia is the Barossa Valley, where there are plantings dating as far back as 1860. Australian Shiraz tends to be sweeter than its Northern Rhône counterpart and the best examples are redolent of new leather, dark chocolate, liquorice, and prunes and display a blackcurrant lusciousness.
South African producers such as Eben Sadie are now producing world- class Shiraz wines that represent astonishing value for money.
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Description
Grown in the 3-acre The Tribe Vineyard and planted at 3.5’ x 3.5’ spacing. Biodynamically farmed.
The two keywords for The Tribe Vineyard Syrah are intensity and density. This wine is savoury and distinctly different from the Sur Echalas. There is more fruit purity here, less funk on the nose.
The aromatic salts drive it, so characteristic of the stones of southern Walla Walla and bring a sense of refinement and delicacy. Finessed and textural.
It is friendlier and more approachable than the Sur Echalas, with a delicious balance and still those characteristic accents of grey salts and dried, salted meats.
Drink 2020 - 2032
Elaine Chukan Brown, JancisRobinson.com (July 2022)
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