Cayuse God Only Knows 2020

God Only Knows comes from the Armada vineyard, located in the former bed of the Walla Walla River, on the Oregon side of the Walla Walla Valley AVA. Like Cayuse's other plots, it is covered with large cobblestones reminiscent of the great terroirs of the southern Rhône: 30 to 45 centimetres of silt and basalt cobbles rest on a layer of compacted stones. Planted in 2001 at 4,485 vines per hectare, this 2.5-hectare vineyard is farmed organically and biodynamically.

Yields rarely exceed 30 hectolitres per hectare. The hand-picked grapes go to the winery located in the heart of the vineyard, where harvest dates are decided by tasting. They are crushed and then ferment naturally in concrete tanks, with 75% whole bunches. The wine is then aged for 21 months in large, old French oak foudres.

This wine reveals notes of black raspberry, wild strawberry, blackberry, lavender, sage, violet, white pepper and crushed stone. Vibrant red and blue fruit mingles with floral, herbal and mineral notes of great complexity. The palate shows pure elegance, silky and refined, carried by vibrant acidity and soft tannins, through to a floral, airy finish.

In the United States, 90% of the wine produced comes from California. It was the influx of gold prospectors to California that boosted the California wine industry in the mid-19th century, particularly in the Sonoma and Napa region. At the start of the 20th century, there were 800 wineries. From 1919 to 1933 Prohibition destroyed the vast majority of the California wine industry so that by 1933, only 140 wineries remained producing wine. It was only from 1960 that the wine industry began to recover from Prohibition and California was primarily known for the production of fortified wines (in the style of Port). It was also in the 1960s that some of the most famous estates were created (Mondavi, Heitz Wine Cellars, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, etc...).



In 1976, a significant event took place: the legendary tasting competition better known as the "Judgment of Paris". He sees the greatest French wines opposing the new American wines. This May 24, an unexpected result shakes the world of wine, since to everyone's surprise, it is the United States which wins. However, this competition remains relatively unknown to the general public.



Today, there is no doubt that the United States produces great wines. Even though California largely monopolizes the reputation of American wines with its excellent Zinfandels, the state of Oregon produces some of the best Pinot Noir in the world and the state of Washington offers excellent Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet-Sauvignon.