Cayuse Horsepower 2019

The Cayuse estate has farmed organically since its founding in 1997, becoming the first estate in the region to fully adopt the principles of biodynamics. In the vineyard, the estate stands out for its use of unique farming equipment designed by a Burgundian blacksmith, and for working with horses. The Syrah vines thus enjoy a healthy, balanced growing environment, allowing them to explore the soils in depth to draw all the nutrients and energy essential to their optimal development. The wine, with its intense red colour, reveals a complex, expressive bouquet in which fruity and spicy aromas intertwine, enhanced by a discreet note of vanilla. On the palate, it is characterised by fine tannins leading to a finish that is both round and powerful. This cuvée is enjoyable in its youth, but also promises to reveal all its splendour after a few years of ageing.

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.