Bionic Frog Syrah

Produced: 2000 - present

Professional reviews and tasting notes from prior vintages added as published. Scores within parentheses indicate barrel samples:

2021

100 Points, Editor’s Choice. Always one of my favorites every single year, the 2021 Bionic Frog from Cayuse rested in 15-20% new French oak for 18 months and is made from 100% Syrah grapes. Presenting a gorgeous neon ruby-magenta core with a neon pink rim in the glass, this perfect example of Syrah from Cayuse sports scintillating notes of ripe, crushed red and black cherries, marionberries, fat drippings from grilled beef ribs, black olive tapenade, whole peppercorns, dried mushrooms, and wet earth. Another wine from Cayuse that deserves time - time in the bottle to develop and time in your glass while you are enjoying it as it constantly changes during the tasting experience. Sweet, rounded tannins and mouthwatering acidity finish things off. A little over 500 cases were made. Highly recommended. —Jeremy Young, International Wine Report

100 Points. A total stunner, the 2021 Cayuse Vineyards Bionic Frog is a bigger, bolder edition than the outstanding 2020. Aged in 20% new large format French oak before bottling, the heady aromatics hit you with roasted dates, black currants, Nori, smoldering stones, iodine and shades of menthol that all meld in the glass. The palate is plush, round and generous with an opulent texture and great sense of underlying tension. The push-pull between richness and verve is perfection and pure silk to consume. A sensational wine to indulge in now, this has a long life ahead of it. —Owen Bargreen, owenbargreen.com

98+ Points. The 2021 Syrah Bionic Frog has a medium magenta core and offers a fresh, floral and spicy bouquet accompanied by elegant, savory notes. Ripe notions of plum skin and dark cherries burst from the nose, overflowing with aromatic profile. Medium to full-bodied, the palate presents an elegant and refined mouthfeel with food-friendly tannins and nuances of umami, culminating in a long, complex finish that highlights the distinctiveness and embodies the "wow factor" of the Walla Walla Valley. The Syrah rested for 18 months in approximately 20% new and neutral French oak demi-muids, foudre and barrels. A total of 6,288 bottles were produced. —Anthony Mueller, The Wine Advocate

98 Points. The 2021 Syrah Bionic Frog is slightly more elegant and streamlined than past vintages, but it's an insanely complex, layered, elegant Syrah that has so much to offer. Ripe black raspberries, redcurrants, shiitake mushrooms, cold fireplace, and rose petal/spring flower notes all make for a compelling, singular bouquet, and it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a layered, seamless mouthfeel, ultra-fine tannins, and an umami, mineral- laced, iron-like character on the finish that's something to behold. This beauty needs 4-5 years of bottle age (I followed this bottle for multiple days, and it only improved with air) and will evolve like a great Hermitage over the following two decades. —Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com

98 Points. This comically named but serious flagship wine of Cayuse comes from the Coccinelle vineyard, planted in 1998. It practically explodes in aroma, with smoky, peppery, savory grilled herbs followed by gorgeously ripe blackberries and dark plums on the palate, blanketed in soft, powdery tannins for a plush finish. —James Suckling, jamessuckling.com

97 Points, Editors’ Choice. Best Bionic Frog ever? Maybe. Best Bionic Frog that I've had? Yup. It has a mesmerizing perfume of boysenberries, jasmine, white pepper and chrysanthemum tea. Crisp acidity highlights juicy black-fruit flavors that are spiced up by orange-zest, clove and star anise notes. The wine's mouthfeel is slick and slippery. —Michael Alberty, Wine Enthusiast

94 Points. This wine brings some overt funk out of the gate. Beyond that are notes of dried flower, black olive brine, licorice, and soot. The palate is richly flavorful and intense, bringing exceptional focus. A persistent, crazy-long, richly flavorful finish caps it off – classic Frog. —Sean Sullivan, Northwest Wine Report

2020

99 Points. A cult-classic amount wine aficionados, the 100% Syrah 2020 Bionic Frog from Cayuse stuns from beginning to end. Don’t let the cartoony label fool you, this is a serious bottle of wine that was aged for 18 months in 15-20% new French oak barrels and sports a dark purple and garnet core with a lighter purple rim. Dark fruit dominates, with black plum flesh and currants taking center stage. Then comes the meaty aspects alongside toasted black peppercorn and touches of smoked pork. Crisp acidity and silky tannins merge on the palate, and it finishes with a stony minerality and meaty component that I couldn’t get enough of. Highly recommended and editor’s choice. —Jeremy Young, International Wine Report

98 Points. This is dark and earthy with blackberry bush, black raspberries, baking spices and black soil. Full-bodied with depth and finesse. So wide and plush, with tight but refined, silky tannins that show some creaminess. Seamless and long, with an array of floral and spicy flavors to the dark fruit. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold. —James Suckling, jamessuckling.com

98 Points. Another standout wine by Cayuse Vineyards, the 2020 Bionic Frog Syrah was stored in 20% new large format French oak before bottling. You have to love the seamless texture of this wine. Deep dark fig, black currant and black raspberry flavors combine with shades of sweet pipe tobacco and wet stone on the palate. Finishing very long with dense dark cherry flavors, wet rock and minerals, this is a stunning wine that is up there with the finest made this vintage. —Owen Bargreen, owenbargreen.com

97 Points. Another brilliant Syrah from this team, the 2020 Syrah Bionic Frog reveals a translucent ruby hue to go with a rocking bouquet of ripe framboise and mulberry-like fruits as well as notions of smoked earth, spring flowers, rose petals, ground pepper, graphite, and crushed stone. (It has more than a passing resemblance to a great vintage of Jamet's Côte Rôtie Côte Brune.) Incredibly complex, medium to full-bodied, and elegant on the palate, it has ripe, integrated tannins, flawless balance, and a great finish. It's a stunning Syrah that deserves 3-5 years of bottle age and will evolve for two decades in cold cellars. —Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com

96+ Points. Darkly alluring and savory, the 2020 Syrah Bionic Frog smolders up from the glass with a burst of wild herbs, tomato leaf, dark earth and black currants. Supremely silky, this soothes with its ripe fruits and sweet inner florals, yet there's a savory, nearly sultry core. Lavender nuances resonate throughout. It tapers off long and staining, leaving a tinge of juicy acidity to balance, as violet inner florals linger throughout the pleasantly chewy finale. —Eric Guido, Vinous

2019

100 Points. I always love this cuvée and the 2019 Bionic Frog stands out with its own singular character. Incredible crème de cassis and blueberry fruits, notes of iron, ground pepper, violets, and beef blood, full-bodied richness, perfect tannins, and that rare mix of richness and elegance all define this incredible Syrah. It shows the more elegant, cooler style of the vintage yet still brings incredible fruit and is just a magical expression of Syrah that could come from nowhere else. Hats off to Christophe Baron and his team for another flat-out awesome Syrah that I wish every reader could taste. It needs lots of air if drinking any time soon, and it deserves 4-5 years of bottle age and will have 25+ of prime drinking. —Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com

100 Points. Absolutely remarkable to say the least. As this begins to unwind in the glass it displays striking aromatics of black raspberry coulis and blackberries which are woven together with spices, savory herbs, salted meat, iron and wet gravel all taking shape. On the palate this possesses a medium/full-body that is impeccably structured with beautiful silky tannins that result in a wonderful finessed mouthfeel. It goes on to display excellent overall concentration along with incredible precision and balance all the way through the long finish. While this is already impressive in its youth, I would only expect it to become more compelling over time and would allow it at least a few more years of bottle age before approaching… It is an utterly fascinating Syrah and a must have for any Syrah lover. —Jeremy Young, International Wine Report

98 Points. Inviting aromas of hot stones, plums, black cherries and basil with a underlying note of dried rose. Medium-bodied with silky tannins. This hums with gorgeous red fruit. White pepper and hot paprika dance on the palate. Harmonious, juicy, and exciting. Long. So much nuance and character here yet ripe and wild. Fantastic. From biodynamically grown grapes. Best after 2024. —James Suckling, jamessuckling.com

98 Points. One of the great wines produced in this vintage, the scintillating 2019 Bionic Frog Syrah shows deep concentration and flavor density that anyone would envy in this vintage. Stored in 20% new large format French oak prior to bottling, this coats the palate with a seamless sense of mouthfeel. Rich dark cherry syrup, wet gravel, pipe tobacco, prosciutto and salted meats all deftly come together on the palate... Gratifying to consume now, with its mineral edge and salty/stony accents, give this at least 20-30 minutes of air prior to consuming and enjoy over the next ten to twelve years. Drink 2022-2033. —Owen Bargreen, owenbargreen.com

98 Points. Outstanding as always, the 2019 Syrah Bionic Frog offers a seductive and generous frame and stemmy notion from having 70% of the stems added back in. The wine is fresh, bright and juicy with flavors of black raspberry, blueberry, blackberry compote and savory essences of dried herbs and peppercorns. Medium to full-bodied, the wine coats the mouth with a round and luscious mouthfeel, displaying its impeccable balance and fine tannic structure. It’s yet another fantastic vintage for the Bionic Frog. —Anthony Mueller, The Wine Advocate

97 Points. Today, the bouquet of the 2019 Syrah Bionic Frog is youthfully moody, showing glimpses of rosemary, flintstone, brined olives, red plum, and crushed rocks. It comes to life on the palate, mineral-tinged, yet packed full of vibrant red and black fruits that are energized by stimulating acidity and hints of sour citrus. This leaves a reverberation of zesty tension through the dramatically long finish, lightly structured with framing tannins and nearly salty in character, yet still spry, as nuances of sage and exotic spice slowly taper off. The inner harmony here is something to behold, yet the 2019 is just begging for some cellaring to come fully into focus. It’s totally inward today, yet packed full of potential. —Eric Guido, Vinous

95 Points. Opens with vibrant raspberry and green peppercorn flavors and quickly builds torque and tannins, with smoked meat and river stone accents that linger on the rich finish. Drink now through 2031. —Tim Fish, Wine Spectator

2018

100 Points. The 2018 Syrah Bionic Frog comes from the Coccinelle Vineyard in the Rocks district of Milton-Freewater. It’s always one of the richest, most concentrated Syrahs in the lineup, yet it doesn't give an inch with regard to elegance and purity. The 2018 was aged mostly in demi-muids (there's often a portion aged in foudre)... This deeper ruby/purple-hued beauty offers a gorgeous bouquet of black raspberries, redcurrants, tapenade, bacon fat, and wood smoke, with a touch of reductive scorched earth and graphite nuances. This carries to a full-bodied Syrah with ultra-fine yet building tannins, a layered, deep, textured mouthfeel, and flawless overall balance. It's another magical, incredibly pure Syrah from the genius of Baron that will benefit from just 2-3 years of bottle age and keep for over two decades. —Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com

99 Points. The dense, brooding 2018 Syrah Bionic Frog is a spectacular bottling that shows off the heat of the vintage. It was aged in roughly 20% new large-format French oak before bottling. The smooth mouthfeel here is just sensational. Black tea, blackberry cordial and coffee ground flavors play with black olives and smoked beef rib flavors on the palate, and the salty and savory tones are right in balance. Seamless and literally a joy to savor in its youth, this has another 10-15 years of cellaring ahead of it. —Owen Bargreen, Vinous

98 Points. Beginning with a brilliant and seductively aromatic nose, the 2018 Syrah Bionic Frog rockets out of the glass with a stunning array of juicy fruit tones, baked earth and a dusty, floral sensation with intoxicating elements of smoked beef and black pepper. Medium to full-bodied, the Syrah summersaults across the palate with excitement and finesse, offering up spicy flavors of black raspberry compote, spiced chutney, hints of olive tapenade and a lively mineral tension. It offers pristine tannins and a succulent mouthfeel that lavishly lays on the mid-palate. Concluding with a long, winding and ever-evolving finish, the 2018 is flirting with triple digits… Outstanding! —Anthony Mueller, The Wine Advocate

98 Points. Beautiful aromas of raspberries, spiced plums, dried violets, tobacco, smoked meat, herbs and balsamic. It’s full-bodied and so supple with melting tannins. Wonderful texture with a round, rich and savory finish. Drink or hold. Outstanding! —James Suckling, jamessuckling.com

95 Points. Not a Syrah for slackers, this is bold, polished and distinctive, with decadent black raspberry, orange zest and black olive flavors that build richness on the savory finish. Drink now through 2031. —Tim Fish, Wine Spectator

2017

98 Points. Part of the magic that happens with the 2017 Syrah Bionic Frog is that it is opaque with neon purple edges without being inky and massive. With classic Syrah tones of smoked meat, leather, lavender, lilac and black pepper, the wine is rich with aromas of blackberry, black raspberry and smoked plum. Medium to full-bodied, the wine explodes with intention and precision on the palate, with an immaculate balance and crystal-clear focus. Brilliantly structured, the wine continues to evolve with subtle and seamlessly integrated spice tones compounded by a mineral tension and a floral lift to make this wine float across the mid-palate. The wine glides effortlessly to a long, winding finish with persistence and the elegance of silk. The vibrancy of flavor remains in the mouth long after the wine has left. For a wine this dark and this full-flavored, yet as graceful and agile on the palate as it is, you’ll be hard-pressed to put down the glass; I certainly can’t keep my hands off of it. This is stunningly beautiful, and with only 516 cases made, it should be sought after by top collectors from around the world. —Anthony Mueller, The Wine Advocate

98 Points. Fantastic decadence and richness to this, but not overdone, offering intense dried fruit, tar, roasted walnuts and smoked almonds. It’s full-bodied, but remains fresh. The aromas follow through to a flavorful. round and juicy palate. —James Suckling, jamessuckling.com

98 Points. …An incredibly elegant expression of this cuvée, it reveals an almost opaque purple hue to go with stunning, Jamet Cote Rotie-like notes of black raspberries, spring flowers, bacon fat, green olives, and sweet mulch. More cured meats and salted pork notes develop with time in the glass, and it’s a wonderfully complex, layered, nuanced Syrah. Boasting medium to full-bodied richness on the palate, flawless balance, and a great, great finish, it’s the polish, elegance, and silky feel to the tannins that set this beauty above just about every other wine out there. It’s unquestionably gorgeous today… yet has a solid 15-20 years of prime drinking ahead of it. —Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com

94 Points. Shows personality and refinement, with vivid cherry and raspberry flavors, laced with garrigue, bacon, orange peel and river stone notes. Picks up speed toward the vibrant finish. Drink now through 2029. —Tim Fish, Wine Spectator

2016

100 Points. Pure perfection in a glass, the 2016 Syrah Bionic Frog is another magical wine from this estate and is as good as it gets. Crème de cassis, rose petals, menthol, ash, and smoky, meaty, soy sauce notes all emerge from this full-bodied, singular wine. Full-bodied, expansive, and powerful yet weightless on the palate, it has ultra-fine tannins, a brilliant finish, and a singular, magical character. It matches the otherworldly 2014 and 2010 and is one of the wines of the vintage. —Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com

99 Points. There’s a darker and deeper character that sets this syrah apart from the rest at Cayuse. Staggering intensity of black-fruit aromas and woody spices, as well as dark chocolate and meaty notes. The palate has a sense of total saturation and the tannins are so polished, so long and so dense. There’s an ethereal mood here, transcending individual descriptors and delivering licorice, sarsaparilla and blackberries, all bathed in hard, brown spices. Seamless, long and silky. Best from 2022 and for at least a decade after that. —James Suckling, jamessuckling.com

98 Points. The 2016 Syrah Bionic Frog needs no introduction, as its reputation proceeds it. Aromas of black fruit, olive and savory herbs with hints of mustard seed waft from the nose. The palate shows soft flavors of smoke and ash over a firm core of minerality that is very pleasurable, continuing on to the long-lingering finish and aftertaste of olive and dark berries. An instant success. —Anthony Mueller, The Wine Advocate

96 Points. The aromas fascinate, with notes of funk, earth, savory green olive, herb, soot, umami, black pepper, black olive brine, smoked meat and caper. It shows a profound sense of intensity, balance and layering to the savory and floral flavors that continue through the long, richly flavored finish of firepit and flowers. —Sean Sullivan, Wine Enthusiast

96 Points. Bright red-ruby. Urgent, very pure aromas of pungent dark cherry, black olive and chicory lifted by a floral topnote. Wonderfully silky and velvety in the mouth, but also with terrific definition to its alluring flavors of framboise, dried herbs, briny olive and dried Indian spices. This round, utterly seamless, mouthfilling Syrah finishes with ripe, noble tannins, staining the palate with late notes of minerals, black olive and blood sausage... —Stephen Tanzer, Vinous

94 Points. Plump, with personality, and well-structured, with vibrant raspberry, garrigue and bacon fat flavors that build richness and focus toward polished tannins. Drink now through 2027. —Tim Fish, Wine Spectator

2015

(95-97) Points. The 2015 Syrah Bionic Frog offers a briny, herbal, black fruit, pepper and olive-driven style that would easily pass undetected in a blind lineup of Côte Rôties. Full-bodied, pure and elegant on the palate, I love its concentration, as well as its incredible purity of fruit. There’s plenty of tannin on the finish, but it should be approachable with just short term cellaring. —Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate

2014

100 Points. Always one of the most unique in the lineup, the 2014 Syrah Bionic Frog is phenomenal stuff any way you look at it. Cold fireplace, charred meat, tapenade, shiitake and loads of dark, earthy fruit all emerge from this full-bodied, tight, backward and beautifully concentrated Syrah that readers just need to taste. Incredibly long, elegant, building and heavenly juicy, don't miss a chance to get some of this! It needs 3-5 years of cellaring and is going to blow you away over the following two decades. —Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate

99 Points. Deep fruit presence from the outset. Dark plums and purple cherries with abundant slate and graphite, dark chocolate and orange zest. The palate has impressive power and detail, superb purity and clarity. The palate glides effortlessly. A sexy finish. Drink or hold. —James Suckling, jamessuckling.com

99 Points. The wine begins with aromatics reminiscent of tarragon, blackberry cobbler, umami, smoked pork shoulder and black truffle oil... Balanced and beautifully textured, the ripe flavors of blackberry cobbler are laced with umami, crushed mint, smoked meats and green olive, which continue to impress as they add wonderful complexity and range... —Owen Bargreen, International Wine Report

95 Points. Dark red-ruby. Wonderfully aromatic nose offers scents of raspberry, licorice, brown spices, mustard seed and green pepper. Flavors of cherry and raspberry liqueur are complicated by suggestions of sage, spices and exotic fruits. Very rich wine, but shows a bit more greenness than the 2013 edition, an element that infuses the mid-palate with energy. Finishes with very ripe, spicy tannins and outstanding persistence. —Stephen Tanzer, Vinous

2013

97 Points. The only wine to see partial aging in foudre (20% new), the 2013 Syrah Bionic Frog has an almost Burgundian flair in its forest floor, olive brine, smoked earth, dried flower and darker fruit-styled personality. One of the more streamlined, elegant examples of this cuvee, it still has a serious, lengthy feel, full-bodied richness and building underlying structure that makes me think 3-5 years of cellaring are warranted. —Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate

95+ Points. Deep ruby-red. Knockout nose combines liqueur-like black raspberry, olive tapenade and mustard seed, complicated by licorice, clove and a slightly raw herbal quality. Wonderfully dense, chewy and spicy, showing intriguing saline complexity and terrific lift and conveying an impression of tightly coiled energy. No easy sweetness here but the powerful finishing flavors of raspberry, lavender and spices saturate the palate and leave the taste buds vibrating.—Stephen Tanzer, Vinous

94 Points. Dark and focused, this is beautifully shaped, with velvety tannins enveloping rich, black olive-laced blackberry and cherry flavors. Smoky notes weave through the long, complex finish. Best from 2017 through 2023. 510 cases made. —Harvey Steiman, Wine Spectator

2012

99 Points. The 2012 Syrah Bionic Frog is another exceedingly structured, concentrated Syrah from this estate that will require patience. Scorched earth, chocolate, mineral, black pepper and assorted black fruits give way to a full-bodied, beautifully proportioned 2012 that has fantastic purity, solid mid-palate concentration and building tannin. Give it 2-4 years and enjoy through 2027. —Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate

98 Points. ...Wild blackberry compote and Umami tones combine with green olives and Hoisin sauce with smoked duck on the nose. The gorgeous aromatics bring you back to the glass for more enjoyment. Once on the palate the seamless texture really impresses. Layers of roasted figs and boysenberry collide with minerals, lemon rind, smoked brisket, milk chocolate and dried sage with a light dusting of white pepper on this complex palate... Still fresh and vibrant, with good weight, the 2012 Bionic Frog will enjoy at least another eight years ahead of it. But why wait? —Owen Bargreen, owenbargreen.com

96 Points. Good dark red-ruby. Wonderfully pure, perfumed scents of dark raspberry, mocha, mustard seed and bacon fat. Fleshy, sweet and deep, with soil-driven salinity adding another dimension to the flavors of raspberry, smoked meat and flowers. Between the wine's palate-saturating fruit and full tannin coverage, the echoing finish is inexorable. Baron used to use "magic casks" purchased from Dominique Laurent in Nuits-Saint-Georges but now ages this wine in foudres. —Stephen Tanzer, Vinous

96 Points. Aromas of dried herbs, green olive, grilled asparagus and smoke lead to intensely concentrated savory flavors with a flat-out dazzling mouthfeel. It’s a knockout that overloads the senses. —Sean Sullivan, Wine Enthusiast

94 Points. Lithe, focused, cohesive and distinctive, with licorice overtones around a core of plum and spice, finishing gracefully and with excellent persistence. Drink now through 2022. 483 cases made. —Harvey Steiman, Wine Spectator

2011

96 Points. The 2011 Syrah Bionic Frog is another rocking Syrah from Christophe that does everything right. Creme de cassis, blackberry, smoked earth, toasted spice and violets emerge from the glass, and it flows onto the palate with full-bodied richness, beautiful purity of fruit and brilliant length. Gaining more minerality with time in the glass, it will continue to flesh out nicely with another handful of years in the cellar, and have two decades of ultimate longevity. –Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate

96(+?) Points. Dark red with a hint of ruby. Kaleidoscopic scents and flavors of black raspberry, minerals, bacon fat, tree bark, black pepper, black olive and sesame paste. Densely packed yet sharply delineated and gripping, conveying a powerful impression of dry extract. Extremely fine-grained and not a particularly sweet style. A Syrah of extraordinary energy, complexity and spicy lift, finishing with superb tannic grip and outstanding slowly building length. For all its structure, there’s nothing hard about this incredible wine. The 10% new oak component here was a foudre, not a barrique. Christophe Baron racked his 2011 Syrahs only for the bottling in the spring of 2013. –Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar

2010

100 Points. This insanely good 2010 Syrah Bionic Frog offers incredible notes of blood orange, liquid violets, cassis, seared meats, licorice and crushed rocks to go with full-bodied richness, ultra-fine tannic structure, perfectly integrated acidity and a blockbuster finish. Raised in roughly 20% new demi-muids and foudre, this is a heavenly Syrah that couldn’t get any better. Give it 2-4 years in the cellar and enjoy bottles through 2030. –Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate

97 Points. Dark and peppery, this vibrates with mineral and black olive overtones, featuring a supple core of dark plum and spice flavors, finishing with remarkable intensity, tension and refinement. Shows power, exuberance and finesse in equal measure. Best from 2014 through 2020. 360 cases made. –Harvey Steiman, Wine Spectator

96 Points. Full, dark red. Sexy scents of wild raspberry, truffle, olive tapenade and licorice. Wonderfully silky but firm, offering flavors from virtually all of the Syrah food groups: dark raspberry, boysenberry, plum, pepper, licorice, gunflint, smoke, brown spices, game. This wine boasts an uncanny 3-D texture and incredible depth. The ripe tannins are thoroughly buffered by fruit on the slowly building finish, which saturates the palate and the sides of the mouth. A great wine in a rather Hermitage style. –Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate

2009

97+ Points. Like the 2009 Cailloux, the 2009 Syrah Bionic Frog was closed aromatically, yet offered incredible depth, richness and purity on the palate. Reluctantly giving up lots of dark fruits, chocolate, mineral and roasted herbs, as well as more exotic notes of blood orange and mint, this inky colored, full-bodied, beautifully concentrated Syrah should be forgotten for 3-4 years, yet will have 20 years or more of overall longevity. –Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate

96 Points. Cayuse’s 2009 Syrah Bionic Frog originates in the Coccinelle Vineyard, planted in 1998, which features iron-rich clay with significant fine earth run-off from the nearby Blue Mountains, and, paradoxically, dries out quickest. In more ways than one, it’s the opposite of En Chamberlin. “This is, 90% of the time, the Syrah that we pick first,” notes Baron, “which was September 24 in 2009.” Vinification was in concrete (though future vintages will ferment in recently-arrived wooden uprights), and the mix of barrels – all Dominique Laurent’s self-styled “magic barriques” (which until 2011 was the favored medium for this bottling) – was around 20-30% new. Baron and Bourcier explain how they like what these barrels have done for the Bionic Frog, but, adds Baron: “My style of wine should not be based on a cooper, and I don’t want to be dependent on one man’s barrel.” Red and black raspberries as well as cherries – seemingly simultaneously in confitured, fresh, and distilled formats – are mingled with nutmeg, cardamom, ginger, black tea and salted caramel on the nose; and then again on a strikingly bright, sappy palate, leading to a finish of rapier penetration and compulsive saliva-inducement. The charm, mystery, and intricacy exhibited by a couple of other splendid wines in the present collection might be missing here, but the sheer energy, persistence, and, for lack of a better word, umami-savor are amazing. It’s a brave man who would want to forsake the “formula” behind this bit of alchemy, even if it depends on barrels whose alleged secret is guarded by an almost eccentrically passionate Burgundian winemaker! Almost unbelievably, Baron informs me that he thinks this wine is “shy and in its shell” right now; but I’m not buying that to the extent of including a plus sign or a plus with question mark after my score! Only around half the fruit was destemmed for this, incidentally; Baron says it was Verset who inspired him to the potential of vendange entier. This should be well worth following for 15 or more years.
–David Schildknecht, The Wine Advocate

95 Points. The Frog...shows inviting notes of violets and strawberries, and it gains concentration through the midpalate, with additions of cherry and an almost liquid minerality. An almost delicate version of this wine. –Paul Gregutt, Wine Enthusiast

94(+?) Points. Good bright medium red. Enticing, perfumed aromas of medicinal black cherry, mocha, pepper and star anise. Extremely tight and very pure, with a sneaky sweetness to the essentially silky flavors of raspberry, pepper and flowers. Maintains its impressive breadth and silky texture through the very long, rising finish. For all its energy today, this wine strikes me as extremely closed and in need of patience. –Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar

94 Points. Focused, with nice density to the juicy blueberry and black plum flavors, hinting at black pepper, Lapsang souchong tea and tar as the finish sails on and on. Shows presence and depth, deftly balanced on the finish. Drink now through 2019. –Harvey Steiman, Wine Spectator

2008

100 Points. Initially a rather subdued Frog; as if it has been tamed down. Then, suddenly, There’s a plush core of blackberry fruit, and the classic Cayuse funkiness is there, drenched in liquid rocks and cured meat and drying tannins. It’s all in proportion and a fine reflection of the steely vintage. As it opens gracefully you discover that it is a stunningly refined Frog, quite possibly the best ever; powerful and distinctive, but also elegant, feminine.
–Paul Gregutt, Wine Enthusiast

99 Points. The 2008 Syrah Bionic Frog strikes me as the most complex of the Rhone-style offerings. Smoke, game, exotic spices, black truffle, and assorted black and blue fruits lead to a lengthy, impeccably balanced, pleasure-bent offering that will drink nicely for 10-12 years. –Jay Miller, The Wine Advocate

97 Points. I thought the 2008 Syrah Bionic Frog was insanely good. Checking in at 14.4% natural alcohol (the 2009 was 14.7 and the 2010 14.8), it has soaring notes of cassis, black raspberries, violets, white flowers, mint and olives to go with a full-bodied, ultra-pure, silky, yet concentrated and layered feel on the palate. One of the more elegant, silky and finesse driven examples of this cuvee, it has heavenly aromatics and will have upward of two decades of longevity. –Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate

96 Points. ...Game larded with bacon and sage practically reaches out from the glass and slaps your nose. Tight and firm on initial entry, among this wine’s more striking evocations are herbal pungency as well as saliva-inducing salinity, soy-like savor, and smoky roast goose pan drippings, but it’s endowed as well with intensely ripe and correspondingly luscious fresh cherry and cassis. As it opens in the glass, remarkable high-toned as well as musky floral essences emerge, as if a distillate of iris, hyacinth and narcissus. This finishes with a superbly mouth-coating persistence, as spice box, forest floor, and wet stone elements add to its many dynamic strands of flavor. I suspect it will be riveting to follow for at least another decade. –David Schildknecht, The Wine Advocate

96 Points. Bright dark red. Multidimensional nose delivers black raspberry, brown sugar, smoky cardamom and black olive. Super concentrated, sappy and rich, showing a rare blend of power and delicacy. No single element dominates this outstanding syrah; flavors of red and black fruits, pepper and spices wash over the palate in a wave. Finishes with very fine tannins and great persistence. –Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar

2007

99 Points. The 2007 Bionic Frog Syrah surrenders a splendid aromatic array of forest floor, herbs, olives, bacon, underbrush, blueberry, and black cherry. This is followed by a voluptuous wine with gobs of succulent fruit, impeccable balance, enough fine-grained tannin to evolve for 5-7 years, and a lengthy, seductive finish. Give it 5-7 years of additional cellaring and drink it from 2015 to 2027. –Jay Miller, The Wine Advocate

97 Points. This is holding on beautifully with subtle meat, spice and tea aromas as well as ripe fruits. Full-bodied, layered and very flavorful with fantastic depth and length. Superb wine. Drink or hold. —James Suckling, jamessuckling.com

96 Points. The 2007 Syrah Bionic Frog is perfumed and complex, with gorgeous garrigue, dried flowers, olive tapenade and liquid rock aromas balanced nicely by a core of sweet red and black raspberry fruit. I'd like to see more mid-palate depth here, but this is pure silk on the palate and it shows the sexy, supple nature of the vintage beautifully. Possessing lots of polished tannin, beautifully pure fruit and no shortage of length, it's a beautiful wine to enjoy anytime over the coming decade. –Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate

96 Points. This has tremendous presence, graceful but forceful, playing out its plum, currant, black pepper and licorice flavors against a background that hints at warm granite, cinnamon bark and bay leaf. Complex and harmonious. Drink now through 2020. –Harvey Steiman, Wine Spectator

95 Points. The Cayuse 2007 Syrah Bionic Frog emphasizes sappy, bittersweet, dark berry and herbal concentrates on a palate whose plushness, viscosity, and fine grain of tannin resemble those of Cailloux from the same vintage tasted alongside. Brown spices, peat-like smokiness, and medicinal elements that straddle the borders of mineral, herbal and fruit character all lead to a superbly long, soothing finish... –David Schildknecht, The Wine Advocate

2006

99 Points. All of Christophe’s 2006 were stunners, and the 2006 Syrah Bionic Frog excels for its massive core of fruit, smoked herbs, chocolate, licorice and meaty aromatics. Brooding, backward, meaty and a little bloody, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness and big structure, yet always stays balanced, pure and layered. It’s a joy to drink today, but will cruise for another 10-15 years. –Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate

99 Points. The 2006 Bionic Frog Syrah has an awesome perfume that jumps from the glass. Notes of forest floor, underbrush, mushrooms, liquid minerals, blueberry, and black cherry lead to a remarkably succulent, voluptuous wine that is entirely seductive. Imagine having to choose between your ideal fantasy sexual partner and this wine – and you choose The Frog! That’s how good it is. –Jay Miller, The Wine Advocate

96 Points. Ripe, complex, harmonious and multilayered, weaving its green olive, tobacco, ironstone and mineral flavors deftly through the ripe blackberry, boysenberry and plum flavors, finishing long and expressive. Best from 2011 through 2018. –Harvey Steiman, Wine Spectator

2005

99 Points. The kinkiest of the Syrahs is the 2005 Bionic Frog which was made with 25% stems. It was aged in Dominique Laurent barrels, 30% new. Purple/black-colored, it has a sexy perfume of earth notes, mineral, spice box, and blueberry. Layered, opulent, and super-rich, the finish just goes on and on. –Jay Miller, The Wine Advocate

98+ Points. Another blockbuster vintage, the 2005 Syrah Bionic Frog is one of the more masculine and structured in the lineup. Chocolate, crushed rocks, wood smoke, iodine and spiced meats all give way to a full-bodied, deeply concentrated, rich and structured Syrah that needs another 2-3 years to fully flesh out. While its masculine, meaty character dominated at first, it showed more and more layers with time in the glass. It should be at its best from 2017-2030. –Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate

95 Points. Lithe, focused and generous with its blackberry, cherry and exotic spice flavors, picking up a stony minerality as the finish turns silky and refined. Each sip turns the wine in a slightly different direction, suggesting this will develop remarkable complexity as it ages. Best from 2010 through 2017. –Harvey Steiman, Wine Spectator

2004

99 Points. Coming close to matching the 2010, the 2004 Syrah Bionic Frog (which was also a cool vintage) came from tiny yields of 16 hectoliter per hectare. It’s an incredibly beautiful Syrah that exhibits lots of saltiness in its cassis and currant-like fruits, licorice, olive brine and crushed rock-like minerality. These all come together perfectly on the palate, where the wine is full-bodied, layered and awesomely pure, plus has a killer finish. It’s another monumental effort from this estate that will stand toe to toe with the greatest Syrah in the world. –Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate

99 Points. The 2004 Bionic Frog "Coccinelle Vineyard" was aged in 100% Dominique Laurent "magic cask" barrels, 25% of them new. Opaque purple-colored, the wine has a fabulous perfume of violets and lavender as well grilled meat, game, and blueberry compote. Dense, powerful yet elegant, this splendid effort demands a decade of cellaring and should drink well through 2045. –Jay Miller, The Wine Advocate

96 Points. Smooth, supple and full-flavored, The Bionic Frog shows the characteristic uber-funk that it is known for. But in this new vintage it seems to be a bit less in-your-face than previously. There's plenty of wild herb, beef blood and silage to go around; but the flavors are already fully integrated, the wine viscous and plush with an intensely spicy quality. This is beautiful, thick and meaty yet still lifted through the finish, which keeps adding new scents and flavors as it sails along-vanilla, clove and baking spices. –Paul Gregutt, Wine Enthusiast

94 Points. Glows with plum and spice aromas, then gets serious on the palate, with layers of tar, molasses and coffee to meld with the plum and cherry flavors. The subtle finish lingers and lingers. Drink now through 2014. –Harvey Steiman, Wine Spectator

2003

96 Points. Has amazing density, a wine of immense depth, wrapping silky tannins around plum, mineral, blackberry, prune and meat flavors, hinting at dark chocolate and walnut as the finish rolls on and on. Drink now through 2015.
–Harvey Steiman, Wine Spectator

95 Points. More ripe, voluptuous and decadent, if not with hints of over-ripeness, the 2003 Syrah Bionic Frog offers tons of plum, licorice, spice-cake and chocolatey notes to go with a rocking, full-bodied, sexy and concentrated feel on the palate. This beast of a wine won’t be for everyone, but it dishes out incredible amounts of pleasure. I like it now, and don’t think it’s going to get any better, but it will easily evolve nicely for another decade. –Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate

2002

97 Points. A classic wine, the 2002 Syrah Bionic Frog, which wasn’t harvested until October 10 and was raised in 50% new oak, offers beautiful, chalky minerality, marine-like saltiness, olive brine, currants and cassis-driven aromas and flavors. Possessing beautiful purity, with an underlying elegance that shows with more time in the glass, drink it anytime over the coming decade. –Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate

2001

98 Points. Another beauty that has a classic feel, the 2001 Syrah Bionic Frog doesn’t skimp on ripeness and has lots of truffle, chocolate, licorice and assorted mature Syrah-like aromas and flavors. Still full-bodied and concentrated, with sweet tannin, it has another 15 years of longevity. –Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate

2000

95 Points. The first vintage and from third-leaf fruit, the 2000 Syrah Bionic Frog (which came from yields of less than 1 ton per acre) is still a youthful ruby color and offers lots of currant and blackberry fruit mixed with notions of cured meats, black olive, truffle and spice-box. Complex, layered and nuanced, this full-bodied beauty is still lively and textured on the palate, has nicely integrated acidity and should keep fresh and lively over the coming 5-7 years. –Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate

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