Camaspelo

Produced: 1997, 1999 - present

Professional reviews and tasting notes from prior vintages added as published (scores within parentheses indicate barrel samples):

2021

94 Points. Black fruit, black olives, tobacco and dried flowers on the nose. Roasted herb and bitter chocolate notes come into play. It’s medium-bodied with focus, freshness and precision. Tight-grained tannins. Bitter cocoa lingers. A blend of mostly cabernet sauvignon and merlot. From biodynamically grown grapes. Try from 2025. —James Suckling, jamessuckling.com

2020

96 Points. A Cabernet Sauvignon dominant blend with additional parts of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and a dash of Tempranillo is aged for 18 months in 30% new French oak barrels. It’s a full-bodied mélange that’s both balanced and complex, with aromas of black plum, blueberries, tobacco leaf, and hints of scorched earth. On the palate, you will find flavors of crushed blackberries, fennel seed, and brown mushroom, along with saline and crushed rock undertones that make it truly shine. Highly recommended. —Jeremy Young, International Wine Report

95 Points. The 2020 Camaspelo, primarily Cabernet Sauvignon, is dark and moody in the glass, slowly evolving with a mix of flowery underbrush and wet earth, giving way to nuances of plum sauce and of sage. This steps softly, pampering the palate with soft, enveloping textures and saline-tinged acidity. Hints of olive and balsamic spice give way to a salty flourish as the Camaspelo slowly fades, leaving just a hint of dusty tannins. —Eric Guido, Vinous

95 Points. The outstanding 2020 Camaspelo is a gorgeous proprietary blend of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with small parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc with a douse of Tempranillo. This is steady right out of the gate with tar, tobacco leaf, black currents, anise and shades of soy sauce on the palate. The salty and stony elements are really outstanding, as is the mouth-watering acidity that coats the palate. Enjoy now and over the next several years to come. —Owen Bargreen, owenbargreen.com

94 Points. Leafy herbs, red and blue fruits, tobacco, cedarwood, and iron notes all emerge from the 2020 Camaspelo, another up-front, charming, soft, surprisingly supple red from this team. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has fine grained tannins, a layered, silky mouthfeel, and outstanding length. It's approachable today yet should have 15 years of overall longevity. —Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com

94 Points. Crushed rocks, tobacco, iodine, bay leaves and blackberries here. Mineral and savory, with very fine-grained tannins. Excellent freshness and silkiness, with gentle green-herb undertones. A blend of mostly cabernet sauvignon, with some cabernet franc and merlot. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold. —James Suckling, jamessuckling.com

2019

97 Points. Based largely on Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2019 Camaspelo has a Graves-like nose of both red and black currants as well as scorched earth, tobacco, sandalwood, and lead pencil shavings. Straight-up gorgeous on the palate as well, it's medium to full-bodied, has a seamless, elegant mouthfeel, terrific mid-palate density, and a great finish. It already offers pleasure today given its fruit and texture, yet it's going to cruise in cold cellars for 25-30 years. This is brilliant juice and up with the finest vintages I've tasted. —Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com

95 Points. The 2019 Camaspelo is dark and inward, taking a good amount of coaxing to unlock its bouquet of dusty florals, dried herbs, hints of cacao powder and mineral stone. This is velvety in texture yet medium bodied, with creamy depths of red and black fruit complemented by exotic spice and hints of Baker’s chocolate. Sweet herbal tones and licorice are left to linger, as a gentle pull of fine-grained tannins frames the style quite well. The Camaspelo veers toward opulence yet maintains a wonderful balance, and it should mature beautifully over the next decade or more. The Camaspelo is primarily Cabernets with a dollop of Merlot. —Eric Guido, Vinous

95 Points. Very deeply colored in the glass, the 2019 Camaspelo is a gorgeous proprietary amalgamation of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc with a splash of Tempranillo. Not needing any time to get going, this is immediately appealing with its black raspberry and black cherry compote tones alongside black rose petals and suggestions of wild herbs... Salted meats, Earl Grey tea and rich dark fruits combine with flinty undercurrents on the palate. Finishing long, this is beautifully evolved, well-balanced stuff that is absolutely killer to enjoy right now. Drink 2022-2032. —Owen Bargreen, owenbargreen.com

94 Points. Aromas of plums, cassis, blackberries and dried sage. Medium-bodied and fresh. Very fine, slightly chewy tannins. Wet-stone minerality mixes with savory notes of melted dark chocolate and whole spice. Firm at the end. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.—James Suckling, jamessuckling.com

2018

96 Points. The 2018 Camaspelo is a sensational blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc with just a touch of Tempranillo. Right out of the glass, it displays an overt and exotic bouquet. Black cherry cordial, potpourri, garrigue, and nori tones all mingle together. The palate is utterly seamless throughout the drinking experience, with wet stone character alongside fine-grained tannins and a beautiful core of dark fruits. The sense of balance here is exquisite. —Owen Bargreen, Vinous

95+ Points. Lots of ripe cherries, mulberries, brambly herbs, tobacco, and earth emerge from the 2018 Camaspelo, although it's one of the more reticent, backward wines in the lineup and takes plenty of air to show at its best. Offering full-bodied richness, a round, mouth-filling texture, and building yet ripe tannins, it needs 3-5 years of bottle age to round into form and should have two decades or overall longevity. —Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com

95 Points. Aromas of plums, currants, dried herbs, tangerine, gravel and spices. It’s full-bodied with silky, firm tannins and bright acidity. Intense and savory with rich yet balanced layers. Hints of chocolate at the end. A Bordeaux blend. Drink or hold. —James Suckling, jamessuckling.com

94 Points. Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, this wine has aromas that enchant, with notes of cigar box, savory herbs, cherry, wet stone and fresh flowers. It coats the palate from end to end, showing intensity and richness but still plenty of vibrancy. It's outrageously delicious now but will only pick up steam with some time in the cellar. —Sean Sullivan, Wine Enthusiast

94 Points. Boasting a warm and generous nose that offers firm and expressive aromas of crème de cassis, black plum skin, dark cherry compote and spiced blackberry jus, the 2018 Camaspelo displays elements of resinous purple flowers and brown baking spices in the glass. Full-bodied and with silky tannins, the wine glides across the mid-palate with elegance and ease, leaving juicy flavors of macerating dark berries, cardamom madeleines and plum reduction. The wine has all of its elegance on display and concludes with an elongated finish that begs me back for another sip... It has me daydreaming of pan-seared Tomahawk chops. —Anthony Mueller, The Wine Advocate

94 Points. Elegant yet dynamic, with expressive wild berry, licorice and toasty spice flavors that glide on the long and savory finish. Drink now through 2030. —Tim Fish, Wine Spectator

2017

95 Points. …A gorgeous perfume of red and black currants, toasted spices, flowery incense, and green tobacco that develops nicely with time in the glass. Playing in the medium to full-bodied end of the spectrum, with silky tannins and a great balance, it’s an ethereal, balanced Bordeaux blend… —Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com

2016

97 Points. The 2016 Camaspelo is a rock star of a wine and possibly the finest vintage to date. Crème de cassis, crushed flowers, lead pencil, sandalwood, and ample minerality all emerge from this awesome 2016 that has incredible complexity. Reminiscent of a great vintage of Chateau Margaux with its complexity, elegance, and balance, it’s medium to full-bodied, silky, and pure on the palate, with a beautiful, layered, seamless profile that’s going to age for 20-25 years. —Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com

94+ Points. The 2016 Camaspelo has a hearty Cabernet core and mineral edge on the nose that is covered in red and black fruits—cassis, blackberry and red cherry skin—and dusty florals. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is spicy on the palate, with structured tannins that build in complexity and continue to evolve, leading to the long, lingering finish with a soft oak flavor. This is an incredibly cellar-worthy and delicious wine. Well done! —Anthony Mueller, The Wine Advocate

94 Points. This has attractive cassis and blueberry aromas with a gently spicy kick from a small amount of tempranillo. The palate has a very modern feel with a build of fresh, ripe, purple and blue fruit and silky tannins. Again, it is the tempranillo that dresses this up on the palate. Clever wine. A blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and tempranillo. Drink or hold. —James Suckling, jamessuckling.com

2015

(93–95) Points. Dominated by its Cabernet Sauvignon component, the 2015 Camaspelo offers lots of graphite, dried and savory herbs, blackcurrants and black cherry notes in a medium to full-bodied, elegant and seamless style. It’s a distinctly graceful, elegant example of this cuvee, yet it still packs plenty of sweet tannin and underlying structure. —Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate

2014

96+ Points. The 2014 Camaspelo is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot (there's a splash of Tempranillo). It offers lots of red and chocolate-covered black currants, black cherry, black olive, tobacco and leafy herbs. It shows more fruit with time in the glass, has a full-bodied, ultra-pure, layered style and plenty of fine tannin. Forget bottles for 4-5 years and drink over the following two decades. —Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate

2013

94 Points. The 332-case 2013 Camaspelo is made from 81% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19% Merlot that was aged all in puncheons. Notes of iron, red and black currants, licorice and lead pencil characteristics emerge from this medium to full-bodied, elegant, complex Bordeaux blend that would pass undetected in a lineup of Pauillacs. Give it 3-4 years of cellaring and drink through 2033. —Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate

93+ Points. Healthy dark red. Very black aromas of cassis, blackberry, black olive, spices and mint. Densely packed and very sweet, boasting a terrific combination of urgent crushed cassis and black cherry fruit and savory complexity. Not yet hugely complex or particularly floral, but this very intense wine is still a baby. Finishes very long and savory, with youthfully edgy tannins and excellent energy and lift. —Stephen Tanzer, Vinous

93 Points. Broad and expressive, layered with cherry, blackberry, cocoa and floral flavors playing against refined tannins that carry the long finish. Has terrific presence and harmony. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2018 through 2023. 332 cases made. —Harvey Steiman, Wine Spectator

2012

97 Points. A blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon and 16% Merlot, the 2012 Camaspelo is more refined and elegant than the Lovers release, showing a seamless, elegant profile to go with lots of dark fruits, savory herbs, graphite and hints of flowers. While the nose is terrific, the palate is where this really shines and it's full-bodied, concentrated and ultra-pure, with lots of fine tannin that keep the finish going. It should be at it's best from 2018-2032+. —Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate

94 Points. ... A blend of mainly Cabernet Sauvignon (84%) with the remainder Merlot. The nose shows salted meats with dark cherries and orange rind with wet stone tones that all mingle in the glass. The palate is fresh and vibrant with great acidity. Ripe dark fruits collide with minerals and savory undertones on the palate, with wet stone accents. Delicious now, this has another eight years or more to go. —Owen Bargreen, owenbargreen.com

94 Points. (aged in 50% new oak; from Cailloux and en Cerise): Good dark red. Smoky raspberry and cassis bud on the nose, lifted by an enticing orange zest perfume. Silky and seductive in the mouth, with compelling floral perfume and a suggestion of raw meat to its vibrant, pure berry flavors. Finishes with noble tannins and outstanding perfumed length. —Stephen Tanzer, Vinous

93 Points. Fresh and expressive, supple and round, with juicy red berry and spice flavors, hinting at sage and floral notes as the finish lingers enticingly. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Drink now through 2022. 335 cases made. —Harvey Steiman, Wine Spectator

2011

95 Points. More Cabernet Sauvignon dominated, the 2011 Camaspelo incorporates 20% Merlot and was aged in 50-60% new French oak. One of the few 2011s that has some upside, it offers up a smoke-laced array of black currants, singed herbs, graphite and hints of spring flowers to go with a medium to full-bodied, elegant and seamless character on the palate. Inky purple in color, with fine tannin and a big finish, it’s a smoking Cabernet that will evolve nicely for 15 to 20 years. –Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate

92+? Points. Bright ruby-red. Shows a blacker fruit character on the nose than the Flying Pig, along with complicating notes of woodsmoke and flowers. Concentrated, savory and intense; at once silky and gripping, thanks to the fully ripe cabernet. Finishes with a lightly saline complexity and the spine to age gracefully. –Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar

91 Points. Remarkably fresh and elegant, with pure red berry and black raspberry flavors set on a narrowly focused frame, gliding easily into a deft and glowing finish. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Drink now through 2019. 379 cases made. –Harvey Steiman, Wine Spectator

2010

96 Points....the 2010 Camaspelo offers a classic Bordeaux-styled bouquet of deep back currant and black cherry fruit intermixed with tobacco leaf, lead pencil shavings and hints of fresh herbs. Perfumed, complex and elegant, with a full-bodied, detailed and energetic profile on the palate, it is a beautifully balanced 2010 that will benefit from short-term cellaring and have 15-20 years of ultimate longevity. Drink 2017-2030. –Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate

93 Points. Smooth and lithe, this sinuous style lets the red berry, cherry and delicately herbal flavors slide effortlessly over the refined tannins and onto the long and expressive finish. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2015 through 2020. 329 cases made. –Harvey Steiman, Wine Spectator

2009

96 Points. The Camaspelo blend is 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot, and it shows a riot of juicy cranberry, raspberry, blueberry and black cherry flavors in a rambunctious display of power. Full, round and balanced, it offers hints of cedar, earth and coffee that extend onto the lush, complex, age-worthy finish. –Paul Gregutt, Wine Enthusiast

93 Points. Medium red. Sexy aromas of strawberry and high-pitched spices. Juicy and intense, with compelling lift and definition to the penetrating red fruit flavors. A very refined style for this wine, and the best of these 2009s to this point in terms of definition and energy. Finishes very long, with suave tannins and thorough ripeness. Perhaps the best vintage yet for this bottling. Christophe Baron noted that 2009 was "great for the Bordeaux varieties" and this wine certainly makes his case. –Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar

92 Points. Cassis, juniper berry, licorice, walnut oil, and a Tempranillo-like ashen smokiness scent and inform the bittersweet, polished palate of Baron’s 2009 Camaspelo (named for a mid 19th Century Cayuse chief), whose as usual dominant Cabernet Sauvignon is blended with 18% Merlot and sourced from the En Cerise and Cailloux vineyards. Bitter hints of huckleberry as well as suggestions of crushed stone and pencil lead add to the complexity of a protracted finish...very impressive stuff. –David Schildknecht,The Wine Advocate

2008

96 Points. The 2008 Camaspelo is made up of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot. Fresh herbs and spices, earthy minerals, cassis, and black currant aromas lead to an elegant, stylish Catherine Deneuve of a wine. This finesse-filled effort will provide pleasure through 2023. –Jay Miller, The Wine Advocate

95 Points. Good concentration, with tight-knit purple and black fruit flavors, a streak of espresso, and the characteristic herb and mineral flavors of the vintage. Very fresh, clean, muscular and still compact, with concentrated blackberry fruit that pops up and broadens out in the finish. –Paul Gregutt, Wine Enthusiast

2007

97 Points....The 2007 Camaspelo, a blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and 8% Cabernet Franc. The already complex aromatics reveal mineral, Asian spices, incense, violets, black currant and black cherry. In the mouth it offers a lovely combination of power and elegance, along with ripe tannins, leading to a lengthy, fruit-filled finish. Give it 4-6 years of additional cellaring and drink it through 2022. –Jay Miller, The Wine Advocate

2006

95 Points....It is made up of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and 8% Cabernet Franc. The already complex perfume reveals mineral, graphite, creme de cassis, and black cherry. In the mouth it offers a lovely combination of power and elegance, along with very ripe tannins, leading to a lengthy, fruit-filled finish. Give it 3-4 years of additional cellaring and drink it through 2021. –Jay Miller, The Wine Advocate

2005

94 Points. The 2005 Camaspelo is composed of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, and 8% Cabernet Franc. Purple-colored, it delivers mineral notes, pain grille, pencil lead, clove, allspice, and cassis. On the mid-palate, black fruits, plum, and licorice make an appearance. Focused, intense, and complex, the wine conceals enough tannin to support 5-7 years of further cellaring. Opulent and long, it will be at its best from 2012 to 2025. –Jay Miller, The Wine Advocate

2004

92 Points. The 2004 Camaspelo is 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc. The aromatics include herbal notes, pencil lead, espresso, black currants and blackberry liqueur. This is followed by a plush wine with big-time depth and concentration, ripe black fruit flavors, and, amazingly, a sense of elegance. The 45+ second finish is sweet and pure. The tannins are well concealed which will permit this wine to provide pleasure through 2030. –Jay Miller, The Wine Advocate

2003

90 Points. Ruby-red. Aromas of plum, redcurrant, spice cake, gingerbread and truffle. Juicy and tight yet smooth and seamless, with juicy flavors of plum and spice cake. Offers very good density along with a certain delicacy. Finishes with round tannins and a lightly saline quality. This would make a very good match for game birds. –Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar

91 Points. Loads of spicy black fruits are found in the aromatic profile of the 2003 Camaspelo, a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc. Displaying wonderful intensity of flavors, this blackberry, cassis, and dark cherry-packed offering is pure, medium to full-bodied, and long in the finish. A broad, mouth-coating wine, it also exhibits a lush, velvety texture. Drink it over the next 6-8 years. –Pierre Rovani, The Wine Advocate

92 Points. Cayuse’s Bordeaux blend shows remarkable complexity and detail for such a young red wine. Earthy undergrowth, autumnal fungus, some sweetness in the fruit, some brown sugar; it’s got so much going on. Long and lingering, it’s a fascinating mix of herb, mushroom, cranberry, rock, all interwoven with some pretty, spicy sweet oak. –Paul Gregutt, Wine Enthusiast

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