2019 Cayuse Impulsivo En Chamberlin Vineyard
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Tasting notes
A heady mix of balsam herbs, citrus-kissed blackberries, cocoa and sage can all be found as the 2019 Tempranillo Impulsivo En Chamberlin Vineyard opens in the glass. This is silky yet nearly juicy in feel, with vibrant acidity and spicy red berries that cascade across a core of saline-minerality. The 2019 finishes structured with a staining of primary fruit that resonates, creating a slightly chewy sensation as hints of licorice linger on. Lose this in the cellar, and reap the rewards. The Impulsivo from En Chamberlin is deftly refined in 50% new and neutral French demi-muids , foudre and barrels. That said, this is loaded with varietal character, and the oak is simply an accent.
Critic scores
Jeb Dunnuck
Eric Guido, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Rocketing out of the glass with a generous, robust and concentrated inky core, the 2019 Impulsivo is juicy and broad-shouldered as it displays exotic spices with notions of plum jus. Full-bodied and fresh, this gorgeous Tempranillo somersaults across the mid-palate, offering a balanced structure with fine-grained tannins and succulent acidity before concluding with a generous and long-lingering finish. Give it one more year in the bottle, and enjoy it over the next 15 years. Bravo! I’m not spitting this out.
Coming all from the En Chamberlin Vineyard and all Tempranillo, I've often wondered if the Impulsivo release was the best wine of the estate, and it certainly is in some vintages. The 2019 Impulsivo boasts a deep ruby/plum color as well as a dense, powerful nose of smoked blackberries, charred meat, graphite, violets, and cedar pencil. This carries to a medium to full-bodied, structured 2019 with beautiful balance, lots of building tannins, a great mid-palate, and one heck of an impressive finish. You're not going to find a better Tempranillo in the US, and it will stand toe to toe with the best out there.