2022 Hors Categorie Syrah by Christophe Baron Hors Categorie Vineyard | Walla Walla Valley Washington 750ml

The 2022 Hors Categorie Syrah is a transcendent wine, embodying both raw intensity and striking refinement...Layers of eucalyptus, black tea, and smoked charcuterie intermingle with crushed violets, damp earth, and hints of shaved truffle, creating a dynamic and ever-evolving bouquet. Beneath it all, a deep mineral core anchors the wine, reflecting the rugged, rocky terroir from which it originates. On the palate, this Syrah is commanding yet finessed, delivering a symphony of black raspberry compote, roasted bone marrow, and dark cocoa, all woven together with an iron-rich, flinty backbone. The wine's structure is impeccable - silky yet firm, with taut acidity and finely polished tannins lending both lift and depth. As it unfolds, notes of anise, cured meats, and sea spray emerge, enhancing the wine's complexity and persistence. The balance between power and elegance is breathtaking, with an unrelenting finish that lingers with a whisper of dried lavender. One of the most beautiful expressions of Syrah in Washington state, the 2022 Hors Categorie is seamless, deeply textural, and utterly captivating. While its youthful energy is undeniably thrilling now, this wine has the pedigree and structure to evolve beautifully over the next two decades. Highly recommended. | 100 points, Editor's Choice Jeremy Young for International Wine Report

Every bit a world-class wine, the 2022 Hors Categorie Syrah is reminiscent of the gorgeous 2017 edition. The aromatics are mind-numbing in terms of range from menthol, sweet pipe tobacco, Nori and bulls' blood alongside shades of compost and black truffle shavings with black florals that all meld in the glass. The palate has formidable power considering the coolness of the vintage. Very flinty and soft on the mouth, this is seamless throughout the drinking experience. The amalgamation of tension and mouth-watering acidity alongside heady stony essence makes this impossible to put down. One of the few perfect wines made in 2022, savor this beauty over the next decade... | 100, Owen Bargreen, owenbargreen.com

Christophe Baron has been a pioneer of Biodynamic farming in the Walla Walla Valley of Eastern Washington. His vineyard sites for all of his projects including Horsepower, Cayuse, and No Girls are farmed with no herbicide, no pesticide, no fungicide, and no synthetic fertilizers. Winemaker Elizabeth Boucier crafts the No Girls wines at the Cayuse location. The wines are a direct representation of their artisanal craftsmanship.