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| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 88 pts. and median of 92 pts. in 12 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by Redteeth on 11/28/2023: This was a better experience than my last bottle. I vigorously decanted this bottle 24 ours in advance of serving. The wine was rich and enjoyable when served. Having said that, I'm still not inclined to purchase more as there are many options available for this price, or less, that are equally enjoyable and require less planning and effort. (565 views) | | | Tasted by Winevestor on 10/9/2023 & rated 97 points: This was a revelation after the last bottle. This has now come into its prime. Amazing Grenache - unlike anything else I've had. Delineated and oh so tasty. A big grenache, all cherry and just ripe raspberry. I see in the TNs that this is a polarizing wine and it is definitely big and new world. But what a wine. I've had more of the HP Syrah which I also love, but I'm now going to run to the cellar for more of this. Mmmmh. (509 views) | | | Tasted by Redteeth on 9/23/2023: Put this tasting note in context. I am not a big Horsepower fan. I've taken my allocation for years and are now drinking up my bottles. I recently quit ordering Horsepower because it is not to my taste.
I decanted the heck out of this bottle. It was okay on Evening #! and to my taste was better than some of the other Horsepower wines i have tasted. I did not taste it on Evening #2. On Evening #3 it was much more enjoyable to my taste, but still had some of that stewed seaweed taste which must be characteristic of the Rocks. in any event, it did not convince me to renew purchasing. For one thing, I don't really want wines that need to be opened three days in advance of consumption. (605 views) | | | Tasted by RhoneWho on 5/21/2023 & rated 97 points: At last, I have completed a horizontal 2017 vintage grenache tasting from Horsepower Sur Enchalas (HSE), Cayuse God Only Knows (GOK JD99) and No Girls (NG JD95); and also provide a vertical notes on 2017 HSE (JD 97) and 2014 HSE (RP 99 by JD). For details on GOK, NG and 2014 HSE, please refer to my notes on 2017 Cayuse GOK.
What motivated me to complete this partial circle is that JD noted that 2017 HSE is the "splitting image of a great vintage of Rayas"; and also my recent 3 unsuccessful attempts to purchase Rayas from the owner Mr. Reynaud at his winery even though I drove a shining RED color Tesla Model Y Performance to impress him! :0 My next trip to CDP I will bring GOK an HSE over to drink with my CDP winemaking friends who have access to Rayas to really complete the full cycle; hence, stay tuned!
2017 HSE profile is very similar to 2017 GOK with the typical Burgundian-style red fruit (strawberries with green stem) grenache. I think 2017 HSE has a fuller mouthfeel with higher viscosity and hence slightly more polished texture profile than 2017 GOK. But 2017 GOK has a more concentrated flavor profile. IMHO, both tie at 97 point; and also a matter of taste depending individual preference profile.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much more approachable 2017 HSE as compared to 2014 HSE (RP 99 by JD) when tasted at age 5. As I had written in 2017 GOK, 2014 HSE is a truly and highly concentrated MONSTER singular grenache as it took 3 days of aeration to mellow down and still knocked your socks off! I do agree with JD's rating ranking 2014 HSE higher than 2017 HSE. JD concisely noted "[2014 HSE] is not Rayas, it's not Chateauneuf du Pape, it's an incredible, singular wine that stands on its own."
In my recent trip to CDP annual event, I met up with some really serious Swiss wine buffs (die-hards of Rayas). They advised me one has to decant Rayas at 24-48 hours to get the best of Rayas. Yesterday I got a call from CDP wine buff told me a particular Lirac grenache drank like Grand Cru burgundy and Raya-like aromatic profile and strawberry-like red fruit profile after decanting for 3 days! Perhaps, 2017 HSE/GOK/NG grenache could improve further with 48-72 hours aeration.
Rating: 96-98; 96+ (1285 views) | | | Tasted by Countless on 5/9/2023 & rated 88 points: This is only OK, and certainly not worth the tariff. Grenache is just so difficulty to nail in this style. (990 views) | | | Tasted by etyc on 8/25/2022: PnP'ed, and served beside the '18 La Mujer Canon (Comando-G) non-blinded. This pair puts up a very nice comparison - of elegant styled Grenache. Personally I'm more enamoured with the Horsepower. Wow, it sure opened with a bang (for the lack of a more proper descriptor), with the olfactory senses picking up attention immediately - very much intoxicating scents of jasmine, rose-petals/water, smoke (somewhat "naturalish" in a good way, as one of our dinner companions proclaimed), followed by red-cherries/berries notes. This was so silky and "gentle"/soft/satiny on the palate, with lots of freshness to boot! Almost like it kept beckoning one to come back for yet another sip... A very delicious (and beautiful in a somewhat "wild" way) drop!! (1924 views) | | | Tasted by astroman on 8/25/2022 & rated 93 points: PnP. Love the style of this wine. Jasmine, smell funky initially like natural wine. Slight noticeable heat. Lightly extracted with wild berries and honey. Very enjoyable Grenache from the USA. (2041 views) | | | Tasted by Cbailey501 on 3/31/2022 & rated 50 points: Grenache, really? This wine is undrinkable. I held off on my review to give the wine several days to get better, to no avail. I take allocation from this winemaker each year, but only now have started consuming. This was my first Grenache, having bought mostly Syrah from the producer. The nose is predominantly the famous "Rocks funk" (smoke and bacon), lacking any fruit which is so typical of the Grenache grape, even after 2 days. The palate contains a nice amount of acid, but again lacks any fruit and has a very bitter finish that lingers and nothing else. Is it just my bottle? Is this a vintage issue? Grenache blooms late and ripens late, so maybe 2017 had a shorter growing season which may explain the underripe nose and palate. Not sure, but if this is what I have to look forward to with my other bottles of 2017 (& 2018, 2019), I'll be happy to part with them. If anyone else has had any similar experiences with this wine, please let me know. Thanks (2363 views) | | | Tasted by ELH on 3/27/2021: Well, I don't know what to make of this wine yet. It's unlike any pure Grenache I have ever had. On the first night, it was tight and almost closed despite a decant of 2 hours. Never opened up. The fruit and bouquet were almost non-existent. Nothing going on at all. The second night, it had opened up to be quite lovely, with raspberries, strawberries, and violets. Still not exactly a fruity, juicy Grenache but interesting. Not rated for now. (2605 views) | | | Tasted by Winevestor on 1/25/2021 & rated 92 points: So this is waaay too early. If you have this wine, put it back in the rack right now! I would say at least 5 years. It was very tight even after decanting for 2 hours and I had it over two days. But.. On the second day, lovely ethereal nose - plum and strawberry. Medium mouthfeel, a slight bitter bite which I think will go away over time. A little hot (alcohol) which I think might also change over time. A real Grenache wine though. So often in CA / WA they are hard to tell from the Syrah. I really should get an older bottle or two to see how they age. So a middling score which I hope will go higher with time. (2422 views) | | | Tasted by ColluraJ on 12/6/2020 & rated 92 points: Ruby. Beautiful aromas of wildflowers soil, and old oak. Full bodied with medium acidity and high structural tannins. Flavors of raspberry, soil and a lingering crescendo of sour notes. A little hot with alcohol. Too early (thats on me - decanted an hour). Long finish. (2045 views) |
| By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, Washington: Neither Smoke Nor Rain Nor Heat Nor Frost of Night… (Dec 2020) (12/1/2020)
(Horsepower Grenache Sur Echalas Vineyard Washington Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jeb Dunnuck
JebDunnuck.com, Washington State’s 2017s (4/15/2020)
(Horsepower Grenache Sur Echalas Vineyard) Login and sign up and see review text. | By James Suckling
JamesSuckling.com (3/11/2020)
(Horsepower Grenache Walla Walla Valley Sur Echalas Vineyard, Red, United States) Subscribe to see review text. |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Vinous and JebDunnuck.com and JamesSuckling.com. (manage subscription channels) |
| Horsepower Vineyards Producer website
Horsepower Vineyards is about tradition and history—and making history. It’s a connection between a vigneron and his roots. An homage to craft and family. An embrace of the earth that seems at once old-fashioned and new.
And at its simplest, it’s a man slowly working the vineyard with his horse, just like generations before him.
Tradition isn’t an abstract concept to Christophe Baron, founder of both Cayuse Vineyards and Horsepower Vineyards—he was born into it.
The oldest son of the centuries-old Champagne house, Baron Albert, his family has worked their land in the Marne Valley of France since 1677. As recently as 1957 horses still did all of the vineyard cultivation.
Horsepower represents a return to that time, to a simplicity of craftsmanship and purpose that has been largely lost in the modern translation. It’s a window to the Old World—right here in the new.
Grenache Varietal character (Appellation America) - Read more about GrenacheUSAAmerican wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.Washington Washington Wine Commission | Credit to Washingtonwine.org for this article
Washington Wine
Washington State is a premium wine producing region located in the northwest corner of the United States. Although a relatively young wine industry, it is now the nation's second largest wine producer and is ranked among the world's top wine regions. Washington wines are found nationally in all 50 states and internationally in more than 40 countries.
Wineries
With 30,000+ acres planted, the state has ideal geography and conditions for growing premium vinifera wine grapes. Primarily grown on their own root stocks, the vines produce grapes of consistent quality, resulting in strong vintages year after year. While its focus is on Chardonnay, Riesling, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, the region also produces a wide range of other spectacular whites and reds.
Growers
Winemakers from all over the world have chosen to establish themselves in Washington, where they can create wines reflecting this region's unique characteristics. Their hand-crafted wines are receiving wide acclaim from critics regionally, nationally and internationally for their consistently high quality. Many of them have received scores of 90 and above from the major wine media. Overall this is a higher percentage than other leading wine regions.
Regions
As the state's fourth largest fruit crop, the Washington wine industry is an important contributor to the long-term preservation of Washington agriculture. The industry is committed to sustainable agricultural practices and conservation of water resources.
Washington State is a premium wine producing region located in the northwest corner of the United States. Although a relatively young wine industry, it is now the nation's second largest wine producer and is ranked among the world's top wine regions. Washington wines are found nationally in all 50 states and internationally in more than 40 countries.
Varieties
Washington produces more than 20 wine grape varieties - a ratio of 56 percent white to 44 percent red. As the industry matures and experiments, it finds many grape varieties that thrive throughout Washington's microclimates. There are more than 16,000 vineyard acres of red wine varieties statewide.
History & Vintages
Washington's wine future is limitless. As consumers discover the quality of Washington wines, demand continues to grow nationally and internationally. New acreage and wine varietals are being planted and new wineries are opening at a remarkable pace. Washington State is recognized as a premium viticultural region around the world.
State Facts
Washington's wine industry generates more than $3 billion to the state economy. It employs more than 14,000 people, directly and indirectly, with projections to add nearly 2,000 more jobs by 2006. In terms of tax revenues accrued to the state and federal government, wine grapes are among the highest tax generators of any agricultural crops. Furthermore, Washington wine tourism attracts nearly two million visitors annually contributing to the positive growth of local and regional economies.
Washington State - the perfect climate for wine = ideal growing conditions, quality wines, business innovation, lifestyle, and social responsibility. All are key elements of this world-class wine industry.
Vintages
"2008 and even more so 2010 and 2011 were cool, even cold vintages (think: 2002 in the Barossa) without the extreme ripeness, extract and higher alcohol that had become the norm in the state’s post 1995 world. 2008 was manageable but the duo of 2010/2011 nearly caused a “great depression” in Washington State." - Jon RimmermanColumbia Valley Columbia Cascade Winery Association
The Columbia Valley AVA lies mostly in Washington state, with a small section in Oregon. The Cascade Range forms its western boundary with the Palouse regions bordering the area to the east. To the north, the Okanogan National Forest forms a border with the AVA and Canada. It encompasses the valleys formed by the Columbia River and its tributaries, including the Walla Walla River, the Snake River, and the Yakima River. The Columbia valley stretches between the 46th parallel and 47th parallel which puts it in line with the well known French wine growing regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy. The northern latitude gives the areas two more hours of additional daylight during the summer growing season than wine regions of California receive. The volcanic and sandy loam soil of the valley offers good drainage and is poor in nutrients, ideal in forcing the vine to concentrate its resources into the grape clusters.Walla Walla ValleyThe name translates as easily as it rolls off the tongue: Walla Walla. Many Waters. To the earliest Native tribes, the many waters came from the nearby Blue Mountains and gathered to form the Walla Walla River on its way to join the Columbia to the west. The waters flowed first; however, into a fair-sized Valley carved in the mountain's foothills, and bordered in part by the terrain of what is known as the Columbia Plateau. Tribal members knew the Valley's generally milder climate could maintain their people in winter villages. There were lush wild grasses which could sustain horses and attract game from the winter snows of the nearby Blues, or from the giant high plateau that becomes desolate and dangerous during the cold season. The rolling terrain and numerous watersheds offered protection from nature and other hazards of the day. Here the water was plentiful and full of fish and seldom froze, even in the coldest years. The meadows were wonderful places to gather with other people to trade, compete and celebrate treaties. Compared to the region around them, the Walla Walla Valley was a safe refuge from the treacherous conditions which can often be found during the winter for hundreds of miles around. In this unique growing region, most of the earliest records of grapes and winemaking reference the Italians who had immigrated here in the mid to late 1800's and who brought with them their tradition of growing, making and drinking wine. Vines with these origins still exist in the Valley today. The first post-prohibition winery was Blue Mountain Vineyards. It was bonded in 1950 by the Pesciallo family where they produced Black Prince and other Italian varietal wines for a period of several years before succumbing to economics and climate. To the wine world of today, Walla Walla has become know for the quality and style of its red wines, especially Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with Syrah gaining notoriety in recent years. In the1970's, the pioneers of today's wine community began to think similar thoughts: that the Walla Walla Valley, with its long history of fruit growing, moderate climate, wine-making heritage, and interesting terrain might just be a place to grow vines and make wine on a commercial scale. These pioneers of the region applied for and received approval of the Walla Walla Valley as a unique American Viticultural Area (AVA) in 1984. It was the third in Washington State and also includes a portion of land in Oregon. In the time leading to the recognition of the appellation, four wineries had been bonded starting with Leonetti Cellar, and shortly thereafter, Woodward Canyon. L'Ecole Nº 41 and Waterbrook soon followed. In addition to the smaller vineyards that were being planted, the Valley's first large-scale, commercial vineyard Seven Hills was established. By the time the BATF recognized the Walla Walla Valley AVA, the Valley was beginning to gain attention from within the wine industry, as well as attracting publicity from journalists and media outside the region. The foundation for today’s industry had been laid and the benchmark for quality had been set. In addition, fruit from the area was now being harvested and a baseline for understanding the local growing conditions was being constructed. Every few years another winery would join the fold and take up the challenge of producing the highest quality wine and the growing of outstanding fruit. Seven Hills Winery and Patrick M. Paul each got their start during this time. More vines were added, although acreage increases were small each year. The industry was small and everyone knew everyone else involved, while the welcome mat remained out for any newcomers. Growers and winemakers alike regularly shared time in the cellar or at the table and together learned more about wines and vines. By 1990 there were just six wineries and the Valley's grape acreage stood at perhaps 100 acres. The total collective production of wine was microscopic by any measure, but it was the quality that was being noticed by many inside and outside the trade. As the tiny trickle of wine produced in the Walla Walla AVA began to flow to the outside world, a "wine renaissance" was beginning to happen globally. The Pacific Northwest had staked a claim in this new wine world and as people learned about the region, they also began to hear about Walla Walla. This interest spread rapidly to those with Walla Walla connections. The early 1990s saw the planting of more vines and the establishment of another large-scale vineyard, Pepper Bridge. At the same time, a group of local investors, working closely with the Napa based Chalone Wine group, laid the foundation for Canoe Ridge Vineyard, the Valley's first winery supported in part by a major outside investor. As the industry has grown, many new wineries have gotten their start in the arms of an established winery. Waterbrook Winery's modern production facility started the trend, sharing space, equipment, and any help needed. Other wineries also adopted “extra guests,” a practice that has helped form close, personal relationships throughout the local industry. By the turn of the new century, the Walla Walla Valley wine industry had 22 wineries and 800 acres of grapes. In the year 2000 the AVA had been expanded back to the original boundaries proposed in the1984 application. The year 2000 also saw the formation of the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance with 100% of the Valley's wineries and 98% of the Valley's planted acreage represented. Today, more than 60 Walla Walla Valley wineries and more than 1,200 acres of Walla Walla Valley grapes contribute to the ever growing, international acclaim garnered by the wines of this newly-emerging region of Washington State. |
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