A monster wine, not because it's huge but because it is hugely complex. To be fair, there's a massive hit of velvety fruit but it is encased in sultry, meaty intrigue. Excellent freshness hits the middle of your palate; the texture is s mouth-coating and ultra-fine. -Marcus
96 points Jeb Dunnuck: "A gorgeous perfume of framboise, mulberries, flowery incense, lavender, and herbes de Provence. It shows plenty of bacon fat and meatiness with time in the glass and is medium to full-bodied, with silky tannins, beautiful overall balance, and a great finish. This complex, Burgundian-style Syrah is going to evolve of 10-15 years."
2014 vintage notes
99 points Wine Advocate: "Coming from the Upland Vineyard on Snipes Mountain, the 2014 Syrah Cattle King is a huge, powerful, unctuous beast that gives up decadent notes of black and blue fruits, freshly crushed rocks, graphite, iron and licorice. Unctuous, sexy and with gorgeous purity, it carries itself with incredible grace and elegance, without ever being over the top. It flirts with perfection and is one of the highlights of the vintage—and the region. Give it a few years and drink through 2029."
2013 vintage notes
98 points Wine Advocate: "The 2013 Syrah Cattle King is a smokin', layered, sexy, voluptuous Syrah that does everything right. Coming from the River Rock Vineyard in Walla Walla and the Upland Vineyard in Snipes Mountain, not destemmed and brought up all in larger barrels, this beauty offers a sensational perfume of smoked meats, pepper, licorice, black olives and assorted ripe black fruits. Deep, layered and concentrated, yet always light on its feet and elegant, this fabulous Syrah has a terrific mid-palate, a core of sweet fruit and blockbuster length. It's a tour de force in vintage and certainly one of the top wines. It needs a decant if drinking anytime soon, but should be at its best from 2020 to 2038."