Horsepower Vineyards
Vigneron Christophe Baron pioneered biodynamic farming in Washington’s Walla Walla Valley in 2002. Horsepower is farmed entirely without the use of herbicides, synthetic fertilizers, chemical insecticides or fungicides using two draft horses - ‘Red’ and ‘Zeppo’ - to cultivate vineyards with as little as 3’ x 3’ spacing, planted 1 vine per stake, or “sur echalas” in French. The oldest son of the centuries-old Champagne house Baron Albert, Christophe’s 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 tradition, to a simplicity of craftsmanship and purpose that has been largely lost. It’s a window to the Old World taking root in New. That’s why, on any given day in any of our three vineyards, the only sound you’re likely to hear is the hoofbeat of tradition, played and preserved on the stones of Horsepower.
| Website | horsepowervineyards.com |
|---|---|
| Wine Maker | Christoph Baron |
| Country | America |
| Region | Washington |
| Appellation | Walla Walla Valley |
From this Winery
Fiddleneck Vineyard—The vineyard is located in the ancient riverbed of the Walla Walla River on the Oregon side of the Walla Walla Valley. The cobblestones, hundreds of feet deep in places.
This vineyard is planted in the ancient riverbed of theWalla Walla River on the Oregon side of the WallaWalla Valley. The topsoil consists of 12-18” inches of a mix of silty loam and basalt cobble stones. Beneath is a layer of pure compacted cobblestones, hundreds of feet deep in places. Further below lies 10,000 feet or more of pure basalt bedrock. This stratum is one of the largest areas of basalt lava flows on the surface of the earth.
The self-nourishing interrelationship of earth, plants and animals has been central to vigneron Christophe Baron’s farming philosophy ever since he pioneered biodynamic farming in the Walla Walla Valley in 2002.
Like Cayuse Vineyards, Horsepower is farmed according to an astrological sowing and planting calendar, and entirely without the use of herbicides, synthetic fertilizers, chemical insecticides or fungicides.
Two draft horses, Red and Zeppo, cultivate vineyards ranging from 3,555 to 4,840 vines per acre with as little as 3' x 3' spacing—planted 1 vine per stake, or “sur echalas” in French.
All Horsepower wines are created from the following vineyards:
Sur Echalas Vineyard—With 3-foot by 3-foot spacing and 4,840 vines per acre, this 2 acre vineyard of Syrah and Grenache is the highest density planting in the Walla Walla Valley, and one of the highest in North America.
The Tribe Vineyard—This 3 acre Syrah vineyard is planted one vine per stake. Spacing is 3.5 feet by 3.5 feet, totaling 3,555 vines per acre.
High Contrast Vineyard—This vineyard includes 3 acres of Syrah and 1/3 acre of Viognier, and follows the contour of what was once the Walla Walla River. There are 3,555 vines per acre, planted one vine per stake
This vineyard is planted in the ancient riverbed of the Walla Walla River on the Oregon side of the Walla Walla Valley. The topsoil consists of 12-18” inches of a mix of silty loam and basalt cobblestones. Beneath is a layer of pure compacted cobblestones, hundreds of feet deep in places. Further below lies 10,000 feet or more of pure basalt bedrock. This stratum is one of the largest areas of basalt lava flows on the surface of the earth.
The self-nourishing interrelationship of earth, plants and animals has been central to vigneron Christophe Baron’s farming philosophy ever since he pioneered biodynamic farming in the Walla Walla Valley in 2002.
Like Cayuse Vineyards, Horsepower is farmed according to an astrological sowing and planting calendar, and entirely without the use of herbicides, synthetic fertilizers, chemical insecticides or fungicides.
Two draft horses, Red and Zeppo, cultivate vineyards ranging from 3,555 to 4,840 vines per acre with as little as 3' x 3' spacing—planted 1 vine per stake, or “sur echalas” in French.
All Horsepower wines are created from the following vineyards:
Sur Echalas Vineyard—With 3-foot by 3-foot spacing and 4,840 vines per acre, this 2 acre vineyard of Syrah and Grenache is the highest density planting in the Walla Walla Valley, and one of the highest in North America.
The Tribe Vineyard—This 3 acre Syrah vineyard is planted one vine per stake. Spacing is 3.5 feet by 3.5 feet, totaling 3,555 vines per acre.
High Contrast Vineyard—This vineyard includes 3 acres of Syrah and 1/3 acre of Viognier, and follows the contour of what was once the Walla Walla River. There are 3,555 vines per acre, planted one vine per stake
High Contrast Vineyard—This vineyard includes 3 acres of Syrah and 1/3 acre of Viognier, and follows the contour of what was once the Walla Walla River. There are 3,555 vines per acre, planted one vine per stake.
98 Points
The 2019 Sur Echalas Grenache is an utterly sensational new wine that screams terroir. Made from a tightly spaced vineyard, it shows off green peppercorns, nori, pomegranate seed, guava, satsuma zest, freshly tilled earth and stony undertones. The palate is plush with a soft texture and an incredible sense of tension. Layers of very delicate red fruits collide with stony minerals, blood orange zest and green olive tapenade. Utterly sensational to savor right now, this has another decade or more ahead of it. —Owen Bargreen, vinous.com
96 Points
Aromas of wet stones, dried rose petals and sour cherries. Full-bodied with exhilarating acidity. Soft, fine tannins. Coffee mixes with ground spice and herbs. Complex and focused. Very well balanced and will age very nicely. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold. —James Suckling, jamessuckling.com
96 Points
Similarly hued, the translucent ruby/plum-hued 2019 Sur Echalas Grenache ratchets up the savory, meaty dial to 11 and has lots of red and black fruits, an incredibly meaty, beef tartare-like character, medium to full-bodied richness, ultra-fine tannins, and complex notes of truffly earth, leather, dried pepper, and shitake mushrooms. Always complex, layered, and singular, the 2019 certainly doesn't disappoint. —Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com
95 Points
Impressive for its bold expression yet elegant complexity, this red explodes with raspberry, smoky bacon, garrigue, crushed stone and black olive flavors that soar on the rich and polished finish. Drink now through 2032. —Tim Fish, Wine Spectator