2011NoGirlsGrenache2011 No Girls, Grenache, La Paciencia Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley.
No Girls is a spin off from Cayuse with Christophe Baron over seeing and making the wine since the first release in 2008, though his assistant Elizabeth Bourcier is now taking over the winemaking duties for this amazing project, they craft two wines, a Grenache and a Syrah from a single vineyard La Paciencia (The Patience) in the Walla Walla region. No Girls the name is a shout out to some of the town of Walla Walla’s colorful past and historic sites, the label is from a handwritten sign outside a former bordello, it was to keep the women outside from seeing what was going on inside! Forgetting the story a moment, the No Girls Grenache is a monumental wine of profound presence, this stunning example of varietal and terroir is on par with any great Grenache be it Rayas, Sadie Family or Alban, this is gorgeous, sensual and dreamy wine that seduces with purity of unoaked fruit and natural earth, spice and inner life force. It is complexly wild and dramatic while still being focused, detailed and serene, this amazingly compelling Grenache was native yeast fermented, whole cluster without using barrel or cask, but old school vat raised, and even in such a difficult vintage there is no way not to be completely seduced. The 2011 La Paciencia Grenache starts with earthy spices, wild flowers, minty herb, truffle and mixed red berries leading to a full and vigorous palate that does not feel heavy or overly ripe, there is a sensation that you get that reminds you of a Grand Cru Burgundy, a sense of thrilling, spine tingling enlightenment and pleasure, this stuff is sexy as hell with strawberry, black cherry, plum, vine picked raspberry along with black olive, loam, peppercorns, salted licorice and light gamey notes. Persistent and long lingering in the mouth and mind this No Girls seduces and takes no prisoners, like I said there is not many wines that are on this level, it really is is rare company, more open knit than it’s cousin Cayuse this is a bucket list new world wine!
($130 Est.) 95+ Points, grapelive

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