No Girls La Placiencia Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, USA 2014

No Girls Wines was originally founded as a collaboration between Cayuse Vineyards' owner and vigneron Christophe Baron and general manager Trevor Dorland. The downtown building Cayuse Vineyards founder purchased in 2002 had once been a bordello that was reportedly still in business through the late 1950s and early 60s. When he walked through the doors for the first time, Christophe found the scene almost eerily preserved. At the top of a flight of wide, sweeping stairs, the words No Girls were painted on the wall—the wine label is an actual photograph. The decades-old inscription signaled that the house of ill repute had been finally shut down, and the Wild West era in Walla Walla had unofficially ended.

Syrahs from la Paciencia Vineyard could easily be mistaken for a Côte-Rôtie. Medium to full-bodied, elegant and silky. A serious wine to enjoy now...

"Vinified in concrete and aged in neutral barrels. Its deep ruby/mostly opaque color is followed by a deep, slightly closed bouquet of smoked black fruits, cured meats, black olive and violet/floral aromas and flavors....seamless and elegant on the palate, yet has plenty of authority, depth and length. —Jeb Dunnuck 96