A couple of Cayuse wines you will prob'ly never taste

[Jenise]

But perhaps it's interesting to know they're out there. They include young vines single vineyard offerings of grenache and syrah under the new No Girls label (a reference to a sign in a former brothel of sorts), and two wines under a new label called Wallah Wallah (based on an old spelling) that are essentially 'reserve' level wines. Seattle wine reviewer Paul Gregutt got to taste all four. His notes are here:

http://www.paulgregutt.com/2012/09/no-girls-from-cayuse.html

and two wines under a new label called Wallah Wallah (based on an old spelling) that are essentially 'reserve' level wines.

For aficionados of David Seville, I have been waiting for years for a Washington State winery to call a wine 'Walla Walla Bing Bang'. This looks like an opportunity!

LOL over Bill's suggestion,.

[Jenise]

Walla Walla Bing Bang

Ooh ee, ooh ah ah!

Ooh ee, ooh ah ah!

Actually, that would be the effect of drinking too much of their lower priced line, 'Wallah Wallah Bingo"......

[Jenise]

Ooh ee, ooh ah ah!

Actually, that would be the effect of drinking too much of their lower priced line, 'Wallah Wallah Bingo"......

Which reminds me, suddenly, of the time a friend and I asked a guy friend to join us for dinner at a Thai restaurant. Steve was a brainiac nerd and sometimes didn't process normal things, like maps, very well. Our directions included turning into the shopping center immediately past a business called 'Boniface Bingo'. Steve was late because he couldn't find it. He was looking for "Bottomless Bingo". Never mind that there wasn't another Bingo parlor within miles, if it wasn't Bottomless, he wasn't going to recognize it. Come to think of it, maybe that's just a guy problem.

But perhaps it's interesting to know they're out there. They include young vines single vineyard offerings of grenache and syrah under the new No Girls label (a reference to a sign in a former brothel of sorts) ...[/url]

Your subject line is right. Because I'm on the waiting list to get on the waiting list to be able to buy Cayuse wines, I got an email a year or so ago, letting me know of this new "No Girls" project as a way to actually get my hands on some Cayuse (or quasi-Cayuse) wines. So I signed up. Then, I was told I was on the waiting list for "No Girls," too.

The good news is it's saving me a lot of money given the prices. And with wineries like Rotie and Gramercy, Cayuse is certainly not the only game in town when it comes to great WW wine.

[Jenise]

Bruce, have we discussed Reynvaan?

I have very limited experience with Cayuse (I'm on the same lists you are, or, er, aren't!) but around here these days it's almost impossible to mention either name that someone doesn't bring up the other. Of course, they share the same winemaker so why not, but the quality's really there. Gramercy is a name I've heard about but not tried yet.

Bruce, have we discussed Reynvaan?

I have very limited experience with Cayuse (I'm on the same lists you are, or, er, aren't!) but around here these days it's almost impossible to mention either name that someone doesn't bring up the other. Of course, they share the same winemaker so why not, but the quality's really there. Gramercy is a name I've heard about but not tried yet.

No. I've heard a lot about Reynvaan but have yet to visit the winery (I don't think they keep regular hours) or try any of their wines.

When I was out there last month, though, I was really impressed by Gramercy, Waters and Kerloo -- all new to me, and all the wines I tasted are made in a restrained style with minimal or no new oak. I also have yet to try anything I didn't love by Rotie and Buty. In fact, I just polished off my last bottle of Buty's 2002 Rediviva of the Stones last night. Absofreakinglutely fantastic. One of the best wines I've ever had. Incredibly complex and powerful, yet balanced and elegant, too. And the grapes come from the same or an adjoining vineyard to Christophe's. One big reason why I don't feel the last bit deprived being Cayuse-less.

[Jenise]

Reynvaan is definitely one to try when you get a chance. I've managed to accumulate a smattering of 08's and 09's, and am eagerly awaiting the '10's. The wines are incredible. More voluptuously traditional than Buty, whose work I do also admire. Kerloo--now that's interesting, a name I haven't even heard of. I'll have to look into that.

We'll be arriving about a week early for the AWS conference in Portland and are trying to figure out what to do. Willamette Valley wines will be featured at the conference. Should we nevertheless head south, go east to Walla Walla, or maybe go somewhere else? Would appreciate advice from anyone who has been on the ground.

We'll be arriving about a week early for the AWS conference in Portland and are trying to figure out what to do. Willamette Valley wines will be featured at the conference. Should we nevertheless head south, go east to Walla Walla, or maybe go somewhere else? Would appreciate advice from anyone who has been on the ground.

I'm useless when it comes to the Willamette Valley, but I'd just note it's much, much closer to Portland. Walla Walla is a four-hour drive -- much of it beautiful, through the Columbia Gorge, but that means spending eight hours in the car. Once you're in Walla Walla, everything's close and easy to get to, though, as opposed to the Willamette Valley, which is more spread out. Portland also has some urban wineries which can be fun to visit. And of course, brew pubs and a million other great things to see, do and consume.

With an entire week, you do have the option of checking out both regions, but unless you enjoy doing a lot of driving, aren't that crazy about Pinot Noir, or want to experience how radically different the two regions are from one another -- not only in the grapes grown and wine made, but geography, climate, etc. -- I'd probably stick to the Willamette Valley.

But perhaps it's interesting to know they're out there. They include young vines single vineyard offerings of grenache and syrah under the new No Girls label (a reference to a sign in a former brothel of sorts) ...[/url]

Your subject line is right. Because I'm on the waiting list to get on the waiting list to be able to buy Cayuse wines, I got an email a year or so ago, letting me know of this new "No Girls" project as a way to actually get my hands on some Cayuse (or quasi-Cayuse) wines. So I signed up. Then, I was told I was on the waiting list for "No Girls," too.

The good news is it's saving me a lot of money given the prices. And with wineries like Rotie and Gramercy, Cayuse is certainly not the only game in town when it comes to great WW wine.

I am on the Cayuse mailing list but the No Girls is apparently even more restricted. And yes, Cayuse wines can end up being expensive esp. when you don't want to turn anything down just in case you never get offered it again. Might be time to look at other wineries.

One interesting bit about that part of the world is a recent PBS story on the Washington State Wine School

Mike

[Jenise]

We'll be arriving about a week early for the AWS conference in Portland and are trying to figure out what to do. Willamette Valley wines will be featured at the conference. Should we nevertheless head south, go east to Walla Walla, or maybe go somewhere else? Would appreciate advice from anyone who has been on the ground.

You also have the option of grabbing I-5 and heading south in Oregon in order to position yourself to meander up the Rogue River, the region where wines that don't start with "Pinot" are grown and made. Another highly desirable trip, and this one's an easy day trip from where you'll be: Hop over to the coast. That stretch of the Oregon coast (Cannon Beach, Manzanita, etc) is one of the most beautiful coastlines in all America. Oregon's a gorgeous state. However, the McMinneville neighborhood and Portland itself should keep you plenty occupied.

Thanks Bruce and Jenise. The Rogue River sounds intriguing and I hadn't realized that things were close together in Walla Walla. Don't know what we'll do yet, but we know more now.

[Jenise]

Thanks Bruce and Jenise. The Rogue River sounds intriguing and I hadn't realized that things were close together in Walla Walla. Don't know what we'll do yet, but we know more now.

Btw, one more thing. I don't quite agree with Bruce that Willamette is more spread out than Walla Walla. As with everywhere, sure, you can fling yourself far and wide--there are always outliers--but if you confine yourself to McMinneville, Dundee/Newberg and Carlton, you'll have more than enough to do in a fairly small footprint and many of the very best area wineries are right there, as is comfortable accomodation. What you don't want to do is roam the edges of the county or drive in and out from Portland every day.