| Vintage Name Variety | Publication Reviewer Score More... | |
|---|---|---|
| Red |
2013 Rasa Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Plus One Kiona VineyardRed Mountain more |
Full Pull, Paul ZitarelliFull Pull Rasa (2/8/2017) Hello friends. Today we have the new vintage of a trio of list favorites: the outstanding Bordeaux blends and varietal wines from Billo Naravane of Rasa Vineyards. Rasa is one of these wineries that started up right around the same time that Full Pull did: sometime towards the end of the last decade, right into the teeth of the recession. Brutal. You make plans during an economic expansion, purchase vineyards, purchase grapes, purchase equipment, and then by the time you get to launch, the economy has turned 180 degrees. This was an exceedingly difficult time to start a winery, but what it means for the crop of wineries launched in the late aughts is that if they’ve survived this long, they’re probably making some pretty damned good wines. And Billo has done more than survive: he has thrived, landing multiple consulting winemaking gigs in addition to his work for Rasa. Echo Ridge, Mackey, Delmas: all thought Billo was the right person to realize their vision. And while it is always fun to see what Billo does with other projects, it is also deeply exciting to experience his wines from the mothership, Rasa. Originally offered February 2017. Excerpts from the original: Plus One has traditionally been Rasa’s only straight Cabernet Sauvignon, coming entirely from Kiona Vineyard. Planted in 1975, it sits in the heart of Red Mountain. While it may not have quite the name recognition of Ciel du Cheval and Klipsun, its Cabernet fruit (especially the original vines that make up the backbone of this wine) is just as prized by Washington winemakers and insiders. This vintage got a six-day cold soak prior to fermentation, and was then raised in 60% new French oak. It clocks in at 14.9% listed alc.. I love how this vintage begins all supple and silky, then has building tannins that fan out across the palate, offering a wonderful toothsome finish. This couldn’t be confused for anything other than classy Cabernet. Wine Advocate: Copyrighted material withheld. |
| Red |
2013 Rasa Vineyards Creative ImpulseYakima Valley Red Bordeaux Blend more |
Full Pull, Paul ZitarelliFull Pull Rasa (2/8/2017) Hello friends. Today we have the new vintage of a trio of list favorites: the outstanding Bordeaux blends and varietal wines from Billo Naravane of Rasa Vineyards. Rasa is one of these wineries that started up right around the same time that Full Pull did: sometime towards the end of the last decade, right into the teeth of the recession. Brutal. You make plans during an economic expansion, purchase vineyards, purchase grapes, purchase equipment, and then by the time you get to launch, the economy has turned 180 degrees. This was an exceedingly difficult time to start a winery, but what it means for the crop of wineries launched in the late aughts is that if they’ve survived this long, they’re probably making some pretty damned good wines. And Billo has done more than survive: he has thrived, landing multiple consulting winemaking gigs in addition to his work for Rasa. Echo Ridge, Mackey, Delmas: all thought Billo was the right person to realize their vision. And while it is always fun to see what Billo does with other projects, it is also deeply exciting to experience his wines from the mothership, Rasa. Originally offered February 2017. Excerpts from the original: The blend this year is 69%/31% Cab/Merlot. The fruit got a week-long cold soak and was fermented entirely with native yeasts. It spent 30 months in 60% new French oak (again, all large puncheons), and clocks in at 14.7% listed alc. As usual, Billo captures and harnesses the exotic, sultry, earthy side of the incomparable DuBrul Vineyard. Notes of anise and juniper and incense complicate a core of black cherry and blackcurrant fruit, and loads of minerality. It combines power and elegance effortlessly. Wine Advocate: Copyrighted material withheld. |
| Red |
2013 Rasa Vineyards In Order to Form a More Perfect UnionColumbia Valley Red Bordeaux Blend more |
Full Pull, Paul ZitarelliFull Pull Rasa (2/8/2017) Hello friends. Today we have the new vintage of a trio of list favorites: the outstanding Bordeaux blends and varietal wines from Billo Naravane of Rasa Vineyards. Rasa is one of these wineries that started up right around the same time that Full Pull did: sometime towards the end of the last decade, right into the teeth of the recession. Brutal. You make plans during an economic expansion, purchase vineyards, purchase grapes, purchase equipment, and then by the time you get to launch, the economy has turned 180 degrees. This was an exceedingly difficult time to start a winery, but what it means for the crop of wineries launched in the late aughts is that if they’ve survived this long, they’re probably making some pretty damned good wines. And Billo has done more than survive: he has thrived, landing multiple consulting winemaking gigs in addition to his work for Rasa. Echo Ridge, Mackey, Delmas: all thought Billo was the right person to realize their vision. And while it is always fun to see what Billo does with other projects, it is also deeply exciting to experience his wines from the mothership, Rasa. In 2013 the Perfect Union is a blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot , 22% Cabernet Franc, and 11% Petit Verdot, from a murderer’s row of vineyards: three sites in the Sagemoor family (Dionysus, Weinbau, Bacchus) and four others (Dubrul, Firethorn, Kiona, XL). This too had lengthy pre- and post-fermentation macerations and was fermented entirely with native yeasts. It was raised in 70% new French puncheons and clocks in at 14.9% listed alc. This too is texturally flawless (Billo is a master of texture), offering satiny fine-grained tannins to balance a mix of plump delicious fruit, dark smoky earth tones, and leafy/floral notes of chamomile tea. Wine Advocate: Copyrighted material withheld. |
Full Pull (click to search again)
- Reviews: 3 /
- Wines: 3
