Remove from the cellar 4 hour prior to a single venturi decant. Had with tomato tart, Mediterranean green beans and halibut. This wine is now an easy match for most foods. Elegant dark fruit and raspberry notes. Plenty of dark fruits remaining on the palate with well integrated oak and tannins. This wine easily has a year or 2 in it yet. Enjoy!
Triple vinturied into decant, consumed over several hours. That said it took the full 3 hours to unwinde, in a weird spot now transitioning from the fruit to oak integration. After it got serious air it showed well...my last btl was in 19, and it was better, this is my last one. Paired with a smoked pork chop, delicious. Drink now with decant thru 2024.
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Holy Syrah! This was fantastic juice, I’d guess sourced from the funky Les Collines vineyard, a simple blend Of 85% Syrah, some Grenache and Vig to smooth it out, just enough acid to hold up against most foods yet not make it unapproachable at the end of the night. No sign of age, and I’d say on the bubble for optimal drinking. Drink now thru 2024, why wait...drink this stuff!
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Off wine list at vino volo Seattle. First time here in awhile. And I spent a good portion of the day in woodinville. This is all fruit and vanilla and oak. It’s amazing that >10 years. It tastes like just released. I generally like wines from this producer but this one is pretty intense.
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Bought this aged wine rather recently at retail. Fresh and showing young. Fruity but dry. Blackberry, anise and smoke notes. Understated and light on its feet, but still a big red.
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Deep dark purple. Smoked meat, figs, dark fruits, herbs, earth. Lush and balanced with soft tannins and a smooth finish. Unlike my previous bottle I did not decant. Pop and pour with an aerator and screen to catch the sediment. Wonderful on day 1 and this time around still enough fruit there on day 2 but a bit thinner. Definitely drink now.
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Lots of syrah on the nose with meat, olive, and misc herbs. There was a definitive potpourri/floral element as well after it opened up more. Did not hold up on day two, the fruit was gone and it was mostly herbal and spice.
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Popped and poured. Sadly, this bottle had edged over into a stewed fruit/pruney flavor, likely due to improper storage. It was an auction bottle (WineBid) so it's quite possible that it was poorly treated in it's past before being sent off to auction. Always a roll of the dice when buying auction bottles, but I've had really good luck so far.
Prune fruit, overly sweet and stewed, with pretty flat structure. Some interesting black tea flavors though, so not a completely bad wine, but I ended up pouring it out. If this is representative of other bottles, I'd say drink up ASAP, but I expect properly stored bottles to have some years left.
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GSM Rhone Blend. Smoked meat, figs, dark fruits, herbs. Mellow and earthy. Balanced with a nice finish. Decanted 1 hour. Day 2 - past optimum drinking window, fell a bit flat.
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Agree with those who say this is showing young, even a bit primary still. That said, it’s developing some nice complexity and has an enticing nose, so if you like ‘em with big fruit, but wish the tannins were tamed, go for it now. A massive wine with lots of stuffing, the upward trajectory has years left.
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This after a 1.5 hour decant was rocking. Window is most definitely open wide open on this one now and I am guess it is at or nearing peak drinking time. Still some bright fruit, but lots of depth lurking underneath.
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Decanted for about an hour prior to consuming with roast beef dinner. This juice has really hit it's stride. Very well balance with good level of fruit still showing through. Blackberrys, earth, spice and when held on the tongue for several seconds black licorice. Medium long finish, very lush and velvety. Still a hint of heat from the alcohol not bad but this probably held the score down a bit.
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Inky dark ruby with black berry nose. A little off dry with big body and fruit. Some nice acid and bold, chewy tannins bracket the fruit for a good balance. Tart cherries and black berries for those desiring a bold fruity wine with prevalent acid for balance. Drinking well now on night one. Night two is showing strong with the Mourvedre presenting itself, just a hint of bitter on the finish.
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We drank the 07 and 08 QEDs together. My brother and his girl couldn't tell the two apart. We slightly preferred the 07 although they are clearly made from the same cloth and differences are small. This wine has depth and complexity, I got some lighter floral hints in the 07 versus deeper hints of new leather in the 08. Both are great wines and drinking quite well. Opening a few hours before helped.
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Like so many Rasa wines, this QED has that trademark balance. It is smooth and texturally inviting. That remained the same over all three days we drank this wine. Definitely dark complected fruits, brown sugar, and spice. The level of fruit and the nature of the spice moved around a bit over time, but you could invariably find all three components at any given time. This wine is definitely easy to drink, and well behaved with nary a rough edge in sight. While dark and ripe, it does not venture into over extracted or over ripe, but boy does it play in the deeper, darker side of the spectrum. There is a moderate amount of acid, but less tannin than I'd prefer to frame the fruit. I actually wish the wine was a little more angular and had a little more interest. This is just not as dimensional and complex as the 2007. It is drinking well right now, and I'm not sure what this is going to really do with more time. Hard to say whether time will add extra dimension or simply smooth out the already smooth edges. Drink now, or hold and roll the dice.
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This was a bit of a revelation for me. Have had Rasa quite a bit and have often felt the price was a bit high. But having had this with some age on it was I very get it now. Nice complex bouquet of mature black cherries, mineral, seaweed, pepper, iron and fresh coffee grounds. Silky on the palate with some green tannins when 1st opened that smoothed out and a nice acid frame work. Paired amazingly well with homemade fresh mozzarella and basil pizza.
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P&P. This bottle was never my favorite QED (love the 07) and the on this guy, the fruit just seemed off and sullen. Maybe cork taint or tca, I have no clue how to detect off wines. Still, it was enjoyable to drink, I’m easy to please, but I can’t wait to try my last 07 in the next year or three.
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Just a small glass for me out of this bottle (shared with 7 other people), so it was hard to get a really good read on this QED: rich, dark fruits, seamless texture, somewhat sweet, but good closing structure on the finish.
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Benefits from an hour of air. Blackberry, smoke, flowers, bloody meat, red and black cherries, earth, and brine on the nose. Blackberries, black cherries, tart cherries, olive brine, earth, vanilla, barnyard, and flowers on the palate. Strong spine of juicy acidity, good structure, medium-long finish. Slight bitterness on the finish, though it fades with some air. Overall, this was a really nice wine. The lively acidity just makes you take another sip (I practically downed the first glass), and there's a saline aspect that's irresistible. The vanilla is integrating into the wine pretty well, but some people might find it a bit much. BTW, this is available at Costco for a really good price. I'm going to buy more.
Not feeling like the 08 lives up to the QED standard. Tried this a year ago and was reasonably happy, but this wine appears to have regressed in the past year. Going to try again in another year.
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This bottle was a bit flatter in expression than my previous tastes. Not shut down, but it has lost a little gloss and aromatic punch. The structure is still well hidden overall. If I had one more I'd probably choose to hold it until 2016+ but it is certainly enjoyable now.
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Quite stylish, I like the assémblage here as well - hommage to both south and northern Rhone I suppose. Very firm midpalate with excellent stuffing, lots of power with control. finish went on for nearly a minute. Peppery and gamey, with black fruits and olives and a touch of spring flowers as well. Precise flavors with laser like focus. My first Rasa, will keep these guys on my radar and seek out other bottlings. Impressive.
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83% Syrah, 10% Grenache, 5% Mourvedre, and 2% Viognier. Les Collines, Double River, and Minick vineyards. 14.4% ABV. Purple in color. Grilled meats, olives and flowers on the nose. Flavors of game, bacon, cherries, pepper and blackberries cascade across the palate. The finish leaves you wanting more and more. Gorgeous wine.
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Dark, brooding wa syrah (with a little GM to smooth things out). Lots of complexity and dark fruit on the nose. Tasting well now, but will also benefit from some more cellar time.
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Deep inky crimson color with notes of vanilla, black fruit, spice and red berries. Full-bodied with flavors of spicy red fruit, clove and vanilla with a long finish.
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This was my CT Secret Santa gift - - thanks very much to Wine Gopher for a terrific and generous gift! I decanted 2.5 hours and then served with grilled, seasoned filet mignon and baked potato. Despite the decant, the first glass was a bit closed up. The second glass, however, as we were close to finishing the meal, was quite vibrant with the bright fruit in beautiful contrast to the very soft and elegant mouthfeel. This was a great gift - thanks again!
A bit disappointing. Decanted for about an hour....Nice nose of chocolate, cherries and a little sharpness...spice. Not as big a wine as I expected. Palate was rather bland, fruit present, nice finish but I expected a lot more than "nice". Maybe it was just me....
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Nice dark fruits, hints of chocolates and earthy notes. Slightly acidic on the middle of the palate with a nice long finish. This is a big wine that will still benefit from additional cellar time to smooth out the middle of the wine. Should be noted that this wine needs plenty of decant time to enjoy at its fullest.
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Nose and palate are dominated by "Washington Syrah" which is by no means a bad thing. Loads of fruit with dark chocolate, coffee and a nice minerality. Excellent now, this will last for years.
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Great nose, old cherry jam over chocolate-covered strawberries. Also some earthy notes, reminding me of gravel. Smells great. The palate is immediately intense, right behind the black fruit flavors is a load of chalky mineral, bitter cocoa, coffee, blueberry and red grape skin. Some heat does show as the wine's intensity declines into the finish. Great acidity helps keep things fresh, the tannins are on the gentle side. Overall a very delicious wine. 90+
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Really terrific wine. Much more acidity than I remember from the 2007, which really gives it more tension and freshness. Needs a little air right now; it filled out a bunch on the second night, and the acid felt more integrated. Very nice.
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Loved this. Syrah-based. Tasted at the winery, so when I describe this as complex I mean to say that there are a lot of flavor notes in the wine all in one sip, not a bottle with several acts over the course of its consumption. Like all the Rasa wines, packed a lot of flavor while staying vibrant, almost elegant. 92+
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This wine is a good example of why I have really been so smitten with this producer over the last year and half. At once generous and inviting, this Syrah dominated blend (83% with the balance consisting of Grenache, Mourvedre, and a splash of Viognier), has an almost clean feel to the smoky cherry fruit, polished, and very easy to drink. At the same token, it retains an individual identity, and by no means does it portray itself as a standardized production. With further time in the glass, the tannins did seem to gain strength, suggesting that perhaps this needs a couple of years to reach equilibrium, but by no means is this crime to drink today. Like most WA St 08’s, this has a higher mineral hue than the more flamboyant 2007 vintage (inaugural). Well priced too at $45 directly from the winery.
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This will be a great wine, still a little green, much better the second night, and probably would be better the third but we finished it before we got to that point.
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10/20/2023 - bajayngo wrote:
Consistently a very delicious GSM+ blend. Good fruits, balanced, tasty, and have had a few older bottles that were singing, so can be aged.
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8/18/2023 - David Hauser Likes this wine: 93 Points
Remove from the cellar 4 hour prior to a single venturi decant. Had with tomato tart, Mediterranean green beans and halibut. This wine is now an easy match for most foods. Elegant dark fruit and raspberry notes. Plenty of dark fruits remaining on the palate with well integrated oak and tannins. This wine easily has a year or 2 in it yet. Enjoy!
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4/18/2021 - wino121 wrote: 91 Points
Triple vinturied into decant, consumed over several hours.
That said it took the full 3 hours to unwinde, in a weird spot now transitioning from the fruit to oak integration.
After it got serious air it showed well...my last btl was in 19, and it was better, this is my last one.
Paired with a smoked pork chop, delicious.
Drink now with decant thru 2024.
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3/29/2021 - Philrob22 Likes this wine: 84 Points
Raisins. Lots of raisins.
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11/14/2020 - mattboney wrote: 91 Points
Not that different from the last tasting, meaty, plum, spices, oak, olive, herbal, florals. Palate had juicy blackberry, spiced plums, black pepper.
Paired with kielbasa and chicken with kale stew.
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9/18/2020 - schwank wrote:
Really has not aged well. Disappointing as I still have more. Down the drain.
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4/22/2020 - schwank Does not like this wine:
These wines have just not held up. No distinction, just a hot gloopy mess.
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12/14/2019 - wino121 wrote: 93 Points
Holy Syrah! This was fantastic juice, I’d guess sourced from the funky Les Collines vineyard, a simple blend
Of 85% Syrah, some Grenache and Vig to smooth it out, just enough acid to hold up against most foods yet not
make it unapproachable at the end of the night.
No sign of age, and I’d say on the bubble for optimal drinking.
Drink now thru 2024, why wait...drink this stuff!
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11/4/2019 - spidersva Likes this wine: 92 Points
Big and meaty. Drinking really, really well right now.
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8/23/2019 - Jake112380 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Vertical 2008-2011. Impressive. Still vibrant with black fruit and oak. Big bodied. Long finish.
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6/7/2019 - MC2 Wines wrote:
Off wine list at vino volo Seattle. First time here in awhile. And I spent a good portion of the day in woodinville. This is all fruit and vanilla and oak. It’s amazing that >10 years. It tastes like just released. I generally like wines from this producer but this one is pretty intense.
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5/12/2019 - YankeeRobio Likes this wine: 94 Points
Blackberry, marionberry, licorice, white pepper, drink it now!!!
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4/16/2019 - lirvingham wrote: 95 Points
Tasting fantastic on second day. Wow.
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4/15/2019 - gmbdds wrote: 92 Points
Bought this aged wine rather recently at retail. Fresh and showing young. Fruity but dry. Blackberry, anise and smoke notes. Understated and light on its feet, but still a big red.
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4/13/2019 - stevemar Likes this wine: 91 Points
Deep dark purple. Smoked meat, figs, dark fruits, herbs, earth. Lush and balanced with soft tannins and a smooth finish. Unlike my previous bottle I did not decant. Pop and pour with an aerator and screen to catch the sediment. Wonderful on day 1 and this time around still enough fruit there on day 2 but a bit thinner. Definitely drink now.
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4/13/2019 - mattboney Likes this wine: 91 Points
Lots of syrah on the nose with meat, olive, and misc herbs. There was a definitive potpourri/floral element as well after it opened up more. Did not hold up on day two, the fruit was gone and it was mostly herbal and spice.
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1/13/2019 - enjoyvino wrote: 91 Points
Still good but has lost just a bit of depth on the palate. Would drink them up this year for sure.
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1/10/2019 - RPerro wrote: flawed
Popped and poured. Sadly, this bottle had edged over into a stewed fruit/pruney flavor, likely due to improper storage. It was an auction bottle (WineBid) so it's quite possible that it was poorly treated in it's past before being sent off to auction. Always a roll of the dice when buying auction bottles, but I've had really good luck so far.
Prune fruit, overly sweet and stewed, with pretty flat structure. Some interesting black tea flavors though, so not a completely bad wine, but I ended up pouring it out. If this is representative of other bottles, I'd say drink up ASAP, but I expect properly stored bottles to have some years left.
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12/28/2018 - stevemar Likes this wine: 91 Points
GSM Rhone Blend. Smoked meat, figs, dark fruits, herbs. Mellow and earthy. Balanced with a nice finish. Decanted 1 hour.
Day 2 - past optimum drinking window, fell a bit flat.
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11/4/2018 - YankeeRobio Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wonderful wine. Blackberry, smoke, licorice, pepper
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8/1/2018 - White Biggles Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decadent. It aged well and had a wonderful old world feel.
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4/7/2018 - millerarner wrote: 92 Points
Agree with those who say this is showing young, even a bit primary still. That said, it’s developing some nice complexity and has an enticing nose, so if you like ‘em with big fruit, but wish the tannins were tamed, go for it now. A massive wine with lots of stuffing, the upward trajectory has years left.
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11/24/2017 - mclancy10006 Likes this wine: 94 Points
This after a 1.5 hour decant was rocking. Window is most definitely open wide open on this one now and I am guess it is at or nearing peak drinking time. Still some bright fruit, but lots of depth lurking underneath.
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10/7/2017 - enjoyvino wrote: 92 Points
Wine is drinking well right. Seems to be evolving in the right direction. Would give this about an hour decant to help it open up.
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7/25/2017 - wicho Likes this wine: 93 Points
Even though still young, this is a terrific wine.
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4/5/2017 - Adam T 12 wrote: 88 Points
Lots of fruit, but also lots of heat. First sip was over the top, settled down a bit as we continued to drink. Hold them if you have them.
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4/5/2017 - RLP805 wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for about an hour prior to consuming with roast beef dinner. This juice has really hit it's stride. Very well balance with good level of fruit still showing through. Blackberrys, earth, spice and when held on the tongue for several seconds black licorice. Medium long finish, very lush and velvety. Still a hint of heat from the alcohol not bad but this probably held the score down a bit.
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11/24/2016 - WAWINEFAN wrote: 90 Points
I think this wine has potential. Surprised how hot it was for a 2008. If you still have some, decant or wait a while
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6/19/2016 - dsgris Likes this wine: 92 Points
Inky dark ruby with black berry nose. A little off dry with big body and fruit. Some nice acid and bold, chewy tannins bracket the fruit for a good balance. Tart cherries and black berries for those desiring a bold fruity wine with prevalent acid for balance. Drinking well now on night one. Night two is showing strong with the Mourvedre presenting itself, just a hint of bitter on the finish.
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1/30/2016 - enjoyvino wrote: 91 Points
Thought this has evolved to get better. Great nose of crushed up black/red fruits, tobacco. Smooth and silky like the 07 on the palate.
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7/23/2015 - laetulos wrote: 91 Points
We drank the 07 and 08 QEDs together. My brother and his girl couldn't tell the two apart. We slightly preferred the 07 although they are clearly made from the same cloth and differences are small. This wine has depth and complexity, I got some lighter floral hints in the 07 versus deeper hints of new leather in the 08. Both are great wines and drinking quite well. Opening a few hours before helped.
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5/17/2015 - wicho Likes this wine: 92 Points
This rather young wine is superb!
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4/26/2015 - PDX-S wrote:
Like so many Rasa wines, this QED has that trademark balance. It is smooth and texturally inviting. That remained the same over all three days we drank this wine.
Definitely dark complected fruits, brown sugar, and spice. The level of fruit and the nature of the spice moved around a bit over time, but you could invariably find all three components at any given time.
This wine is definitely easy to drink, and well behaved with nary a rough edge in sight. While dark and ripe, it does not venture into over extracted or over ripe, but boy does it play in the deeper, darker side of the spectrum.
There is a moderate amount of acid, but less tannin than I'd prefer to frame the fruit. I actually wish the wine was a little more angular and had a little more interest. This is just not as dimensional and complex as the 2007. It is drinking well right now, and I'm not sure what this is going to really do with more time. Hard to say whether time will add extra dimension or simply smooth out the already smooth edges. Drink now, or hold and roll the dice.
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2/17/2015 - bajayngo wrote: 93 Points
This was a bit of a revelation for me. Have had Rasa quite a bit and have often felt the price was a bit high. But having had this with some age on it was I very get it now. Nice complex bouquet of mature black cherries, mineral, seaweed, pepper, iron and fresh coffee grounds. Silky on the palate with some green tannins when 1st opened that smoothed out and a nice acid frame work. Paired amazingly well with homemade fresh mozzarella and basil pizza.
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11/14/2014 - Dale M wrote:
P&P. This bottle was never my favorite QED (love the 07) and the on this guy, the fruit just seemed off and sullen. Maybe cork taint or tca, I have no clue how to detect off wines. Still, it was enjoyable to drink, I’m easy to please, but I can’t wait to try my last 07 in the next year or three.
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8/2/2014 - Radboy wrote: 91 Points
Delicious blend of goodness. Good with or without food.
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6/29/2014 - Dale M wrote:
Just a small glass for me out of this bottle (shared with 7 other people), so it was hard to get a really good read on this QED: rich, dark fruits, seamless texture, somewhat sweet, but good closing structure on the finish.
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5/15/2014 - rmh66 wrote: 91 Points
Benefits from an hour of air. Blackberry, smoke, flowers, bloody meat, red and black cherries, earth, and brine on the nose. Blackberries, black cherries, tart cherries, olive brine, earth, vanilla, barnyard, and flowers on the palate. Strong spine of juicy acidity, good structure, medium-long finish. Slight bitterness on the finish, though it fades with some air. Overall, this was a really nice wine. The lively acidity just makes you take another sip (I practically downed the first glass), and there's a saline aspect that's irresistible. The vanilla is integrating into the wine pretty well, but some people might find it a bit much. BTW, this is available at Costco for a really good price. I'm going to buy more.
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5/8/2014 - jrockman wrote: flawed
Something not quite right with this bottle, seemed to be mildly corked; quality of the fruit was apparent, but not able to shine.
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2/1/2014 - lirvingham Likes this wine: 89 Points
Not feeling like the 08 lives up to the QED standard. Tried this a year ago and was reasonably happy, but this wine appears to have regressed in the past year. Going to try again in another year.
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12/21/2013 - Ron Felthoven wrote:
Texturally this was really quite amazing. Rich and supple but not flabby or flat. Lovely aromatics. Now I see what all the fuss is about.
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12/19/2013 - rhialto wrote: 91 Points
Medium bodied. Unpretentious. Tasty.
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11/7/2013 - silton Likes this wine: 91 Points
This bottle was a bit flatter in expression than my previous tastes. Not shut down, but it has lost a little gloss and aromatic punch. The structure is still well hidden overall. If I had one more I'd probably choose to hold it until 2016+ but it is certainly enjoyable now.
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10/8/2013 - Adam T 12 Likes this wine: 95 Points
This thing is gorgeous. Bursting with fruit, great nose, not a hard edge to be found, great balance, I'm buying more.
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6/25/2013 - mattyboy_ Likes this wine: 94 Points
Quite stylish, I like the assémblage here as well - hommage to both south and northern Rhone I suppose. Very firm midpalate with excellent stuffing, lots of power with control. finish went on for nearly a minute. Peppery and gamey, with black fruits and olives and a touch of spring flowers as well. Precise flavors with laser like focus. My first Rasa, will keep these guys on my radar and seek out other bottlings. Impressive.
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3/18/2013 - tomlee wrote: 93 Points
83% Syrah, 10% Grenache, 5% Mourvedre, and 2% Viognier. Les Collines, Double River, and Minick vineyards. 14.4% ABV. Purple in color. Grilled meats, olives and flowers on the nose. Flavors of game, bacon, cherries, pepper and blackberries cascade across the palate. The finish leaves you wanting more and more. Gorgeous wine.
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3/3/2013 - annerk wrote: 93 Points
50+5+13+17+8 What a difference a year makes. Dark, brooding and velvety. Didn't need food. Great QPR!
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2/16/2013 - lirvingham Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark, brooding wa syrah (with a little GM to smooth things out). Lots of complexity and dark fruit on the nose. Tasting well now, but will also benefit from some more cellar time.
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2/2/2013 - AllRed wrote: 93 Points
Deep inky crimson color with notes of vanilla, black fruit, spice and red berries. Full-bodied with flavors of spicy red fruit, clove and vanilla with a long finish.
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2/2/2013 - thelostverse wrote: 94 Points
Opened by Bill at dinner. This was described as slutty around the table. I loved it. Black fruits and cherry with nice tannins.
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12/23/2012 - Wine Gopher Likes this wine: 91 Points
A great bottle of wine. It needed an hour to open but then was plush with complexity and great mouthfeel.
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12/15/2012 - grayfont Likes this wine:
This was my CT Secret Santa gift - - thanks very much to Wine Gopher for a terrific and generous gift! I decanted 2.5 hours and then served with grilled, seasoned filet mignon and baked potato. Despite the decant, the first glass was a bit closed up. The second glass, however, as we were close to finishing the meal, was quite vibrant with the bright fruit in beautiful contrast to the very soft and elegant mouthfeel. This was a great gift - thanks again!
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8/17/2012 - Annie1 wrote: 87 Points
A bit disappointing. Decanted for about an hour....Nice nose of chocolate, cherries and a little sharpness...spice. Not as big a wine as I expected. Palate was rather bland, fruit present, nice finish but I expected a lot more than "nice". Maybe it was just me....
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5/31/2012 - Nbkat8 wrote: 90 Points
Not as good as the 07, which was fantastic but I think this needs more time - still too young.
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2/17/2012 - ClubTerry wrote: 93 Points
Nice dark fruits, hints of chocolates and earthy notes. Slightly acidic on the middle of the palate with a nice long finish. This is a big wine that will still benefit from additional cellar time to smooth out the middle of the wine. Should be noted that this wine needs plenty of decant time to enjoy at its fullest.
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12/22/2011 - Fugu Me wrote:
Nose and palate are dominated by "Washington Syrah" which is by no means a bad thing. Loads of fruit with dark chocolate, coffee and a nice minerality. Excellent now, this will last for years.
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11/4/2011 - gripNsip wrote: 90 Points
Great nose, old cherry jam over chocolate-covered strawberries. Also some earthy notes, reminding me of gravel. Smells great. The palate is immediately intense, right behind the black fruit flavors is a load of chalky mineral, bitter cocoa, coffee, blueberry and red grape skin. Some heat does show as the wine's intensity declines into the finish. Great acidity helps keep things fresh, the tannins are on the gentle side. Overall a very delicious wine. 90+
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10/24/2011 - Michael Davidson wrote:
Really terrific wine. Much more acidity than I remember from the 2007, which really gives it more tension and freshness. Needs a little air right now; it filled out a bunch on the second night, and the acid felt more integrated. Very nice.
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8/4/2011 - silton wrote:
Loved this. Syrah-based. Tasted at the winery, so when I describe this as complex I mean to say that there are a lot of flavor notes in the wine all in one sip, not a bottle with several acts over the course of its consumption. Like all the Rasa wines, packed a lot of flavor while staying vibrant, almost elegant. 92+
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7/17/2011 - Dale M wrote: 93 Points
This wine is a good example of why I have really been so smitten with this producer over the last year and half. At once generous and inviting, this Syrah dominated blend (83% with the balance consisting of Grenache, Mourvedre, and a splash of Viognier), has an almost clean feel to the smoky cherry fruit, polished, and very easy to drink. At the same token, it retains an individual identity, and by no means does it portray itself as a standardized production. With further time in the glass, the tannins did seem to gain strength, suggesting that perhaps this needs a couple of years to reach equilibrium, but by no means is this crime to drink today. Like most WA St 08’s, this has a higher mineral hue than the more flamboyant 2007 vintage (inaugural). Well priced too at $45 directly from the winery.
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6/8/2011 - ClubTerry wrote: 94 Points
This will be a great wine, still a little green, much better the second night, and probably would be better the third but we finished it before we got to that point.
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