2013 Rasa Vineyards In Order to Form a More Perfect Union

• By Stephen Tanzer
  Focus on Washington: Hot Times in the Desert (Nov 2016), 11/1/2016, (See more on Vinous...)

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Full Pull

• By Paul Zitarelli
  Full Pull Rasa, 2/8/2017

  (Rasa Vineyards In Order To Form A More Perfect Union) 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.