Year after year, Rasa Vineyards continue to produce some of the best wines in Washington. The precision, depth, viscosity, mouthfeel and elegance of the wines made by superstar winemaker Billo Naravane is evident in his Rasa bottlings. If you had not had the chance to taste these wines at their Walla Walla winery, you are in for a sensual awakening.
Head winemaker Billo Navarane is one of the best winemakers in Washington. He has nearly completed his masters of wine certification and he will tell you the textural, aromatic and flavor profile differences between classic Gruner Veltliner and Albarino. It is always a pleasure talking wine with Billo. HIs new wines were some of the best I have ever tried, as he utilizes a string of hot and pretty outstanding vintages in Washington. Look for the 2013 Rasa ‘Veritas Sequitur’ Syrah (WWB, 96) a very special Syrah sourced from the SJR Vineyard which shows insane rocky terroir and incredible flavor and aromatic range. This is one of the best wines that I have reviewed from the Walla Walla rocks region. Equally impressive is the completely insane 2013 Rasa ‘Fianchetto’ Red Wine (WWB, 96) sourced from the XL Vineyard in Walla Walla. Learn more about these amazing wines at http://rasavineyards.com Here are the great new wines by Rasa Vineyards
2013 Rasa Vineyards 'QED Convergence' Red Wine- This wine is primarily Syrah and has 4% Viognier blended in. This outstanding bottling begins with perfumed aromatics of rose petals, smoked brisket, black cherry and black olive. The mouthfeel is plush and elegant. There are deep flavors of black cherry compote, black olive, crushed mint and red currant. The wine finishes exceedingly long with a slight astringency. The weight and balance is absolutely gorgeous. Drink 2017-2028- 94
2013 Rasa Vineyards 'Principia Reserve' Syrah- This dense colored wine has intense aromatics of black tea, black olive, smoked pork shoulder and creosote. This leads to dense flavors of wild blackberry jam, coffee grounds, orange rind, blueberry, and black tea with an impressive mineral streak. This has an old world feel while showing off massive fruit weight. The finish is very long and dark fruit driven. The aromatic and flavor range is nothing short of intoxicating. Try to drink this awesome wine within the decade. Drink 2017-2028- 95
2013 Rasa Vineyards 'Veritas Sequitur' Syrah- This outstanding Syrah wine was sourced from the famed SJR vineyard. The wine has utilized 100% whole cluster fermentation. The Syrah wine opens with a bouquet of umami, seaweed, black cherry, crushed mint and smoked short rib. The nose is simply intoxicating. This leads to rich flavors of black cherry, boysenberry liquor, manure, black tea, umami and suggestions of alllspice. The finish is extremely long and precise, as the wine rounds out beautifully. This wine is massive yet elegant, showing incredible tension, mouthfeel and viscosity. Hats off to winemaker Billo Naravane. Drink 2017-2027- 96
2013 Rasa Vineyards'Plus One' Cabernet- The wine is sourced from an old block in the Kiona Vineyard and was aged in 60% new French oak for 28 months. The wine begins with aromas of black cherry, eucalyptus, dried sage, and black tea. This leads to gorgeous and mouth-watering flavors of black cherry, mocha, black olive and crushed mint. The weight, texture and mouthfeel is lovely. Moderately tannic, try to give this another year to settle. Drink 2018-2030- 94
2013 Rasa Vineyards 'Creative Impulse' Red Wine- This wine is a scintillating blend of 69% Cabernet and 31% Merlot which was sourced from the famed DuBrul Vineyard, managed by the Sheils family. This wine opens with a deep bouquet of black tea, cassis, black raspberry, baking spices and suggestions of coffee grounds. This leads to dense flavors of black cherry, black tea, mocha, crushed as the finish continues to linger on the tongue. The wine has an incredible mouthfeel, texture, viscosity and minerality. It is a true stunner which will cellar gracefully for a decade or more. Drink 2017-2035- 95
2014 Rasa Vineyards 'Creative Impulse' Red Wine- This outstanding wine spent 30 months in French Oak puncheons. The oak profile is 60% new French oak (predominantly from Troncais and Alliers) and 40% neutral French oak. This year they have blended 56% Cabernet with 44% Merlot. This has massive aromatics of black tea, blackberry cobbler, and a lovely herbal quality, with red bell pepper. This leads to flavors of blackberry cobbler, black tea, boysenberry liquor, crushed mint and mocha. Massive tannins power the wine at this moment but the wine is currently empowered to showcase its scintillating, minute-long finish. Try to resist this beautiful wine for another year. Drink 2018-2035- 95
2013 Rasa Vineyards 'Fianchetto' Red Wine- This wine is the follow- up the stunning 2012 Rasa Vineyards’ Fianchetto’ Red Wine and is a massive blend of 56% Cabernet with the remainder Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The wine opens with a bouquet of black cherry, creme de Cassie, mocha, crushed gravel and Earl Grey tea. Dense and intense, there are ultra ripe flavors of mocha, creosote, coffee grounds, black olive and black tea with cherry cough syrup. The finish is exceedingly long. This is massive yet feminine as this really needs one more year to fully settle. The balance and mouthfeel is exquisite. Powerful and seductive, this is another heavyhitter of a wine crafted by the talented hands of Billo Naravane. Drink 2018-2035- 96
2013 Rasa Vineyards ‘In Order To Form A Perfect Union’ Red Wine- This Bordeaux style blend was aged in 70% new French oak puncheons (predominantly from Troncais and Alliers) and 30% neutral French oak prior to bottling. The red blend begins with aromatics of sagebrush, mint, red cherry, red bell pepper and wild blackberry. This leads to flavors of black cherry, black tea, coffee ground and black olive. This is blended beautifully and is chewy while showcasing a Bordelaise mineralityDrink 2017-2029- 94
2014 Rasa Vineyards 'Occams Razor' Red Wine- Forward, seductive and plush, this great value wine opens with a bouquet of blackberry jam, black tea, mint and boysenberry jam. This leads to ripe flavors of black cherry, eucalyptus, red raspberry and coffee grounds. This has the stuffing and structure to cellar well into the next decade as this is a truly outstanding value buy at this price point. Drink 2017-2026- 91
2015 Rasa Vineyards 'Primus Inter Pares' Grenache- This stunning Grenache wine was sourced from Monette's Vineyard in the Walla Walla Rocks region. Prior to bottling the wine was left on the lees for 18 months in neutral French oak barriques. This wine begins with aromatics of rose petals, white flowers, Mandarin orange rind and potpourri. This leads to flavors of red cherry, strawberry, orange zest and strawberry jam. This is pretty, feminine, sexy and absolutely irresistible at this juncture. While less acid-driven than the ’14 bottling, this outstanding wine is just as good and even more impossible to put down as the gorgeous aromatic and flavor range shows through. Only 103 cases made of this absolutely stunning Grenache wine which is one of the best of its kind in Washington state. Drink 2017-2029- 95
2015 Rasa Vineyards 'Tilting At Windmills' Red Wine- The 2015 ‘Tilting At Windmills’ by Rasa Vineyards is an inspiration by head winemaker Billo Naravane to make a Washington wine in the style of the profound red wines of Priorat. It is a sexy blend of Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah which was aged in 40% new French oak (predominantly from Troncais and Alliers) and 60% neutral French oak prior to bottling. This wine begins with aromatics of black tea, black olive, rose petals and suggestions of baking spices. This leads to dense flavors reminiscent of black tea, red cherry, raspberry jam and umami that sit alongside some moderate tannins. This wine is another stunner by superstar winemaker Billo Naravane. Drink 2017-2029- 94
2015 Rasa Vineyards ‘QED Axiom of Choice’ Cabernet Franc- This is an awesome Cabernet Franc wine that was primarily sourced from the Weinbau Vineyard. This has dense aromatics of black cherry, black olive, mint and violets. This leads to flavors of black tea, violets, black cherry and a core of coffee grounds. This is dense and absolutely lovely. Drink 2017-2028- 93
2015 Rasa Vineyards ‘Living In The Limelight’ Petit Verdot- The 2015 Rasa ‘Living in the Limelight’ Petit Verdot is one of the best of its kind that I have sampled in the past year. An only dark color opens to aromatics reminiscent of green olive, black peppercorn, mocha and creme de cassis. This leads to deep flavors of black cherry cough syrup, black tea, black olive tapenade and coffee grounds. This is a massive wine. Drink 2018-2033- 94
2014 Rasa Vineyards ‘En Passant’ Merlot- The 2014 ‘En Passant’ Merlot was primarily sourced from the DuBrul Vineyard and is only available in magnum format. The wine spent 30 months in 60% new French oak and 40% neutral French oak prior to bottling. This simply gorgeous Merlot wine opens with dense aromatics of black tea, black olive, cigar box, black cherry pie and Asian spices. The aroma range is just stunning. This leads to intense flavors of black cherry, cassis, Asian slices and coffee grounds. The mouthfeel is lovely and plush. This gorgeous Merlot wine really needs another year to settle but is impossible to resist right now. Drink 2018-2035- 95
2014 Rasa Vineyards ‘Plus One’ Cabernet- The 2014 ‘Plus One’ Cabernet was aged in 60% new French oak (predominantly from Troncais and Alliers) and 40% neutral French oak. The resultant wine is a stunner. This absolutely awesome Cabernet wine begins with aromas of baking spices, black cherry, sagebrush and creme de cassis. This leads to polished flavors of black tea, mocha, black cherry cough syrup and boysenberry preserves with coffee grounds. This is massive and has a polished mouthfeel. Try to give this gorgeous wine another year to settle. Drink 2018-2035- 95
2014 Rasa Vineyards 'For The Love Of The Game' Cabernet- A blockbuster wine and a complete stunner, this great Cabernet wine was sourced from the Wallula Gap Vineyard. This was aged in 70% new French oak (predominantly from Troncais and Alliers) and 30% neutral French oak prior to bottling. The Cabernet begins with simply intoxicating aromatics of creme de cassis, anise, red bell pepper and coffee grounds. The massive aromatic profile brings you constantly back to the glass for more. Crushed mint, Chinese black tea, black cherry cough syrup and sage flavors impress and add sexy layers. This is massive, structured and absolutely gorgeous as Billo Naravane has slugged a home run here with his new Cabernet. Only 62 cases produced of this heavy hitter of a Cabernet. Drink 2018-2035- 95
2014 Rasa Vineyards 'A Perfect Union' Red Wine- Rasa has crafted another wonderful red wine with their 2014 ‘A Perfect Union’ Red Wine. This wonderful blend begins with aromatics reminiscent of crushed mint, red bell pepper and red cherry with cigar box. The plush mouthfeel and silky texture is lovely as this wine is soft and supple. The red wine has dense flavors of black tea, mocha, baking spices and blackberry pie. This lovely blend can benefit from another year of bottle age for the fruit to fully integrate. Drink 2018-2033- 93
2013 Rasa Vineyards 'The Composer' Riesling- The 2013 ‘The Composer’ Riesling was produced from Geisenheim 110, Geisenheim 198 and Neustadt 90 clones which were sourced from the Bacchus and Dionysus Vineyards. The Riesling weighs in at 10.9 g/L residual sugar, and the wine was aged in 60% neutral oak fermentation, and 40% stainless steel fermentation.Done in the Alsatian style, this rear Riesling wine begins with aromatics of Granny Smith apple, wet rock, petrol and cantaloupe. This lead to flavors of white flowers, Gravenstein apple and green papaya. This finishes extremely long as this wine is up there with the best Washington Rieslings out there. Drink 2017-2026-92