I have been blown away with the La Rata Red Wine since its inception in 2012. What was originally a trial project, Elizabeth Bourcier has created one of the great cult wines out of the Pacific Northwest. Originally initially inspired by the insanely good Clos Erasmus wines of the Priorat region, Elizabeth made the bold decision blend both Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon together, since they wines tend to ripen at the similar times on the stony terroir of Milton-Freewater. Elizabeth chose to use Grenache from Armada Vineyard and Cabernet Sauvignon from En Cerise Vineyard. Now she has added a touch of Syrah to the equation. The wine was named “The Rat” and then Spanglish-cized: ‘La Rata’. The name ‘La Rata’ also connects with Elizabeth, as her zodiac sign which is the rat.
I adored the new 2018 La Rata Red Wine (WWB, 96) which is made in a richer style than the 2017 but is every bit as good. The mind-numbing aromatic and flavor range moves everywhere from Umami and smoky tones to bright red fruits. For those who prefer a bigger style of La Rata, this is right up your alley and a must-purchase for any serious Washington and Oregon wine collector. The 2018 ‘La Rata’ will soon be offered by Full Pull Wines and is very challenging to find in the retail market even on winebid.com. Learn more at http://laratawines.com/wines.html Here is my review of the thrilling 2018 La Rata Red Wine by Elizabeth Bourcier of Cayuse Vineyards.
2018 La Rata Red Wine- The 2018 La Rata red wine is a gorgeous, one of a kind, blend of 54% Grenache, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon with 10% Syrah made by Cayuse assistant vigneronne Elizabeth Bourcier. The wine saw only third fill large format oak barrels before bottling, and had 60-70 stem inclusion on the Grenache. The nose is hedonistic with black cherry cordial, Hoisin sauce, Umami, orange rind, white truffle shavings and white pepper with shades of smoked bacon fat. The intoxicating nose brings you back to the glass for more hedonistic enjoyment. The palate shows a great degree of freshness with beautiful finesse and a great core of red and dark fruits that mingle with the earthy undertones of the wine. This version is geared a touch more towards weight than the 2017 edition. Truly outstanding to savor at the moment, the 2018 La Rata will cellar well over the next decade. Drink 2021-2029- 96