It is my pleasure to share the wines of Rasa Vineyards. For many years now Master of Wine, Billo Naravane, has been crafting beautiful expressions of Washington State wine. He has one of the finest lineups in the state — from crisp Rieslings to inky Syrahs. Billo also has a remarkable story in wine. If you have never tried these wines then you are in for a serious treat. A scientist by trade, Billo Naravane initially was inspired by wine while living Austin, Texas. During that time Naravane was exposed to some of the finest wines in the world and he fully caught the wine bug. Over time he and his brother, Pinto, made the bold decision to start Rasa Vineyards in 2007.
These are wines that are seriously crafted with a beginning, middle and an end. The wines he crafts show tremendous texture, richness, poise and terroir — and are only getting better by each vintage.
We chatted about wine and tasted together over Zoom.
I am amazed with the overall quality and do not miss out on the 2021 Rasa Vineyards ‘Veritas Sequitur’ Syrah (OB, 99) which is otherworldly wine that flirts with perfection. A very special and also expensive wine, the 2022 Naravane Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 100) is one of the wines of the vintage. It is a perfect wine made in a somewhat challenging vintage for Bordeaux varietals. Learn more about this fantastic Walla Walla winery at rasavineyards.com Here are the sensational new wines by Rasa Vineyards.
2023 Rasa Vineyards ‘The Composer’ Riesling- Coming from three separate clones of Riesling, this is made in a completely dry, Trocken style. This comes off fat and mineral-laden with serious texture. Ripe peach and apricot combine with shades of wet rock and freshly cut limes on the palate. Drink 2026-2034- 93
2020 Rasa Vineyards ‘The Composer Encore’ Riesling- The 2020 ‘The Composer Encore’ is a GG-inspired Riesling that was sourced from old vines at the Bacchus Vineyard. This saw extended battonage and was released six years after being aged in barrel. Honeysuckle and shades of juicy nectarine combine with citrus blossoms on the nose. The palate is deep and rich with serious weight and finesse. This has a beautiful push-pull between fruit and non-fruit flavors. Coming off clean from this highly challenging vintage, enjoy now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2026-2034- 95
2023 Rasa Vineyards ‘Dream Deferred’ Chardonnay- The 2023 ‘Dream Deferred’ was entirely sourced from the Frenchman Hills Vineyard set on soils that have some limestone. On the nose this takes on buttered brioche and Macadamia nut aromatics that combine with lemon blossom. The palate is plush and rich with amazing texture, weight and mouth-watering acidity. A stunning wine that saw some extended battonage, enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2026-2034- 95
2024 Rasa Vineyards ‘Occam’s Razor’ Red Wine- The 2024 Rasa Vineyards ‘Occam’s Razor’ Red Wine comes from some choice vineyards throughout the state. Ripe red currants and tobacco leaf combine with milk chocolate notes on the nose. The palate is forward and juicy with good finesse. Drink 2026-2032- 92
2024 Rasa Vineyards ‘Occam’s Razor’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2024 Rasa Vineyards ‘Occam’s Razor’ Cabernet Sauvignon shows off black currants and tar notes on the palate with a soft mouthfeel. Enjoy now. Drink 2026-2032- 92
2023 Rasa Vineyards ‘Tilting At Windmills’ Red Wine- The Priorat-inspired ‘Tilting At Windmills’ combines mostly Grenache (54%) with the remainder Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. On the nose this shows cedar, tar and red licorice with beautiful red florals. The palate is elegant, with terrific weight and underlying finesse. A totally unique wine that is showing beautifully now, watch this evolve over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2026-2038- 95
2023 Rasa Vineyards ‘QED The Strong Law’ Red Wine- The 2023 ‘QED The Strong Law’ combines Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot coming from several locations including the Ciel du Cheval Vineyard. Stored in 40% new French oak, this offers black tea and exotic spices on the nose with tar and dark chocolate shavings. The palate is beautifully balanced, with refined tannins and a glorious core of black fruits, alongside a graphite edge. Drink 2026-2038- 94
2023 Rasa Vineyards ‘Humane’ Red Wine- The 2023 ‘Humane’ is a blend of mainly Cabernet Sauvignon (63%) with the remainder Cabernet Franc and Malbec all sourced from the Rattlesnake Hills. Nearly all the proceeds from this wine go to charity. Anise, dark currants and pencil shavings all combine on the nose. The palate is silky and elegant with a terrific texture. This is drinking marvelously right now. Drink 2026-2038- 94
2024 Rasa Vineyards ‘Living in the Limelight’ Petit Verdot- The 2024 Rasa Vineyards ‘Living in the Limelight’ Petit Verdot is a world-class single variety wine from the Dionysus Vineyard in the White Bluffs AVA. Inky in the glass, this delivers mocha, tar and green herbs on the nose. The downright killer aromatics bring you back to the glass for more enjoyment. The palate is dense and inky with amazing fleshy character and also mouth-watering acidity. This is somehow drinking magically right now as the refined tannins really sing in unison with the dark fruit and chocolate core. Drink 2026-2040- 95
2023 Rasa Vineyards ‘QED Choice Function’ Red Wine- Made from Cabernet Franc, the 2023 ‘Choice Function’ is all Cabernet Franc from the Columbia Valley. Stored in a third new French oak, on the nose this takes on orange bell pepper alongside shades of black licorice and garrigue notes. The palate is lush and ripe with a terrific mouthful and marvelous length. Drink 2026-2038- 95
2024 Rasa Vineyards ‘QED Convergence’ Red Wine- The 2024 ‘QED Convergence’ is a great blend of mainly Syrah (83%) with small portions Grenache and Mourvèdre as well as a dash of Viognier. This wine was first made with the 2007 vintage. Beautiful white florals mark the nose alongside blood orange zest, bulls blood, smoked meats and bright red fruits. The palate is silky and refined with a terrific mouthfeel and great sense of weight. Very savory and seductive, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2026-2036- 95
2022 Rasa Vineyard ‘En Passant’ Merlot- 100% varietal, the 2022 ‘En Passant’ comes from the Pinebrake Vineyard in the Rattlesnake Hills AVA. Inky in the glass, this delivers incredible aromatics of red florals, tar and tobacco leaf alongside milk chocolate covered black cherry. The palate is rich and viscous with amazing texture and underlying salty nuances. Gorgeous to enjoy now, with loads of mouth-watering acidity, watch this evolve now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2026-2040- 96
2019 Rasa Vineyard ‘Fianchetto’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2019 Rasa Vineyard ‘Fianchetto’ is primarily Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc from the Firethorn Vineyard. This comes off silky and refined on the mouth. Generous black fruits combine with mocha, tar and anise on the palate. Showing beautifully right now, enjoy now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2026-2035- 95
2019 Rasa Vineyard ‘In Order To Form A More Perfect Union’ Red Wine- Primarily Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, the ‘More Perfect Union’ is a downright killer blend by Rasa. This is dense, rich and neatly balanced stuff right now. Red cherry compote, wild mushroom, blackberry and mocha notes combine with shades of soy sauce and salty soils on the palate. Drink 2026-2034- 95
2022 Rasa Vineyards ‘Creative Impulse’ Red Wine- Sourced from the famed DuBrul Vineyard, the 2022 ‘Creative Impulse’ is a stunning wine that is built to age. On the nose this shows gorgeous red florals, with damp earth, cedar, creme de cassis and shades of black licorice. The palate is lush and round as this glides throughout the drinking experience. A stunning wine, with amazing length, flavor density and flavor complexity, this is a magical wine made from a somewhat difficult vintage for Bordeaux varietals. 68% Cabernet Sauvignon with 32% Merlot. Drink 2026-2042- 98
2020 Rasa Vineyard ‘Veritas Sequitur Naravane Vineyard’ Syrah- An amazing edition of this wine, the 2021 ’Veritas Sequitur’ comes from the Naravane Vineyard. Given all whole cluster fermentation and and all new French oak before bottling, this opens with crushed wet gravel, bacon fat, Satsuma orange zest and shades of bulls blood alongside pretty red florals. The palate is lush and deep wth loads of mouthwatering acidity with an exceedingly long finish. A world-class wine from the Rocks District, enjoy this now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2026-2036- 99
2022 Rasa Vineyards ‘For The Love Of The Game’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 ‘For The Love Of The Game’ is a 100% varietal wine from the Columbia Valley. This is a knockout wine, showing amazing flavor density and underling freshness. The weight and salty nuance really grips you, as chocolate and tar notes combine with refined black fruits — and is almost pushing blue fruits. Refined tannins frame this beauty that has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2026-2043- 97
2022 Rasa Vineyards ‘Naravane’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 ‘Naravane’ is in its second edition and is only released in vintages where they feel they have made their highest level of wine. This edition was stored for 36 months in new French oak barrels prior to bottling. This is a perfect wine made from a challenging vintage for Bordeaux varietals. Turkish coffee and creme de violette notes combine with sandalwood tones that caress the black fruits. It is astonishingly seamless throughout the drinking experience. A world-class wine from 2022, give this several hours in the decanter before enjoying. Bravo! Drink 2026-2050- 100