2013 Rasa Vineyards Creative Impulse

• 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 Library Rasa, 10/26/2018, (See more on Full Pull...)

  (Rasa Vineyards Creative Impulse DuBrul Vineyard) Hello friends. Today we have a library release from culty-as-ever Rasa Vineyards and winemaker (and recently awarded Master of Wine) Billo Naravane. 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. 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, we’ve always found it deeply exciting to experience his wines from the mothership, Rasa. Because our list has grown up alongside Billo and team, and we’ve all been enthusiastic supporters from the beginning, we all get the opportunity to access this special bottling. While the library offering is the main thrust today, but we do have two bonus reoffers below.Originally offered February 2017. Excerpts from the original: The blend this year is 69%/31% Cab/Merlot. The fruit got a week-long cold soak and was fermented entirely with native yeasts. It spent 30 months in 60% new French oak (again, all large puncheons), and clocks in at 14.7% listed alc. As usual, Billo captures and harnesses the exotic, sultry, earthy side of the incomparable DuBrul Vineyard. Notes of anise and juniper and incense complicate a core of black cherry and blackcurrant fruit, and loads of minerality. It combines power and elegance effortlessly. Wine Advocate: Copyrighted material withheld.

• By Paul Zitarelli
  Full Pull Rasa, 2/8/2017, (See more on Full Pull...)

  (Rasa Vineyards Creative Impulse DuBrul Vineyard) 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. Originally offered February 2017. Excerpts from the original: The blend this year is 69%/31% Cab/Merlot. The fruit got a week-long cold soak and was fermented entirely with native yeasts. It spent 30 months in 60% new French oak (again, all large puncheons), and clocks in at 14.7% listed alc. As usual, Billo captures and harnesses the exotic, sultry, earthy side of the incomparable DuBrul Vineyard. Notes of anise and juniper and incense complicate a core of black cherry and blackcurrant fruit, and loads of minerality. It combines power and elegance effortlessly. Wine Advocate: Copyrighted material withheld.