Rasa Vineyards Red Blend QED “The Strong Law”
WHY WE LOVE IT
- The Strong Law blend is from the DuBrul Vineyard, XL Vineyard, Bacchus Vineyard and Firethorn Vineyards.
- This is a well-balanced wine that is delicious to drink now, but it should be at its best in 7-9 years and will hold for 12+ years.
Varietal Composition: 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot
Elaboration: Pre-fermentation maceration of 96 hours and a post-fermentation maceration of 76 hours. 100% native yeast fermentation. The wine was punched down by hand 2 times each day during macerations and fermentation. All individual wine components, including free run and press fractions, were kept separate until final blending. Elevage was 18 months in 40% new French oak and 60% neutral French oak.
Tasting Notes: Intense aromatics of crème de cassis, black plum, blackberry, leather, dark chocolate, and cedar. Gentle herbal tones add secondary interest to the bouquet. Rich and supple tannins are framed by lively acidity. The palate has notes of blackberry, black cherry, crème de cassis, espresso, cigar tobacco, and dark chocolate. The finish is long and elegant with notes of crème de cassis, black cherry, and dark chocolate.
PRESS
2021 – 94 Owen Bargreen | 92 International Wine Review (IWR)
PRODUCER BACKGROUND
The concept of Rasa Vineyards started with a bottle of 1988 Mouton Rothschild that brothers Pinto and Billo Naravane bought at a discount in Napa Valley. That bottle of wine changed their lives. They call it their epiphany wine. That Mouton inspired them to learn all they could about wine and seriously discuss starting a winery. In 2007, with Pinto’s business plan and Billo working on a degree from the UC Davis Master’s program in Viticulture and Winemaking, the two budding winemakers quit their tech jobs and selected Walla Walla, Washington, as the home of Rasa Vineyards.
They purchased 28 acres in Milton-Freewater, Oregon, just ten miles south of Walla Walla, in an area that would become the Rocks District AVA. Their first two wines won accolades and high ratings in wine publications. In 2017, Billo joined an elite worldwide group of 498 people who have earned the title of ‘Master of Wine.’