La Rata Wines
Grenache Cabernet Sauvignon Blend
Walla Walla Valley, Oregon/Washington, USA
Can I tell you how alive this wine is? I could but you’d have to taste it to get it much like you can tell your friends about the person they need to meet and they won’t care until they meet and immediately are inevitably taken with said person. What takes me? This wine is fucking ALIVE. Full of zingy tangerine vibe zest but mostly chewy yet barely ripe red cherry and garrigue (sage lavender underbrush fun) and then like also licorice with friendly handsy (in a welcomed way( tannins) and a forest fun finish. J’adore.
Can I tell you how alive this wine is? I could but you’d have to taste it to get it much like you can tell your friends about the person they need to meet and they won’t care until they meet and immediately are inevitably taken with said person. What takes me? This wine is fucking ALIVE. Full of zingy tangerine vibe zest but mostly chewy yet barely ripe red cherry and garrigue (sage lavender underbrush fun) and then like also licorice with friendly handsy (in a welcomed way( tannins) and a forest fun finish. J’adore.
Mar 31st, 2023
The 2016 La Rata Red Wine is a one of a kind, simply sumptuous new wine by superstar vigneronne Elizabeth Bourcier. The final blend she chose was 59% Grenache with 31% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Syrah. The wine was largely aged in third use demi-muids as well as some stainless steel prior to bottling. The nose is downright intoxicating as the wine shows off red cherry preserves, underbrush, Umami, blood orange zest and shades of wet stone that all shine brightly on the bouquet. The freshness and tension that run through the core of wine is truly outstanding. Bright guava puree and high toned Mandarin orange peel flavors collide with minerals, wet stone, seaweed and green olive tapenade. This finishes exceedingly long with cran-cherry and blood orange zest. A resounding success, this true heavyhitter of a wine will drink marvelously in its youth and will provide drinking enjoyment for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 96
The 2016 La Rata Red Wine is a one of a kind, simply sumptuous new wine by superstar vigneronne Elizabeth Bourcier. The final blend she chose was 59% Grenache with 31% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Syrah. The wine was largely aged in third use demi-muids as well as some stainless steel prior to bottling. The nose is downright intoxicating as the wine shows off red cherry preserves, underbrush, Umami, blood orange zest and shades of wet stone that all shine brightly on the bouquet. The freshness and tension that run through the core of wine is truly outstanding. Bright guava puree and high toned Mandarin orange peel flavors collide with minerals, wet stone, seaweed and green olive tapenade. This finishes exceedingly long with cran-cherry and blood orange zest. A resounding success, this true heavyhitter of a wine will drink marvelously in its youth and will provide drinking enjoyment for a decade or more. Drink 2019-2029- 96
Aug 14th, 2019
Preparing for the release tomorrow!
Medium to dark ruby red with a little transparency. Dark nose and layered with graphite, anise, black olives, raspberry or red cherry liqueur and leather. Medium bodied with medium tannins (6/10). Love the funkiness throughout with complex flavors too. Layers of black fruits, smoked meats, gravel, aniseed, spiced, a touch floral, olives, and black pepper. Long finish and lingering finish with solid acidity. Drink till 2029.
Preparing for the release tomorrow!
Medium to dark ruby red with a little transparency. Dark nose and layered with graphite, anise, black olives, raspberry or red cherry liqueur and leather. Medium bodied with medium tannins (6/10). Love the funkiness throughout with complex flavors too. Layers of black fruits, smoked meats, gravel, aniseed, spiced, a touch floral, olives, and black pepper. Long finish and lingering finish with solid acidity. Drink till 2029.
Really Nice wine made by Cayuse assistent winemaker.
Blend is 60% grenache and 40% Cab
Really Nice wine made by Cayuse assistent winemaker.
Blend is 60% grenache and 40% Cab
53 Grenache 34 Cabernet 13 Syrah. Blend of 2 Cayuse Vineyards, En Cerise & La Paciencia. Irony, Briny, not a lot of fruit up front. Powerful but elegant. Hate the packaging.
53 Grenache 34 Cabernet 13 Syrah. Blend of 2 Cayuse Vineyards, En Cerise & La Paciencia. Irony, Briny, not a lot of fruit up front. Powerful but elegant. Hate the packaging.
Nov 14th, 2017
Not surprisingly it's a lot like Cayuse. Good news: that's one of my favorite wines, and now so is this. Will be even better in a couple of years.
Not surprisingly it's a lot like Cayuse. Good news: that's one of my favorite wines, and now so is this. Will be even better in a couple of years.
1 person found it helpfulNov 7th, 2015Medium garnet red. Love the funk on the nose, reminds us of the GOK without the same intensity but tons of layers. Layered with crushed purple flowers, wet rocks, red berries, raspberries, a touch of olives, and leather. The Grenache really comes through after day one. Moderate tannins (6.5/10) and light body to start that beefed up to medium bodied the next day. Stronger flavors in the front and mid palate with savory notes, gaminess, cassis, red cherries, herbs and a touch of minerality. Super long and lingering finish. This is still a baby and needs air, we tried this over three days and after having a four hour decant on day one. Delicious inaugural vintage by Elizabeth Bourcier of Cayuse. Drink till 2024. (93+)
Medium garnet red. Love the funk on the nose, reminds us of the GOK without the same intensity but tons of layers. Layered with crushed purple flowers, wet rocks, red berries, raspberries, a touch of olives, and leather. The Grenache really comes through after day one. Moderate tannins (6.5/10) and light body to start that beefed up to medium bodied the next day. Stronger flavors in the front and mid palate with savory notes, gaminess, cassis, red cherries, herbs and a touch of minerality. Super long and lingering finish. This is still a baby and needs air, we tried this over three days and after having a four hour decant on day one. Delicious inaugural vintage by Elizabeth Bourcier of Cayuse. Drink till 2024. (93+)
Mar 28th, 2017
Lovely lovely wine. Definitely has softened a bit, lost a little bit of the bite at the finish but still a fantastic wine. Really good with food.
Lovely lovely wine. Definitely has softened a bit, lost a little bit of the bite at the finish but still a fantastic wine. Really good with food.
Aug 22nd, 2020
Like a flat Taco Bell’s Baja Blast. Tastes of heavy plum and orange followed by a smoky breath. Would rather drink a wine cooler left out while cleaning the morning after a party. Cigarette and chew spit included. I want to learn and develop my pallet to understand why everyone obsesses over this wine.
Like a flat Taco Bell’s Baja Blast. Tastes of heavy plum and orange followed by a smoky breath. Would rather drink a wine cooler left out while cleaning the morning after a party. Cigarette and chew spit included. I want to learn and develop my pallet to understand why everyone obsesses over this wine.
Oct 13th, 2019