2015-2016 La Rata Walla Walla Valley Red Blend Vertical

“Made by Cayuse assistant vigneron Elizabeth Bourcier, this wine is a blend of 54% Grenache, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Syrah—the only one of its kind in the appellation. The aromas leap up, with notes of earthy funk, campfire, moist earth, sea salt, cherry, peat and crushed rock. The raspberry and earth flavors are light and juicy, showing a lot of delicacy as well as depth and detail. Tobacco and raspberry notes linger on the insanely long finish that opens up, broadens, expands and sails with grace. *Editors' Choice* (SS)” (12/2018)

“The 2015 La Rata is beautiful stuff and checks in as 54% Grenache, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Syrah (2014 was the first vintage where she added Syrah to the blend) brought up in mostly neutral, larger barrels. It’s very much in the style of all of Elizabeth’s wines and has a medium ruby, translucent color and a beautiful perfume of ripe raspberries, strawberries, green tobacco, green olives, and rose petals. Seamless, medium-bodied, incredibly elegant, and yet always with intensity and length, drink it over the coming 7-8 years.” (04/2018)

“A co-fermented blend of 54% Grenache, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Syrah, the 2015 La Rata offers up a complex and characterful bouquet of orange rind, sweet garrigue, tobacco, cherries, strawberries and balsam bough. On the palate, it's full-bodied, supple and savory, with an expansive attack that segues into a saline, fine-grained mid-palate. As readers will likely know, La Rata is a label made by Elizabeth Bourcier, Christophe Baron's assistant winemaker. Sadly, only 136 cases of this compelling red were produced. (WK)” (06/2018)

“Velvety, rich and impeccably built, with expressive raspberry, smoky peppered meat and orange zest flavors that take on depth toward polished tannins. Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. (TF)” (07/2018)

“Good medium red. Inviting, complex aromas of raspberry, orange zest and musky brown spices. Precise on entry, then focused and energetic in the middle palate, with its raspberry fruit complemented by leather and earth notes. Very suave, laid-back wine with superb finesse of grain, a fine dusting of tannins and terrific persistence. As she did with the 2014, winemaker Elizabeth Bourcier added a bit of Syrah to this '15 'for backbone and shoulders.' She told me that this blend is her 'Priorat style.' (ST)” (11/2018)

“The 2016 La Rata checks in as a blend of 59% Grenache, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Syrah. Reminding me of a Grand Cru Burgundy with its thrilling tart cherry, spring flowers, forest floor, and smoked meat aromas and flavors, it’s medium-bodied, ultra-pure, seamless, and just gorgeously polished and silky. This was fermented with 60% stems and brought up in a mix of neutral demi-muids and stainless steel.” (04/2019)

“Currently unavailable, the 2016 La Rata, a blend of Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, has an elegant, floral Grenache-dominated nose with a red-fruited core, red spices and mineral tension that is genuinely focused. A semi-carbonic feeling adds to the freshness that comes out on the nose and palate. The Cabernet begins to speak on the palate with its structure, adding a supporting lift to the backbone to prop up the expression, while the finish is filled in with touches of Syrah's subtle spice tones. It's seductively beautiful, with an elegant but big-shouldered finish. (AM) 95+” (12/2019)

“This wine is a blend of Grenache (59%), Cabernet Sauvignon (31%) and Syrah. The aromas leap out of the glass, with notes of funk, ash, soot, potpourri, coarsely ground black pepper and peat. A panoply of rich fruit, savory and floral flavors follow, continuing seamlessly through the near-endless flower- and smoked meat-filled finish. It's a wine that commands attention, showing depth, complexity and intensity but also grace and detail. It's hard to keep your hands off it now, but cellaring will be rewarded. (SS)” (10/2019)

“Intense, grenache flowers and red fruit lead the nose with some iron-like, cabernet influence, as well as cassis. The palate is more about the cabernet and syrah with a spine of structure, carrying still quite lacy, red and blue fruit. Quite unique. A blend of 59% grenache, 31% cabernet sauvignon and 10% syrah. Very drinkable with such pure flavors.” (04/2019)

“Bright medium red. Enticing floral lift to the aromas of wild strawberry and cherry. Silky and broad but not especially thick, conveying terrific inner-mouth energy to its flavors of strawberry, cherry, dusty herbs and persimmon. Hints of flinty minerality and spices contribute to the wine's light touch. With superb balance and noteworthy complexity, this intriguing blend (winemaker Elizabeth Bourcier has always named Daphne Glorian's Clos Erasmus Priorato as her model) finishes savory, quite dry and very fresh, with a fine dusting of tannins and an emerging note of blood orange. Very fine. (ST)” (12/2019)

“Plump with personality yet effortlessly complex, offering floral cherry and stony iron aromas paired with pepper and bacon flavors that glide toward refined tannins. Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. (TF)” (07/2019)