2016 Principia Reserve Syrah
Tasting notes
The 2016 Principia is ripe, powerful, and concentrated. Dense, dark purple color with bouquet of ripe blackberry, black plum, tar, bacon fat, smoked game, violet, smoldering incense, and garrigue. The palate is both powerful and graceful. Well delineated palate flavors of blackberry, huckleberry, bacon fat, black pepper, aged cigar tobacco, leather, garrigue, black olive, espresso, and dark chocolate. The exquisite finish resonates with savory notes of truffle, violet, bacon fat, and cigar tobacco. Perfectly balanced with slightly dusty tannins and lively acidity. This wine will continue to improve for the next 8-10 years and should drink well for the next 20+ years.
The wine had a pre-fermentation maceration of 155 hours and a post-fermentation maceration of 124 hours. The wine was punched down by hand 3 times each day during macerations and fermentation. All of the lots in the blend were fermented with native yeasts. Sixty percent whole clusters were used. The wine had an elevage of 30 months in French Oak. The oak profile is 30% new French oak (predominantly from Troncais and Alliers) and 70% neutral French oak. The wine achieved its sparkly brilliance from 3 judicious rackings, no fining agents were employed. The wine was very lightly filtered to capture any remaining lees.
| Vintage | 2016 |
| Varietal | 100% Syrah |
| Appellation | Walla Walla AVA |
| Acid | 6.1 g/L |
| PH | 3.79 |
| Alcohol | 14.70% |
| Volume | 750 ml |
| Cases Produced | 99 |
| Country of Origin | UNITED STATES |
| State of Origin | Washington |
2016 Rasa Vineyards Principia Reserve Syrah
Sourced from a core of old vine Bacchus, fruit with a touch coming from the Upland and SJR Vineyard, the 2016 ‘Principia Reserve’ is a barrel selection wine that saw extended barrel age before bottling. This was aged in 25% new French oak for 22 months before bottling and underwent 50% whole cluster fermentation.The nose is nearly intoxicating with its smoky and damp earth tones that combine with shades of black currant jelly and blackberry pie that all mingle in the glass. The palate is marvelously balanced, showing a silky texture and wonderful sense of mouthfeel. The mouth-watering acidity catches you off guard but in a good way. Fresh and vibrant, the weight here is also truly outstanding as this wine effortlessly glides across the mid-palate. This is Billo Naravane, MW, at his best. Drink 2020-2035- 96 Points, Owen Bargreen
