http://winerasa.com The essence of the grape Sat, 17 Jul 2010 12:47:59 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Our first Winemaker Dinner! 56 Degrees, a great wine store in Bernardsville, NJ, will be hosting a 4-course dinner with each course paired with one of our wines. The dinner is on July 29 at The Pluckemin Inn in Bedminster, NJ. Please join us.  http://www.wineaccess.com/store/56degrees/newsletter.html?newsletter_id=205201 http://winerasa.com/?p=248 We just received our first perfect rating. Rand Sealey, in his online publication http://reviewofwashingtonwines.com, has given our 2007 Principia Reserve Syrah a perfect score of 20/20 points (only his second perfect score). Here is his review: Named after Newton’s seminal work on the physical world, this is a faultless, compelling Syrah. It displays a ... http://winerasa.com/?p=247 Founded in 2006, the Seattle Wine Awards has quickly become the most important wine recognition program in the country for Washington wines. The wines are judged single blind – price ranges and varietals are known but the winery is not. The Grand Awards Tasting is a great opportunity to taste these ... http://winerasa.com/?p=246 In early April, I spoke with someone interested in buying a vineyard. In order to get a bank loan, he needed to submit a business plan. “For a vineyard property?” I asked. We didn’t submit a business plan when we bought our property in 2007. But things are different now, ... http://winerasa.com/?p=245 Yesterday was Karly’s birthday. My little girl turned eight. Friday night she had a party with fifteen little girls running around in our house. Ten of those girls slept over. Those of you who have daughters know what a force of nature these little girls can be. I don’t know ... http://winerasa.com/?p=244 About a year ago, I had a highly rated Rioja and I remember thinking “what is Rioja about this wine?” The wine could have been from anywhere – lots of fruit and new oak, low acidity and high pH. Sound familiar? Any kind of “Riojaness” was striped in favor of ... http://winerasa.com/?p=243 Trio Infernal are the talented winemakers Laurent Combier, Jen Michel Gerin, and Peter Fischer making wine in Priorat. This wine is Carignan. I really wanted to like this wine but the acids were just too high giving the wine sour notes that I couldn’t get past. It’s too bad because this ... http://winerasa.com/?p=242 This past week I had a trio of Italian reds that I really enjoyed. Barolo’s are best when they have some age to them. I try not to drink a Barolo that’s younger than 15 years. But recently, I was recommended the 2003 Veglio Michelino e Figlio. For $28, this just ... http://winerasa.com/?p=241 Every spring it’s the same story – the weather starts getting warmer, we start grilling and I get in the mood for a nice rosé. I drink one, I’m unimpressed, and don’t drink another one until next spring. The idea of a rosé, it seems to me, is better than ... http://winerasa.com/?p=240 Rand Sealey reviewed our 2008 Vox Populi and the 2009 DuBrul Cab blend in his monthly online publication Review of Washington Wines (http://reviewofwashingtonwines.com). The Vox Populi is available on a pre-release discount of 20% ($36) through direct order only (pinto@rasavineyards.com) until May. The DuBrul Cab/Merlot blend will be available later in ... http://winerasa.com/?p=239