Winemaker Notes

This is the first vintage of the Perfect Union that has had more than 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, all previous vintages had Cabernet Sauvignon percentages ranging from 40-46%. This one comes in at 64% Cabernet Sauvignon. As you know, Pinto and I blend for the best wine possible, percentages be damned! For this wine we created and blind tasted over 125 different wines. We think that you will be very pleased with the results.

The overall impression of the 2015 Perfect Union is the unique combination of when power meets elegance. Vibrant deep ruby-purple in color with complex aromatics of cassis, gravel, pencil lead, cedar, tobacco, and dried sage.  The wine is full bodied with high flavor density, crisp acidity, and sinewy tannins. The palate is simply stunning: cassis, ripe blackberry, ripe blueberry, dried sage, mint, espresso, lead pencil, aged cigar tobacco, leather, and gravel. Properly cellared, this wine should reach maturity in 10-12 years and will gracefully evolve for 20+ years.

Technical Details

64% Cabernet Sauvignon (Firethorn, DuBrul, Kiona, Dionysus, XL), 18% Merlot (Dionysus, Firethorn, Bacchus), 18% Cabernet Franc (Firethorn, Weinbau)

The wine had a pre-fermentation maceration average of 153 hours and a post-fermentation maceration average of 245 hours. 100% Native fermentation. The wine was punched down by hand 3 times each day during macerations and fermentation. All individual wine components, including free run and press fractions, were kept separate until final blending. The oak profile is 70% new French oak puncheons (predominantly from Troncais and Alliers) and 30% neutral French oak. The wine achieved its sparkly brilliance from 4 judicious rackings, no fining agents were employed. The wine was very lightly filtered to capture any remaining lees.

Reviews

The 2015 Rasa Vineyards ‘A Perfect Union’ Red Wine was sourced rom the DuBrul, XL, Kiona, Dionysus, Weinbau and Firethorn Vineyards. The wine opens with sagebrush and black tea with licorice and blackberry aromas that all meld together in the glass. The balance here is incredible with wonderful black tea, milk chocolate, blackberry compote and herbal undertones. This has wonderful balance and weight that impresses. With racy acidity and medium tannins, this will have an exceedingly long life in the cellar. Drink 2019-2035. - 94 Points, Owen Bargreen, International Wine Report

Cases Produced: 135