2023 TILTING AT WINDMILLS
WINEMAKER’S NOTES
Deep purple-ruby color with intensely perfumed aromatics: framboise, kirsch, black cherry, spice, vanilla, and minerals. Ripe lush tannins from the Grenache and Syrah and some slightly firmer tannins from the Cabernet Sauvignon interplay beautifully with the vibrant acidity and higher fruit expression. The palate is rich and expansive with dominant notes of framboise, kirsch, cassis jam, and blackberry. There are also secondary notes of anise, graphite, bacon fat, and roasted herbs. The finish is very long with notes of kirsch, scorched earth, and white pepper. Like previous vintages, this is a decadent mouthful of wine with refreshing acidity and great flavor delineation. It will not disappoint. Should reach maturity in 7-9 years and hold for 15+ years.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
The wine had a pre-fermentation maceration average of 132 hours and a post-fermentation maceration average of 110 hours. 100% Native fermentation. The wine was punched down by hand 2 times each day during macerations and fermentation. All individual wine components, including free run and press fractions, were kept separate until final blending. Elevage was 18 months in 40% new French oak and 60% neutral French oak. The wine achieved its sparkly brilliance from 3 judicious rackings, no fining agents were employed. The wine was very gently filtered using crossflow filtration. The alcohol is 15.2%, pH is 3.84 and the titratable acidity is 6.4 g/L.
CASES PRODUCED 125
VARIETALS 54% Grenache, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Syrah
APPELLATION Columbia Valley
REVIEWS
96 POINTS | MICHAEL ALBERTY, WINE ENTHUSIAST
EDITOR’S CHOICE
“This quixotic blend of 54% Grenache, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon and 23% Syrah leads with chocolate and cherry aromas reminiscent of a scoop of Cherry Garcia ice cream. Additional aromas include wet slate and a wee bit of nutmeg. The wine feels rich and smooth, with velvety tannins and bright acidity. Flavors of ripe blackberries, bitter almonds and a vanilla latte coat the palate.”
95 POINTS | OWEN BARGREEN
“The Priorat-inspired ‘Tilting At Windmills’ combines mostly Grenache (54%) with the remainder Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. On the nose this shows cedar, tar and red licorice with beautiful red florals. The palate is elegant, with terrific weight and underlying finesse. A totally unique wine that is showing beautifully now, watch this evolve over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2026-2038.”
95 POINTS | JEREMY YOUNG, INTERNATIONAL WINE REPORT
“The 2023 Rasa Vineyards Tilting at Windmills Red Wine from the Columbia Valley is composed of 54% Grenache, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 23% Syrah. Its dense purple-ruby hue sets the stage for an intoxicating bouquet of black raspberry, blue plum, crushed violets, and baking spices, underscored by graphite and wet stone. The palate is generous and layered with crunchy but well-rounded tannins. Flavors of cassis, boysenberry, and dark cherry interlace with accents of star anise, charred herbs, and smoked meat, giving the wine both depth and intrigue. A vibrant vein of acidity keeps the richness lifted, guiding it into a lengthy finish marked by spice and a mineral tone. 125 cases were produced.”
94 POINTS | ERIC GUIDO, VINOUS
“The 2023 Tilting at Windmills entices with a florist shop bouquet of geranium and rose petals, hints of dried strawberry and a dusting of cedary spice. It is juicy in style with crisp red and blue fruits cascading over a tactile core of minerality. Fresh acidity provides lift as the 2023 tapers off with gentle inner tension and a tart blackberry tinge.”
LABEL STORY
In January of 2014, we were tasting through our 2012 Grenache barrels in preparation for blending them with Syrah and Mourvedre. These three grapes have a natural affinity to each other. But some of the Grenache barrels were voicing their preference loud and clear: they wanted to be married with Cabernet Sauvignon. We decided to listen. We put aside what we were doing and spent the next few hours trying different blends that included Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon.
In the end, we made a fanciful blend of Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah. We named the wine Tilting at Windmills—a reference to Don Quixote. It became one of our fastest selling wines.
The experience was a reminder to always keep our minds open and listen. We never intended to make this blend and would not have if we followed our intended path.
We continue to listen to our Grenache and when it wants to be with Cabernet Sauvignon, we oblige. This wine is our seventh vintage of this compelling blend.