2019 Estate Bella Vista Vineyard Syrah - Piazza Family Wines

Massively dense yet still edgy eruptions of wild mulberry, tart blueberry, barely-ripe dark cherry, black currant, and licorice lead a concentrated and incredibly tightly-wound display brimming with riveting rugged and savory notes of charcoal, worn leather, and cured meat. Flashes of black pepper, anise, and cumin provide intriguing bursts of spice that dance above irresistible organic tones of forest floor and tree bark. Wafts of wild lavender and fresh violet gently impart flutters of pretty floral character while hints of sage, coriander, and thyme contribute lingering flecks of herbal flair. Brilliantly pretty yet still quite feral on the palate with nice ferocity and drive to compliment its remarkable balance; exhibiting an authentic, age-worthy, and terroir expressive display that is delicately powerful and driven by non-fruit complexity. Medium bodied with elevated tannin backed by lively acidity. This 2019 Estate Bella Vista Vineyard Syrah by Piazza Family Wines is an energetic and exhilarating red from Santa Barbara County's Ballard Canyon. 

Although Syrah is capable of producing massively rich, weighty, and powerful wine when grown in the warmer reaches of California's Central Coast, the cooling ocean breezes that drift into Ballard Canyon daily help shape an expression of Syrah that possesses incredible depth balanced by intense energy. This bottling, crafted by Piazza Family Wines using Syrah sourced from their estate vineyard in Ballard Canyon, is an outstanding example of the collision of extraction and elegance that makes this region one of the greatest terroirs in California for Syrah. This effortlessly spills layer after layer of tart and tense dark fruits that remain lively despite their density, and it backs them with savory meaty tones, peppery spices, wild herbs, and pretty floral charm. Although delicious today this is still exceedingly tense and youthful, and will likely require another 5-10 years to reach its drinking peak. Exceptional.