2019 Bella Vista Vineyard “Dominic Estate Red” - Piazza Family Wines

Juicy raspberry, sweet basil, dried sour cherry. Boysenberry preserves, ground nutmeg, mixed currants. A delightfully pretty and poised procession of cranberry compote, blueberry, and pomegranate prances with elegant and expressive charm while notes of rosemary, mint leaf, tobacco, and thyme playfully impart a compelling range of fresh herbal flair. Wafts of cinnamon and clove provide glimpses of delicate baking spices that dance gently amongst lifted floral tones of rose petal, lavender, and violet. Hints of espresso and shaved chocolate playfully reveal bits of understated opulence that intertwine flawlessly with earthy suggestions of sandy soil, limestone, and stoney minerality. Impressively bright, fresh, and balanced on the palate while still containing admirable depth and complexity; exhibiting a classically-styled and crunchy presentation that broadens and fills out significantly with air. Medium bodied with elevated tannin backed by juicy acidity. This 2019 Bella Vista Vineyard "Dominic Estate Red" by Piazza Family Wines is a spirited and serious red from Santa Barbara's Ballard Canyon.

First used in the 1980's as a phrase to describe red wines made in Tuscany using both international and indigenous grape varieties, a Super Tuscan is a prolific and critically-acclaimed wine style that is being emulated even in new world regions like California. This bottling, crafted by Piazza Family Wines using a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvingnon/25% Montepulciano/25% Sangiovese grown in their estate vineyard in Ballard Canyon, beautifully showcases the natural propensity for this unlikely combination of grapes to make absolutely outstanding wine. This playfully radiates a juicy and elegant red and dark-fruited core complimented by fresh herbal notes, bright florals, pretty oak tones, and intriguing earthiness. Although relatively lean and low in alcohol at just 12.9% ABV this still boasts excellent concentration and depth, and should increase even further in complexity with additional bottle age. Superb.