2019 Bella Vista Vineyard Grenache - Piazza Family Wines

Fresh cranberry, coastal sage, tart raspberry. Almost-ripe strawberry, forest floor, rhubarb purée. Delightfully fresh and youthful whirls of crisp red cherry, wild blueberry, and pomegranate highlight a deliciously juicy and crunchy fruit core playfully enhanced by subtle natural notes of pine needle, undergrowth, and bougainvillea. Hints of red carnations and hydrangeas gently emerge within soft layers of understated floral tones that delicately intertwine with intriguing herbal and spiced impressions of fresh thyme, anise, and white pepper. Flecks of sandy soil and tilled loam round out the display with a thread of pleasant earthiness that does not detract from the pure and vibrant fruit. Wonderfully ethereal, weightless, and delicate on the nose with a palate that is beautifully tart, lean, and lively; exhibiting an approachable and straightforward presentation that manages to remain engagingly complex as well as tremendously refreshing. Light in body with moderate tannin backed by bright acidity. This 2019 Bella Vista Vineyard Grenache by Piazza Family Wines is a remarkably fun and energetic red from Santa Barbara's Ballard Canyon.

Though California Grenache is often associated with densely concentrated and deep-fruited wines, many producers in the state's cooler climate areas are making wonderfully bright and fresh examples of this classic French variety. This bottling, crafted by Piazza Family Wines using Grenache sourced from their estate Bella Vista Vineyard in Ballard Canyon, showcases a temptingly juicy and delicate side of this unique and versatile grape. This wine whimsically bounds from the glass with tart yet nicely expressive red fruits complicated by mild earthiness, intriguing herbal charm, and ever-so-dainty floral notes. It is lean, restrained, and low in alcohol at just 12.8% ABV, and makes for a downright irresistible treat when served slightly chilled. Simply delicious.