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2016 Va Piano "Black Label - Les Collines Vineyard" Walla Walla Valley Syrah

2016 Va Piano "Black Label - Les Collines Vineyard" Walla Walla Valley Syrah

94JD
94JS
93RP
91VN

94

Jeb Dunnuck

Review Date: 04/2019

Inky purple-colored, the 2016 Syrah Les Collines (100% Syrah fermented with 50% stems and aged in 25% new French oak) is a classic wine from winemaker Justin Wylie. Blueberries, black pepper, scorched earth, crushed violets, and some gravelly mineral notes all flow to a medium to full-bodied, concentrated Syrah that has a beautiful texture, integrated acidity, and a deep, dense, primordial style. It's approachable today given its balance and purity, but I suspect it will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age. Winemaker Justin Wylie has pretty much knocked it out of the park with these latest 2016s and there are the finest set of releases I’ve tasted from Va Piano.

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Professional Reviews

94

James Suckling

Review Date: 04/2020
This is a very classy glass here with subtle dark fruit, dried meat, flowers and wet earth. Black pepper, too. Full body, firm and silky tannins and a long, flavorful finish. This is all about balance. Drink now or hold.

93

Wine Advocate

Review Date: 12/2019
The dark and brooding 2016 Syrah Black Label les Collines has intense dark fruit on the nose, with a tight core, expressive black peppercorn and delicate briar tones that float out of the glass. The full-bodied palate is rich, precise and focused, with a strict tannic structure. This wine is going to last a while and age well. I am a fan of the well-made les Coliines vineyard Syrah, and this is sure to please! The long finish lingers with smoked blackberries, black pepper and tones of olive. 400 cases made. (AM)

91

Vinous

Review Date: 11/2018
Bright ruby. Boysenberry, blackberry, licorice and pungent rocky minerality on the nose. Penetrating, fine-grained Syrah with terrific lift and supporting minerality to its dark berry flavors. A touch of sweetness is nicely countered by salinity. Finishes with substantial dusty tannins and excellent length. This suave but very primary wine will need time in bottle to display its full personality. (ST)

Notes

Va Piano’s story begins in 1999, when its 20-acre estate in Walla Walla Valley was first planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot—varieties that remain its core focus today. The winery’s production ethos centers on meticulous vineyard work: vertical shoot positioning, intensive hand-pruning, leaf-thinning, shoot-positioning, and cluster-thinning, all designed to achieve optimal sunlight and even ripening. Founder and winemaker Justin Wylie shaped Va Piano’s identity after studying in Florence, drawing inspiration from Tuscan architecture and the Italian proverb "Chi va piano, va sano e va lontano." (He who moves gently, moves safely and far.) Today, the estate produces small-lot Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and red blends, supplemented by limited Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Rosé.Va Piano Vineyards Roughly 70% of the vineyard’s fruit goes into Va Piano’s own wines, with the remainder sold to respected Walla Walla producers.

Product Details

Origin: Washington, United States

Type/Varietal: Shiraz/Syrah

SKU: #2000777