
2015 Va Piano "Black Label - Portteus Vineyard" Rattlesnake Hills Syrah
90
Vinous
Review Date: 06/2017Bright red-ruby. Slightly liqueur-like raspberry on the nose, with complicating notes of dusty spices, coffee, menthol and charred oak. Surprisingly sweet on entry, then much more closed and gripping on the back half, where the wine's oak element currently clashes with its tannins (Wylie notes that he uses more aggressive oak here for a "more aggressive vineyard"). Slightly disjointed and rough in the early going and in need of some cellaring. These vines on ancient volcanic soil represent the second oldest Syrah block in Washington after Red Willow, according to Justin Wylie. 90+ (ST)
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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: United States
Type/Varietal: Shiraz/Syrah
SKU: #2000785

