Tua Rita Syrah Per Sempre 2017

This is one of my happy wines from Italy. You take three things—Syrah, sunshine and Tuscany—and fit them magically together to create the 2017 Syrah Per Sempre. If I am happy with this wine, so is its creator Stefano Frascolla, who was downright giggly as he presented it to me. This vintage puts it all out there and misses nothing. There is dark, exuberant, rich black fruit followed by carefully measured concentration and velvety richness. Both the 2003 and 2009 vintages were similarly hot years, but those editions showed a hardness or roughness, especially within the first few years of their release. This wine is quite the opposite, showing seamless transitions with layers of spicy softness, velvety richness and supple fruit definition. This wine is a true beauty with a more immediate style that will reward those who chose to drink it in the medium term, or those who prefer to wait longer. This is also one of the highest scores I have awarded to any Italian wine from the 2017 vintage thus far. Bravo! - Monica Larner. 

Stefano Frascolla feels this is the best Per Sempre they have made so far. They harvested some of the fruit five days early, but 15% was harvested later than normal. The nose is restrained and youthful but with blackcurrant, lavender, beeswax and wild herb aromas in the background. It's very rich on the palate, smooth-textured with dark chocolate and blackberry flavours and a long, juicy, mouthwatering finish. This is a wonderful slinky, silky Syrah, world-class and certainly Tuscan Syrah at its best!

Wonderful aromas of blueberries, black olives, dried meat, and dried flowers. Iodine and peppercorn. Full body, firm and chewy tannins, yet always polished and refined. Shows a compact and silky texture. Needs two or three years to come around.