Isole e Olena Syrah 2019

The delightful 2019 Syrah Collezione Privata opens to dark fruit, spice, pepper, crushed stone, blue flower and milky blueberry. The wine handles its oak nicely (with 18 months in barrique, including French oak and a tiny percentage of American oak, and one-third new barrel). It delivers seamless integration, especially in this concentrated vintage, pitting freshness against fruit weight and primary intensity. Its texture is soft and creamy. But the high 15% alcohol is unfortunate. With 8,700 bottles produced, this is a very special Syrah with an Italian passport.

By Monica Larner February 2023