Fabrizio Dionisio - il Castagno Syrah 2015

Fabrizio Dionisio - il Castagno Syrah 2015 (88 TSW)
Last year I met Alessandra Dionisio on the Vinitaly fair. She was so kind to send me this sample.

"Il Castagno" is the name of the estate where it was made 100% Syrah. A modest property of some fifteen hectares, with a vineyard and an olive grove, set in the hills overlooking the town of Cortona. The estate consists of two houses, located on the rolling hills of Cortona. The vineyards lie on gently sloping slopes, surrounded by a classic Tuscan landscape of forests, olive trees, wheat fields, sunflowers and tobacco plants on one side and medieval villages, country houses, churches and remains of the Etruscans on the other. The area is located on a high plateau between the Val d'Orcia and the steep slopes of the Casentino and of the upper Tiber valley.

About the wine:

Made exclusively from Syrah from vineyards with relatively low yields, making the concentrate more intense and the taste also increased. During the harvest, the grapes are placed in crates that hold no more than 15 kg of grapes. After the harvest, it is gently crushed and destemmed and then slowly vinified for 15 days. The maceration with the skins takes at least 3 weeks longer. After the first fermentation, a spontaneous malolactic fermentation of only the free juice of the wine follows. Finally, the wine is aged for 12 months in French oak barrels.

My tasting notes:

In the glass dark red color. Almost black.
In the nose aromas of dark plums, cherries and blackberries with hints of chocolate, coffee and spices, with nice hints of tobacco and tar.
On the palate powerful, yet harmonious and balanced, great texture, softness and elegance, layered with complexity.
In the aftertaste medium tannins and a nice long finish.