The 2001 Scrio, 100% Syrah, with an expressive and expansive nose of blackberry fruit, cured meat, mint, and vanilla, is equally important on the palate, round and concentrated and with a warm, dense, and substantial finish. Drink: 2006-2018. Importer: Domaine Select, New York, NY; tel. (212) 279-0799

In top vintages the estate’s Scrio makes a case for itself as Italy’s finest Syrah. The 2001 was utterly irresistible. It presented a seductive array of dark cherries, plums, mint, minerals and spices with extraordinary length and purity of expression, closing with a long, resonating finish. Though rich and concentrated it also came across as remarkably light on its feet.