The 2009 Scrio (Syrah) is a dark, brooding wine layered with the essence of smoke, tar, graphite, plums and blackberries. Firm tannins convey serious structure in this full-bodied, intense wine. Today the oak is a bit dominant, although the 2009 has an attractive sense of underlying minerality. At the same time, the 2009 lacks any sense of varietal expression and is also quite distant from previous years in terms of its personality. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2022. I tasted Le Macchiole’s 2009s several times, all with the same results. The 2009 vintage was a difficult one in Maremma because of the hot summer. All of Le Macchiole’s top wines are single-varietal bottlings, which means there is not much that can be done in the cellar to adjust blends, something so many other wineries are able to do in challenging vintages. Overall, the 2009s don’t reach the heights that are customary at Le Macchiole. Importer: Domaine Select, New York, NY; tel. (212) 279-0799