A rare look at Syrah from the cool Montalcino climate, the 2019 Sant'Antimo Fabius is packed tight with blackberry and black cherry along with spice, sweet tobacco and smoked bacon. There's a lot going on aromatically speaking, but the wine stays clear of the heavier black pepper or cured leather aromas that you often get in New World Syrah. I love the soft texture, freshness and tension that this extremely well-priced wine exhibits. Production is 13,000 bottles.

A pure expression of Syrah, the Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona 2016 Sant'Antimo Fabius is an impressive expression of the grape. Syrah always tends to show opulent richness and succulence, and although you certainly get that here, I'm also reminded of its Tuscan roots. It tends to be more compact and linear overall. This wine pulls in opposite directions, and that's what makes it most interesting. You will recognize those varietal characteristics for sure, but they are ultimately overridden by the wine's Tuscan identity. With 8,000 bottles made, this is terrific value.

Laced with cherry, strawberry and licorice flavors, this red is compact and almost chewy in texture, with a bright structure and a long, tobacco-tinged finish. Syrah. Drink now through 2020. 650 cases made, 400 cases imported.??–BS??Region: Italy / Sant'Antimo Select to Add

The 2009 Fabius is a bit of a mystery, since Syrah is a variety that generally does well in warmer years. The fruit is very much on the ripe side, with prominent notes of blackberry jam, licorice, spices and alcohol. At the same time, the tannins are surprisingly hard. Something isn’t quite right in the wine’s overall sense of balance. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2014. Paolo Bianchini’s 2007 Brunelli are quite a bit better than the 2006s. One of the recent evolutions at Ciacci has been Bianchini’s desire to make an entry-level Brunello that is more affordable than his wines have been in the past, hence a greater separation in terms of quality and price between the straight Brunello and the Pianrosso. The Brunelli undergo alcoholic and malolactic fermentation in steel, and are aged in cask. Importer: Indigenous Selections, Fort Lauderdale FL; tel. (954) 530 4021

A wine that shows lots of raisin fruit, with meat and mahogany character. You can really see the influence of the hot growing season. Round and ripe, with fruit-coated tannins. Best after 2011. 550 cases made, 210 cases imported.??–JS??Region: Italy / Sant'Antimo Select to Add