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Two parcels of Syrah, one 20 years old on sandy soil, one planted as bush vines at 240 m on rocky soil. Fermented in concrete and aged in a mix of old tonneaux, porcelain Clayver and ceramic amphorae. Vibrant dark-red fruit. More terroir than variety, though there's a light peppery note. Scented, slightly herbal but fully ripe. More obviously Syrah on the palate in the dry, firm, tannins – more savoury. (JH)
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Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
100% Syrah, 30 days on skins in steel and concrete, aged in tonneaux. Deep crimson. Peppery black fruit. Dark, spiced and savoury. Very fine tannins, lots of tension and freshness and really too young to drink now, though perhaps you could with something meaty. Long and mouth-watering. (JH)
The 2019 Scrio (Syrah) is a wine of remarkable precision that has little, if anything, in common with previous vintages. Understated and gracious, with compelling aromatic presence, the 2019 is all class, all refinement. Bright red-fleshed fruit, spice and subtle earthy notes open nicely. The 2019 is such a gorgeous wine done in a style that emphasizes freshness and a much more ethereal expression of Syrah than was the norm some years ago. I can’t wait to see how it ages. (Originally Published in March 2022)
The Le Macchiole 2019 Scrio benefits from reductive winemaking that is intended to lock in the natural fragrances and elegance of this versatile grape. It is fermented in stainless steel and cement and is partially aged in more oxygen-prone tonneaux. The rest goes into truncated cement vat and ceramic vessels. With Le Macchiole, you don't get a flabby over-extracted Syrah; instead, you get a polished and extremely elegant wine with a tight (trim but not lean) mouthfeel and beautifully integrated tannins. Only 3,800 bottles were made, and in case you were wondering, the suggested tasting order of Cinzia Merli's three IGT wines is Paleo, Scrio and then Messorio.