Cantine Fina Syrah 2022

Cantine Fina, a family winery in western Sicily, makes this Syrah under the IGT Terre Siciliane, farmed with respect for the land. Syrah is Rhône in origin, its roots traced to the area around Shiraz in present-day Iran, and it has adapted readily to warmer regions across the world, Sicily among them. The wine spends twelve months in oak barrels followed by eight months in bottle before release. Sicily's hot, dry summers and abundant sunshine push Syrah towards ripe, dark-fruited concentration and higher alcohol, while cooler nights help retain the freshness and the black-pepper character the grape is known for. Time in oak softens the tannins through slow oxygen exchange and adds spice and a savoury depth, and the bottle ageing knits everything together. The wine is deep in colour, with aromas of ripe plum, dark berries and black pepper over smoke, liquorice and clove. The palate is full and warm, with firm but rounded tannins, a leathery savoury core and a long, spiced finish. Serve at 17 to 18 degrees, ideally decanted, with grilled and roasted red meats.