Recanati Petit Syrah Reserva 2021

Recanati is a boutique winery founded in 2000, part of the modern revival of quality winemaking in Israel. Its fruit comes from the Galilee in the north of the country, a region whose altitude and cooler nights set it apart from the warmer coastal plains and let dark-skinned grapes ripen slowly while keeping their acidity. Petite Sirah, a thick-skinned variety prone to deep colour and high tannin, thrives in this warm but elevated climate, producing a wine of real density and spice. After fermentation the wine spends twelve months in French oak barrels, where slow oxygen exchange through the wood softens the grape's robust tannins and adds vanilla, sweet spice and a measure of structure. The colour is dense and inky. The nose shows black plum, ground pepper and dark chocolate over a smoky, clove-edged oak character. The palate is full and concentrated, with ripe dark fruit, firm tannin and a long, savoury finish. Serve at 17 to 18 degrees and decant an hour before the meal. It has the weight for grilled red meat and spiced dishes.