2005 Tenimenti d'Alessandro Syrah Cortona

• By Antonio Galloni
  Central Tuscany 2003 and 2004: A Tale of Two Vintages? (June 2007), (See more on Vinous...)

  (Tenimenti Luigi D'alessandro Syrah) Login and sign up and see review text.

Garagiste

• By Jon Rimmerman
  8/2/2007, (See more on Garagiste...)

  (Cortona Syrah d' Alessandro) Syrah Dear Friends, This is going to be about as popular a wine as I’ve come across. If you enjoy Northern Rhone Syrah, Victorian Shiraz or even the finer renditions of Central Coast Syrah this wine will be your new Tuesday night wake up call. Seven or eight years ago, Massimo d’Alessandro (the owner and creator of Podere Il Bosco, Italy's only true first growth of Syrah) was in the audience when I gave a lecture and demonstration (in Tuscany of all places - at the restaurant Arnolfo) of the best Shiraz produced in Australia. Some of the most famous vintners came from all over Italy (Elisabetta Foradori, Sebastiano from Querciabella, the Fontodi contingent, etc) as they had never tasted wines like Run Rig or Three Rivers. While all in attendance were shocked by the quality level, the producer that paid the most attention was a little known Syrah enthusiast - a professor from Rome, Massimo d’Alessandro. He knew that a parcel of land he had just acquired near Cortona would one day produce a Syrah to rival what he believed was the world’s best - Guigal’s La Mouline. This exposure to Shiraz only added brimstone to a smoldering fire as he quickly realized there was magic in Australian Shiraz that could not be duplicated in Europe - yet. What if he could combine the best of Cote Rotie with the best of Australia? So, he listened tasted and became inspired... That is all history. D’Alessandro’s Podere Il Bosco has gone on to be one of Italy's most decorated and highly scored wines not only in Europe but in the US (if I remember, the current vintage 2003 received a 94 or 95 from the Wine Spectator and it’s a shadow of the potential of the 2004). Multiple Tre Bicchieri’s and other decorations have made Il Bosco a wine that most collector’s in Italy buy sight unseen. All of this brings us to today’s offer... What happens when the vintage is so good, D’Alessandro has too much Syrah available for the Il Bosco (not wanting to ramp up production to an absurd number)? He makes a wine called the Cortona Syrah d’ Alessandro and charges half price. Massimo will tell you that Shiraz demonstration years ago at Arnolfo inspired him to make a great terroir-inspired Syrah from Italian terra firma that would reflect the best of what the Australian’s were up to but at a price that would inspire consumption by consumers - Jancis Robinson is a believer and so am I. The 2005 Cortona Syrah is just what the doctor ordered on a night when you are feeling like the stars need help with their alignment. It will put you and your mood into orbit as the tarrif is almost ridiculous for the level of quality - I wouldn’t be surprised if the guzzling quotient hit record levels with this one. Hardly exported, this wine is quite rare and very little is coming to the US - take advantage while we have an open window. We have an exceptional price on this item, about the same as in Italy. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for crazy price/value and as a fitting conclusion to a story I once played a part in. ONE SHIPMENT ONLY directly from the source with perfect provenance: 2005 Cortona Syrah d’Alessandro (Luigi d’Alessandro) Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA Italy7770