2003 Dei Sancta Catherina Tuscany IGT 13.0%
An unlikely blend of Prugnolo, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. The nose reeks of barriques and cheroots, smothering the adjacent plums and cloves. Acidity is surprisingly strong, and there's good weight, tannic grip, decent acid/sweet balance, measured alcohol and a pleasant bitter finish. Competition with tomato sauce keeps acidity higher in Italy, ceteris paribus. Strangely, there's little oak flavor, so olives, coffee and molasses are allowed in. If not for the offputting barrique aroma, this might be a decent (though varietally confused) effort for a supertuscan and for the vintage. Why am I drinking this? I enjoyed the 2001 early in the decade and bought a case of the 2003s before I understood the nature of the vintage. Now I'm stuck with trying a bottle every other year, and won't burden your tender souls with future reports, now that this (mostly note to self) is in the archives.