1994 Isole e Olena Syrah Collezione de Marchi Toscana IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
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As mentioned briefly in tonights chat.
Colour is still a rich purple, though there is a touch of age at the edge. Still remarkably young looking for 12-13 years old. The nose mixes blackberries with wild mushrooms and a some (pleasant) barnyard aromas. Perhaps a little eucalyptus there as well. Plenty happening on the nose at least and the intensity is very impressive.
On the palate, the complexity continues, but the balance is also impressive. Tannins are soft and supple, with the acidity judged perfectly. Despite the intensity of flavours, this isn't a soupy wine, far from it. It's easy to drink and went well with roast stuffed pheasant, but on it's own as well. Interestingly the alcohol was shown as 12.5%, which goes to show what depth of flavour can be achieved at lower levels of alcohol (and from a 'lesser' year). On the offchance someone has a bottle of this remaining, you can drink it with (great) pleasure now, but there's no reason to suggest it wouldn't see the decade out with ease.
Time to gloat. Picked this up for (IIRC) about £10. A quick check on wine-searcher suggests that £25-30 is nearer the mark, but on this performance I'd pay that with pleasure.