The 2006 Syrah Henri comes across as incredibly primary and vibrant in its dark fruit, sweet spices and subtle French oak. To be sure, this is a very cool, minty style of Syrah, yet the wine offers notable purity in a finessed, refined style. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2016.
I was very impressed with the wines I tasted from Anselmet, a small estate located in the Valle d’Aosta, one of Italy’s most rugged regions. The high-end reds in particular are of note. Anselmet favors small French barrels for their top reds, but the wines have so much stuffing the oak is barely perceptible.
Importer: Small Vineyards, Seattle, WA; tel. (206) 933-6767