TN: ‘03 Le Caselle Syrah “Tuttosole” (Toscana)

Very darkly colored, with a subdued nose vaguely suggestive of bramble. Supple entry quickly gives way to a firm palate, medium body, and grippy tannins. The blackberry fruit core seems tight and unrevealing, but gives promise of more generous days to come. About $28 retail.

Not bad, but not suggestive of the gorgeous syrahs of the Rhone, which I love. As with many other Italian (esp. Tuscan) syrahs, this comes off as chunky and monotlithic, devoid of nuance. I’d thought it was an age issue, and may still be, but recent tastings of 99 Fontodi Case Via and 01 D’Alessandro Il Bosco suggest that they either don’t develop or do so very slowly. We’ll see!