Rank #49 on 2009 Top 100; Intense licorice blackberry mineral sandalwood and flowers on the nose. Full-bodied with silky superpolished tannins that turn to a butterscotch toffee berry and chocolate aftertaste which has just a hint of meat and spice. Tannic and powerful yet balanced. Best after 2012. 1335 cases made.

The estate's 2006 Cortona Syrah Il Bosco is a beautiful deep wine endowed with notable clarity and precision. Blueberry jam spices earthiness and subtle toasted oak emerge gently from this articulate elegant wine. Today the 2006 Il Bosco is still quite vibrant but in time it should acquire greater varietal complexity. It is a terrific effort from D'Alessandro. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2021. This is a beautiful set of new wines from D'Alessandro a venerable property in Cortona that seems to be finding an inspired level of quality under its new ownership and the winemaking team led by Luca Currado of Vietti. These 2006s were already in barrel when Currado arrived. One of the first things he did was take the wines out of barrel earlier than had been the case in previous years. Currado has purchased large casks from Gamba the renowned Piedmontese cooper for upcoming vintages. Needless to say it will be quite fascinating to see the direction these wines take in coming years. - Antonio Galloni