Syrah 'Cuculaia' Fabrizio Dionisio 2019
Perfect to give as a giftThe "Cuculaia" by Fabrizio Dionisio is a benchmark for Syrah in Cortona: it is a robust and opulent red dressed in an impenetrable ruby red with significant violet reflections and explodes on the nose with notes of red currants and raspberry jam with intense roasting notes, continuing to express aromas of Mediterranean scrub and whole black pepper with hints of smokiness. On the palate, it is rich and dense, dynamic in evolution and accompanied by adequate freshness that carries with it well-smoothed tannins.
The Cuculaia from the winery of Fabrizio Dionisio represents a rich and imposing interpretation of the Syrah grape in Cortona, in the province of Arezzo, where this vine has found the place of highest election in Italy regarding finesse and elegance, recalling in its organoleptic traits the renowned expressions from across the Alps, on the Rhône coast. It is indeed thought that this grape variety is a hereditary legacy obtained from the French occupation in Tuscany, which lasted for a few decades towards the end of the 18th century, and that over the centuries it has easily adapted and become part of the small idyll that is the Corton terroir.
The Cuculaia of Fabrizio Dionisio, in particular, is crafted in such a way as to enhance the semi-aromatic and phenolic properties that distinguish Syrah, resulting in a bottled expression that differs for concentration and substance. The grapes are destemmed and undergo an extremely gentle pressing, aimed at preserving the integrity of the berries, and an alcoholic fermentation is carried out by indigenous yeasts. The materiality of this label derives from the maceration that the pomace undergoes within the must for as long as 4 weeks, before being transferred to French oak barriques of different productions (Allier, Nevers, Troncais) where it will rest for about 36 months.
On tasting, the Cuculaia of Fabrizio Dionisio presents itself with a full ruby red color with evident violet nuances. It expresses intense fruity sensations of red currants and raspberries in jam on the nose, framed by elegant notes of roasting, Mediterranean scrub, and a distinct aroma of black peppercorns, typical of Syrah. On the palate, it reveals richness and body, with a dynamically progressive array of sensory perceptions that divide between intense and comforting softness and smoky sensations, concluding in perfect balance, given by adequate freshness accompanied by well-polished tannins, making this bottle a small masterpiece.