2005 Suisassi

The 2005 Suisassi (Syrah) was fermented and aged entirely in 225-liter French oak barrels (70% new), which D’Attoma likes to use for Syrah to give the wine more oxygen during fermentation which he believes softens the texture, sweetens the tannins and reduces the gamey qualities the variety can sometimes yield. This full-bodied, ample Syrah reveals enticing aromas and flavors of roasted coffee beans, spices, plums, earthiness, game and minerals with notable complexity and structure. It is a beautiful, elegant wine made all the more notable by the difficult vintage. In short, this is a terrific effort from Duemani. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2017. Trailblazing oenologist Luca d’Attoma is probably most well-known to readers for the wines he made at Tua Rita and the wines he continues to make at Le Macchiole, two of Bolgheri’s leading estates. In 2001 D’Attoma and his partner Elena Celli purchased several hectares of land in Riparbella, located in the northern reaches of Maremma. The seven hectares of hillside vineyards, which lie adjacent to Castello del Terriccio on their eastern border, are densely planted and farmed biodynamically. I have been following Duemani for several vintages and these are the first wines where the age of the vines and the winemaking philosophy have begun to yield significant results. Duemani is a very young property, and there is a lot to look forward to here. Importer: Angels’ Share Wine, Brooklyn, NY; tel. (917) 687-4848