Antinori - La Braccesca : Bramasole Syrah 2021

Tasting characteristics and advice for Antinori - La Braccesca’s Bramasole Syrah 2021

Tasting

Appearance

The wine displays a deep red color with vibrant purple highlights.

Nose

Complex and fresh, the nose opens with aromas of cherries, blackberries, and plums. These fruity notes are complemented by subtle hints of pepper and licorice. With aeration, the bouquet reveals nuances of vanilla, cocoa powder, and toasted notes, alongside floral impressions of violet, oregano, and tobacco.

Palate

On the palate, the wine is full and generous, with a fine fruity expression of plums, blackberries, and juicy cherries. The palate is enlivened by peppery, spicy notes that bring energy and complexity. The texture is smooth and supple, carried by refined, well-integrated tannins. Balanced acidity lends the whole an elegant structure. The long, persistent finish lingers on delicate notes of licorice and ripe fruit, enhanced by hints of vanilla and violet.

Food and wine pairings

This Bramasole Syrah 2021 is an ideal match for grilled or roasted red meats, game, and spiced meat dishes. It also pairs beautifully with aged cheeses with pronounced character. Mediterranean dishes featuring tomatoes and meats, as well as saffron risottos, also make excellent pairings.

Serving and cellaring

Bramasole Syrah 2021 benefits from being decanted one hour before serving to fully reveal its aromatic complexity. It is best enjoyed at a temperature between 16 and 18°C. This wine can be enjoyed now, but it also has cellaring potential through around 2034.

An exceptional Tuscan Syrah from the Cortona terroir

The estate

Acquired in 1990 by the Marchesi Antinori family, La Braccesca covers 508 hectares, including 334 hectares of vineyards in Tuscany, on the border between Montepulciano and Cortona. Under the leadership of President Albiera Antinori and Renzo Cotarella, CEO and head winemaker for forty years, the estate expresses a dual identity: the Montepulciano parcels (103 hectares) produce traditional Vino Nobile DOCG based on sangiovese (prugnolo gentile), while the Cortona terroir (237 hectares) is primarily dedicated to Syrah, the grape variety that has established the estate’s international reputation. This territorial duality, combined with precision viticulture and a scrupulous respect for terroirs, places La Braccesca among Tuscany’s most highly regarded estates.

The vineyard

Bramasole comes from the sunniest parcels of the Cortona vineyard, located between 290 and 300 meters above sea level. The soils, composed of clay and silt, provide optimal drainage and balanced water retention—ideal conditions for Syrah to thrive. The vineyard benefits from the moderating influence of nearby Lake Trasimeno, which regulates temperatures and promotes optimal grape ripening. The Mediterranean climate, marked by hot, dry summers and rainfall concentrated in spring and fall, enables a natural concentration of aromas and phenolic compounds.

The vintage

Winter and spring 2021 in Tuscany were mild with little rainfall, allowing for budbreak in late April that was slightly later than usual. May brought warmth and generous sunshine, encouraging even flowering. Summer was hot and dry, punctuated by a hailstorm in late June which, while reducing yields, concentrated the quality of the remaining grapes. August offered ideal conditions with excellent day-night temperature swings, allowing for optimal phenolic ripening. Harvest took place on September 10, when the grapes showed a perfect balance of ripeness, structure, and freshness.

Winemaking and aging

After hand-harvesting, the Bramasole Syrah 2021 grapes were destemmed and gently crushed before being transferred to temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks. Alcoholic fermentation took place at a controlled temperature not exceeding 28°C. Maceration, lasting around 15 days, was carried out using gentle mechanical techniques aimed at extracting aromatic compounds while developing a supple tannic structure. After fermentation, the wine was transferred to new and second-use French oak barrels for malolactic fermentation. Aging continued in barrels for 12 to 16 months before bottling in spring 2024.

Grape variety

100% Syrah.