The 2006 Syrah is a big, massive effort loaded with dark fruit, tar, licorice, earthiness and game. This is a decidedly powerful, intense wine that needs some time in the glass for the varietal notes to fully emerge. Today the wine remains very young, and the oak needs some time to integrate, but all of the ingredients are there for the 2006 Syrah to develop into a splendid wine in a few years’ time. The wine’s balance is impeccable. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2026. My visit to Fontodi last year was fascinating, as I spent several hours with proprietor Giovanni Manetti and oenologist Franco Bernabei tasting through multiple barrels of all of the estate’s wines. Importer: Vinifera Imports, Ronkonkoma, NY; tel. (631) 467-5907