A sangiovese-merlot blend. The first vintage of this wine and a stunning debut; one of central Italy best wines in 1997. Impenetrable dark ruby color, menacingly blackish. Powerhouse nose of sweet and succulent fruit, vanilla, chocolate, and wood spices. Very firm in structure but opulent as well. Superbly concentrated and unflagging by any standard. A wine that invades and seduces the mouth.

Yes, as you may have guessed, this 79-acre estate is owned by a member of the luxury car manufacturer. Made with Riccardo Cotarella's consultation, this 1997 is a blend of roughly equal portions of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Sangiovese. Picked at high sugars, vinified dry, aged 12 months in new French oak, and bottled with neither fining nor filtration, it is a tour de force in wine-making. Unbelievable concentration combined with uncanny balance and symmetry, as well as a staggering bouquet, flavor depth, and length, make for one of the most extraordinary wine tasting experiences of 1999. The color is a saturated purple. Bursting with black fruits, spice, minerals, and character, this is a prodigious, fabulously intense wine that must be tasted to be believed. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2020.