Dark and brooding, this powerful red is mellowing, with aromas of fading black cherry and plum, forest floor and leather. Its tannins are still pretty active, but there are ample ripe fruit and mineral notes. Think bistecca or wild boar stew. Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2032. 250 cases made, 40 cases imported.

Mid to deep ruby with orange tinges. Captivating nose of red fruit that is savoury and salty, rather than sweet, and with an undertow of liquorice. It may be Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated but this wine eclipses the variety entirely. A hint of pet shop. Velvety and savoury on the palate and with the tanginess of Sangiovese. Ends on soft, but gritty, tannins. Highly unusual and fascinating. Fruit flavours play second fiddle.

Vin Ruspo, from the Carmignano production zone near Prato in Tuscany, is one of Italy’s most complex styles of rosato. A blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Canaiolo and Cabernet Franc; deep orange appearance; aromas of orange zest, pear, pectin and orange roses. Medium-full with a rich, complex finish that is dry and elegantly styled, this has appealing flavors of orange and strawberry. Enjoy over the next 2-3 years.

This is rich and intense with dried persimmons, dried oranges, toffee caramel and milk chocolate.  Dense and waxy with a delicious sugary fruit character and a lingering floral and honeyed finish.  Drink or hold.

As always, this is quite exotic with notes of dried sage, dark cherries, mulberries, cedar and red licorice. Full body with round tannins, showing good grip and a medium-long finish. Drink or hold. Made from organically grown grapes.

Black walnut husk, game and truffle chocolate to the plums and dark cherries. Medium- to full-bodied palate with firm and fine-grained tannins that glide through to a juicy, bright finish. Lovely austerity here will help it hold. From organically grown grapes. Drink or keep.

What a beauty. The Tenuta di Capezzana 2012 Vin Santo di Carmignano Riserva (packaged in a 375-milliliter bottle) inches forth from the tiny bottle slowly and ultimately reveals a spectacular color that is orange, copper and almost green at the same time. I tasted bottle number 962 of a precious 4,968 produced. This Vin Santo puts on a real show thanks to its rich viscosity that slides, shifts and glistens in the glass. There are many aromas to describe, and it is hard to do this wine justice given how quickly they shift and change. There is honey, brown sugar, dried herb, forest mushroom, caramel and tilled earth. I even got a hint of rubber boot. This is a work of art and a clear passion project. Assigning a numerical score to an aspirational wine like this somehow misses the point, but here goes nothing.

Historical Re-Release.  Aromas of porcini, sage, brambleberries, dried herbs and cloves. Some grilled meat, too. It’s medium-bodied with firm yet mellow tannins. Savory and delicious. Drink now or hold.