I love the aromas of violets with licorice and subtle brown sugar. This is a full-bodied merlot with fabulous tannins and a wonderful finish. It shows reserve and balance with a striking complexity of orange peel, light berries and chocolate. Pure magic. Goes on for minutes. One of the best Redigraffis ever. Better in 2016.

The 2011 Redigaffi (one of Italy's iconic Merlots) is a little shy at first and needs a few extra minutes to warm in the glass. Once it does, it bursts open with sweet fruit, blackberry, dark leather and Oriental spice. The wine is beautifully balanced and enormously expressive. It hits the high notes and the low ones with tip-top precision. I loved the purity of the sweet tobacco and crushed white pepper you get on the seductively long finish. It's a baby now, and needs more aging time. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2035.

One of Italy's truly great 100% Merlots, this wine opens with aromas of plum, black currants and exotic spices. The opulent, smooth palate delivers blackberry, white pepper and a note of creamy milk chocolate alongside firm, velvety tannins. Soft and round, it's delicious now, but it will also develop for a decade or more. Drink 2016-2026.

Initially marked by new oak, this intense, tannic red takes time to reveal the cherry, plum floral and spice flavors. Vibrant and long, finishing with mouthcoating fruit and tannins. This is saturated with fruit, and worth the wait. Merlot. 830 cases made.