Medium ruby-garnet, with plum, orange peel and flowers on the nose. Full-bodied, with a wonderfully silky palate. Long and caressing. Very beautiful. All in the right proportion.--1997 Italian blind retrospective. Drink now. 2,500 cases made. -JS

Loaded with pepper, hard spice and leather, but there’s also plenty of bursting red fruit to this traditional Brunello. With every minute it’s open the wine evolves: At first it’s sweet and forward, but with time it turns earthy and leathery, and ultimately it gets very tight and brooding. Full acids, hammer-like tannins and major-league structure say hold for a minimum of six more years.