The estate's 2007 Saxa Calida swirls around in the glass with a myriad of spices, earthiness, cracked black pepper, truffles, dark red fruit, herbs and sweet oak. Medium to full in body, the Saxa Calida impresses for its length and balance. Saxa Calida is a Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon blend that spent sixteen months in French oak. It is more forward and more complex than the Mangiafoco, which is good news for readers looking to enjoy a bottle over the near term. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025. Importer: North Berkeley Imports, Berkeley, CA; tel. (510) 336-9880

The estate’s 2006 Saxa Calida is a Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon blend that spent 16 months in French oak. It is an usually refined wine from this part of Tuscany, with plenty of varietal character in its dark fruit, grilled herbs, earthiness and minerals. The wine’s richness carries through all the way to the finish, where the big, building tannins provide an exclamation point to this exquisite wine. This is gorgeous juice! Anticipated maturity: 2011-2021. Podere del Paradiso was one of the most pleasant discoveries of this year’s tastings of new Tuscan releases. Importer: North Berkeley Imports, Berkeley, CA; tel. (510) 336-9880

The 2002 Saxa Calida, a Bordeaux blend, suffered from the rains of the vintage, as did everyone else in Tuscany. The usual flesh and roundness are not present, but there is plenty of good blackberry fruit, chocolate, and mineral notes, good size, and a firm, lengthy finish. Drink: 2006-2012. Importer: Montecastelli Selections, New York, NY; tel. (212) 414-4898

The 2001 Saxa Calida confirms the wine’s position among Tuscany’s finest Bordeaux blends. Deep ruby in color with an intense, potent, and sweet nose of berries and mocha, its rich, focused, and pure flavors are those of a wine of superior breed and class, power and elegance perfectly harnessed together. Drink: 2005-2018. Importer: David Hinkle, North Berkeley Imports, Oakland, CA; tel. (510) 336-9880

The inky/black/purple-colored 1999 Saxa Calida, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, reveals a textbook bouquet of black currants, licorice, melted tar, and new barrique aromas. Extremely full-bodied, low in acidity, and nearly viscous, this chewy, thick, modern-styled red is hard to resist. Importer David Hinkle claims his clients refer to this wine as "hot sex." Ummm! Enjoy it over the next 7-8 years. Importer: David Hinkle, North Berkeley Imports, Berkeley, CA; tel. (510) 848-8910