A blend of 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Nero d'Avola and 30% Merlot, the 2015 Don Pietro offers a slightly green note of garden herb or rosemary essence followed by black currant, sweet spice and candied licorice. The bouquet is a little offbeat, but it shows a great deal of simpatico charm as well. This is a soft, mid-weight red to pair with oven-roasted pasta or lasagna. The mouthfeel is compact and tight. Some 45,000 bottles were made, and the value is terrific.

The 2013 Don Pietro is an IGT blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Nero d'Avola and Merlot that are all aged in cement vats for 24 months. The wine presents a clear line of dark fruit and balsam herb that is evident throughout the new releases by Prince Spadafora. Those pretty embellishments of rosemary, cola and dried herb rise above the dark fruit and blackberry that sits so soundly at the core of this wine. The tannins are soft and the wine shows good overall integration.

The 2012 Don Pietro is a blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 30% Nero d'Avola. The wine is executed in a fresh and clean style that makes it a pleasure to drink. You can taste the characteristics of the various grapes used in the blend including the cherry from the Merlot and the pistachio nut from the Nero d'Avola. The leading percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon helps to package the wine, giving it firmness and unity.

Quite firm, dry and cedary. Medium-weight, dry, cedary fruit. Quite firm tannins. Oak less intrusive than some.