Wine By Nine

Red Wine by Tua Rita from Tuscany, Italy. Stunning nose of rose petal, berries, sandalwood and licorice. Full-bodied, with ripe, rich tannins and a long, long finish. All there, and very exciting. 60 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 20 percent Merlot, 15 percent Cabernet Franc and 5 percent Petit Verdot. Best after 2007. 2,300 cases made. -JS, Wine Spectator

Red Wine by Falesco from Southern Italy, Italy. Made from 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Cabernet Franc grown in estate vineyards in Umbria. Marciliano has a profound dark purple color and exhibits complex aromas of tobacco and slate. This wine is a great representation of Cabernet when all of nature's forces are working together. Layers of fruit are evident on the nose and on the palate, while the tannins are expressive without being too aggressive. Here is a knockout wine from one of Italy's most talented enologists, Riccardo Cotarella, that delivers classic Cabernet green notes followed by bursting tones of blackberry, tobacco, toasted coconut flakes, apple pie crust and ... distant hints of black licorice. The aromatic complexity is stellar and so is the velvety mouthfeel; a genuine crowd pleaser. -Wine Enthusiast

Red Wine by Avignonesi from Tuscany, Italy. Grapes: Merlot (85%), Cabernet Sauvignon (15%). Intense, ruby red in color. Its bouquet is delicate and persistent, with a slight scent of wild fruits; the taste is full bodied, harmonious and round. Desiderio is an outstandingly delicious Merlot from Cortona with a soft, yielding personality and loads of sweet cherry-berry nuances. The wine boasts excellent complexity thanks to the playful notes of peppermint, herbs, root beer and cola that give it undying persistency and intensity. -Wine Enthusiast Editor's Choice 95 Points

Red Wine by Le Macchiole from Tuscany, Italy. Brilliant ruby colour, this wine exhibits aromas of red fruits, blueberries, blackberries, spices and light, well-integrated vanilla notes. Medium-bodies, it possesses sweet, ripe tannins, and a balanced, refreshing acidity. The vines at Le Macchiole's Bolgheri estate produce some of the most compelling cabernet franc in the world. The variety's affinity for the zone and this estate in particular is expressed in both the Paleo and here, in Le Macchiole's incredible 2005 Bolgheri Rosso. In this bottling, the franc is blended with 30% sangiovese and 40% merlot, and you can feel the peppery spice character and fine graphite tannin that it brings to the wine. The fruit tastes perfectly ripe, with flavors of cassis and spice that make it delicious to drink now; the wine's balance and poise suggest a very long life ahead. You'll want to buy this by the case.