The 2004 Monteti flows from the glass with a blast of exuberant dark fruit, espresso, French oak, roasted coffee beans and grilled herbs. The warmth and generosity of Maremma shines through in the radiant, enveloping fruit. Hints of white truffle linger on the heady finish. Simply put, this is a magnificent effort. Monteti makes a strong case for itself as the finest wine being made in Maremma in its price range. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2022. Tenuta Monteti is one of the most exciting properties on the Tuscan coast. The flagship Monteti is a Cabernet Franc/Petit Verdot blend that spends 16 months in French oak and is bottled unfiltered and unfined. All three vintages I tasted were magnificent. The estate’s entry-level red. Caburnio, was reviewed in Issue 190. Various American importers, including: K & L Wine Merchants, Redwood City, CA; tel. (650) 364-8544; The Wine Company, St. Paul, MN; tel. (651) 487-1212

This massive super Tuscan blend based mostly on Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon is thick, inky dark in color and particularly intense this vintage. Black cherry, spice, plum cake and leather are protagonists of the bouquet. The mouthfeel is smooth and incredibly rich.——M.L.(2/1/2012)—— 93