Cortonesi’s 2006 Rosso di Montalcino is a serious wine. This plush, deep Rosso exudes terrific energy in its plush, dark fruit, minerals, tar and smoke, with outstanding balance and an utterly irresistible personality. Cortonesi typically blends a fair amount of run-off juice from his Brunello into the Rosso, which gives this wine an extra level of depth and complexity compared to most Rossos on the market. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2011. Proprietor Andrea Cortonesi fashions big, full-bodied wines from his vineyards in the southern part of the zone. This is a very strong set of releases from a producer who represents the finest of the artisan approach to making wines in Montalcino. A Marc de Grazia Selection, various American importers, including Michael Skurnik, Syosset, NY; tel. (516) 677-9300, Vin Divino, Chicago, IL; tel. (773) 334-6700, and Estate Wines, Ltd., San Rafael, CA; tel. (415) 492-9411