The top of the line 2005 Saffredi is Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Alicante that spent 18 months in French oak. It possesses notable elegance and finesse in its sweet dark fruit, tobacco, leather, spices and toasted oak. This mid-weight, classy Saffredi doesn’t have the freshness and power of the 2004, but it is much more pleasurable today. It looks to be a relatively early-maturing wine to enjoy while the 2004 ages. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2020.Proprietor Elisabetta Geppetti has been making terrific wines for some time, but she hit the bulls-eye in 2004 with her Saffredi. The rest of the wines in this line-up are convincing as well.Importer: Henriot Inc, New York, NY; tel. (212) 605 6706

Saffredi is a beautiful wine, worthy of membership in an elite class of super Tuscan wines from Italy. The blend is Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Alicante and a tiny percentage of Syrah and the overall result is that of plushness, softness and intensity. Aromas include spice, chocolate, blackberry and cherry. ——M.L.(12/15/2010)—— 94