The 2009 Rapace bursts from the glass with dark red cherries, plums, licorice, spices and menthol. The 2009 possesses marvelous inner sweetness and perfume. The warmth of the year comes through, but it is nicely balanced by the wine’s underlying minerality. Hints of grilled herbs and licorice add complexity and nuance on the finish. Rapace is 70% Sangiovese, 20% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2017. Andrea Cortonesi’s biggest competition these days is oddly enough from himself! The Uccelliera wines are as good as they’ve ever been, but it is impossible not to compare them with the wines Cortonesi makes under the Voliero label. Uccelliera is located in Castelnuovo dell’Abate, in the southern part of Montalcino, where the terroirs yield big, dramatic Rossi and Brunelli. Cortonesi describes 2007 as an overall warmer year than 2006. A Marc de Grazia Selection, various American importers, including: de Grazia Imports; tel. (417) 732-4200; Michael Skurnik, Syosset, NY; tel. (516) 677-9300, Estate Wines Ltd., San Rafael, CA; tel. (415) 492-9411, Robert Houde Wines, Elk Grove Village, IL (847) 430-3887