The production of the 1996 Giusto dei Notri vino da tavola (a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot) is a meager 450 cases. An outstanding wine, it boasts a black ruby/purple color, as well as an intense nose of licorice, black currants, and a whiff of Provencal olives. Full-bodied, thick, and layered, with moderately high tannin, a slight austerity in the finish, and a concentrated, complete, and powerful feel, this pure, harmonious wine requires 2-5 more years of cellaring. It should be at its finest between 2002-2012. A Leonardo Locasio Selection, Winebow, Hohokus, NJ; tel. (201) 445-0620