Super ripe black cherries, mint, tar and licorice burst from the glass in the 2009 Nero di Troia Violante. This exuberant, super-ripe wine delivers incredible quality and pure personality within its price range. Hints of tar, smoke and incense lend a brooding quality to the finish that is highly appealing. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2015. Rivera is one of the great estates in Italy. The estate excels with their reds, which are not only gorgeous in absolute terms, but also exceedingly fairly priced. Under the direction of proprietor Sebastiano de Corato, Rivera makes wines that capture the exuberance that Puglia is capable of, while maintaining a gorgeous sense of structure. Readers who want to discover the wines of Puglia would do well to start with Rivera. Importer: Bedford International, Larchmont, NY; tel. (914) 833-2725