The 2000 Bramasole comes from vineyards in the township of Cortona, which borders on Montepulciano to the east, and now has its own appellation. This is the first vintage of the wine, an interesting blend of Syrah and Merlot (which does very well on the local clay soils). Full and dark with black highlights to the deep ruby color, it offers smoky, peppery aromas with abundant blackberry and tarry tones in addition to vanilla, cloves, and cedar, from the oak (somewhat Australian in the way it is used). Substantial in flavor with a solid tannic underpinning, sweet blackberry fruit, white pepper, and sweet oak, this is a fine first effort which shows promise for these varieties in a new area of Tuscany. Drink: 2004-2010. Importer: Winebow, Inc., Hohokus, NJ; tel. (201) 445-0620