The Alberto Longo 2015 Uva di Troia Le Cruste is a little too ripe for my tastes, coming across as faded and flat. The wine delivers intense aromas of dried black fruit, tar, spice and scorched earth, while the alcohol content feels stronger than the 13.5% reported on the label. If you're comfortable with this kind of savory, dark and syrupy red, you should drink this one within the next few years before it becomes even more faded.

The delightful 2013 Uva di Troia Le Cruste is a wine that oozes authenticity and territory. Uva di Troia is a special grape that deserves more of a spotlight in the greater patrimony of wine from Puglia. Freshness, elegance and fruit purity are the variety's most important traits. This expression adds a dash of rusticity with dark berry that is backed by earthy, autumnal tones and beet root. Dried rosemary and oregano appear as accents on the bouquet. Le Cruste sees nine months of oak in new and neutral oak.

Slightly reminiscent of Barbera from Northern Italy, the 2011 Uva di Troia Le Cruste shows bright acidity and attractive fruit forwardness. The wine offers interesting tones of cherry syrup, cola, blueberry and pressed rose petal. The quality of fruit is pristine with delineated lines and crisp buoyancy. Le Cruste ages in barrique and tonneaux for nine months. It exhibits extra softness and spicy richness on the long finish.