The 2011 Petit Verdot Carduni stands out for its intensity and its dark thickness. This is a wine to pair with succulent steak or breaded veal involtini. The wine's appearance is near impenetrable and the bouquet opens to pressed blackberry, spice, cured meat, road paving and smoky ash. It offers solid structure with the level of dense extraction that calls out for a hearty meat dish.

The 2007 Petit Verdot Carduni is an interesting and impressive wine from Sicily. Definitely among the biggest and boldest red wines from the Mediterranean island, it opens to deep, dark concentration and thick aromas of candied fruit, marron glace, tobacco, leather and teriyaki sauce. Cigar box and smoke frame the rich, pulpy fruit that is at the core of this voluptuous wine. Sweet tannins and bright acidity make for a big impact in the mouth. Drink 2014-2020. Count Paolo Marzotto runs the beautiful Baglio di Pianetto property and largely specializes in international grapes. Because the selection of wines presented are all from the 2011 vintage or older, they are labeled IGT Sicilia. The denomination changes that permit the use of DOC Sicilia start with the 2012 vintage. The territory of origin is Santa Cristina Gela in the province of Palermo. Importer: Vinvino Wine Co., www.vinvinowineco.com

A pure expression of Petit Verdot, Carduni is a rich and penetrating wine with integrated oak tones set against a plush backdrop of mature blackberry and plum pudding. Spice, leather and tobacco appear on the rear and the wine offers impressive structure and depth.——M.L.(7/1/2011)—— 91

The estate’s 2005 Carduni (Petit Verdot) is a big, massive wine bursting with dark jammy fruit, sweet toasted oak, new leather and licorice. The wine’s depth and richness are impressive but it would be nice to see what might emerge without such a heavy reliance on oak. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2015. Baglio di Pianetto is the Sicilian property of the Marzotto family, who are best known for their highly successful lifestyle brands. The vineyards are located in Pachino, in the province of Siracusa, and Santa Cristina Gela, near Palermo. The estate works with both native and international varieties.Importer: Terlato Wines International, Lake Bluff, IL; tel. (847) 604-8900