Here's a contemporary and stylized wine to pair with a thick lamb or goat stew. The hearty Castello Monaci 2016 Primitivo Artas is bold and beautiful, with dense tones of blackberry, spice, smoke and sweet chewing tobacco, stuffed tightly into a full-bodied frame. The alcohol is measured at a robust 16.5%, and the wine is as thickly layered as it needs to be. Still, you'll want to serve this mighty red with a hearty winter dish, otherwise you risk masking any nuanced food flavors with the formidable power packed into this bottle.

The 2013 Primitivo Artas opens to a dark garnet color and thick concentration. The wine presents a mildly sweet bouquet with a generous supply of ripe fruit, dried cherry and blackberry preserves. Artas is chewy and rich in terms of texture with lingering tones of tobacco and jammy fruit on the close. In true Primitivo style, the finish is sticky and sweet. Heads up on the alcohol: the wine's technical sheets put it at a whopping 16.5%.

The 2011 Primitivo Artas is a massive wine that shows the ripeness and jammy sweet flavors that are characteristic of this hot vintage. The wine is so big and opulent, it is not for everybody. It opens to an inky, impenetrable appearance with aromas of cured meat, dark earth, grilled herb and blackberry marmalade. A distinct note of sweetness adds to the grit and heft of the wine's already large frame.

The estate’s top of the line 2009 Primitivo Salento Artas is quite pretty. A juicy, perfumed wine, the Artas stands out for its varietal nuance and expressiveness. There is plenty of depth to the 2009, but no sense of heaviness. Once again, the Artas is a standout. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2016. Castello Monaci is known for forward, juicy wines that deliver tons of quality for the money. This set of new releases includes a number of terrific buys. Importer: Frederick Wildman and Sons Ltd, New York, NY; tel. (212) 355-0700

The 2008 Primitivo Salento Artas is impressive for its power and concentration. Unfortunately the French oak covers most of the varietal personality here, which is a shame as the underlying material here was quite strong. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2018. Castello Monaci makes some of the most consistently excellent wines in southern Italy. As good as the wines can be, it would be nice to see the estate take the next step in expressing the unique qualities of Puglia's indigenous red grapes. Importer: Frederick Wildman and Sons Ltd, New York, NY; tel. (212) 355-0700