The 2006 Aglianico Riserva Cappellaccio boasts gorgeous depth and tons of personality. Flowers, tobacco, sweet herbs and black fruit are all alive in the glass in this intense, full-bodied wine. Firm yet beautifully integrated tannins frame the fruit on the, powerful textured finish. The 2006 is simply striking. It is also quite young and headed for another decade or so of exceptional drinking. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2022. 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

The 2005 Aglianico Riserva Cappellaccio is a beautiful, racy wine endowed with layers of wild cherries, sweet herbs, menthol, tobacco and cured meats. This bold, juicy Aglianico offers gorgeous overall balance, but the firm tannins suggest the wine is best paired with equally bold, rich dishes. Clean, minerally notes frame the exquisite finish. Today the fruit remains quite primary, and a few additional years of bottle age will only do the Cappellaccio good. This is a very serious wine for the money. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2022. This is another strong set of releases from Rivera, one of Puglia’s leading producers. Even better, the wines remain very fairly priced considering the quality of what is in the bottle. Importer: Bedford International, Larchmont, NY; tel. (914) 833-2725