1 | Wine | Red Blend, Tuscany, 86 to 90

"The 2006 Guidaccio is another compelling wine from this great Tuscan vintage. Today the 2006 is very youthful and firm, but over time the inner sweetness of the dark fruit gradually appears. Clean, mineral notes confer elements of vibrancy and energy that bode very well for the future."

"The 2009 Torre di Ciardo is Merlot with a dash of Sangiovese aged in cement and used, neutral oak. Dark blue and black fruit, licorice and spices are some of the many notes that emerge from this juicy, full-bodied wine. The 2009 boasts exceptional balance, with polished tannins that round out a gorgeous finish."

"The 2009 Villa Antinori is a pretty, mid-weight wine laced with dark red berries, flowers and sweet spices. Nothing in particular stands out, just the wine’s lovely depth, balance and overall sense of harmony. This is a fabulous wine for the money."

"Notes of blackberry and black cherry are accented by tobacco and spice in this concentrated red, which is fresh and lively, with a firm finish."

"Dark ruby-red. A pungent floral quality lifts the aromas of black cherry, plum, espresso and licorice. Stewed plum and dark currant flavors show a restrained sweetness, with elevated acidity and mounting dry tannins cutting off the finish. In a ripe style but turns a bit dry and alcoholic at the back."

"Boasting dark cherry and berry aromas and flavors, this polished red is vibrant and harmonious. Lingers on the finish, with a tight, fruit- and spice-filled aftertaste."

"Bright red. Perfumed aromas of red berries and violet, complicated by cinnamon and almond flower. Juicy and bright on the palate, with precise strawberry and redcurrant flavors lifted by lively acidity. Finishes long and fresh, with ripe tannins and lingering floral perfume. Not the last word in complexity or concentration, but an absolutely delicious wine, one of the best Rossos by Avignonesi in some time."

"Bright and juicy, offering cherry, raspberry and floral flavors. Balanced on an elegant profile, with a hint of licorice on the finish."

"Purple ruby. Aromas of blueberry, black cherry and spicy underbrush. Sweet, layered and lush, with cassis and Oriental spice flavors lifted by zingy peppery quality. Really builds on the back end. This is a very impressive entry-level wine: splurge on a bottle for a high-end BBQ."

"The Rosso dei Notri is fabulous in 2010. Dark fruit, flowers and spices meld together effortlessly as this flat-out delicious wine flows across the palate. All of the hallmarks of the house style are captured in this gracious, entry-level Sangiovese-based red. It is a dazzling wine for the money."