The 2017 I Sodi di San Niccolò is supple, radiant and inviting, almost uncharacteristically so for a young vintage of this typically potent, brooding wine. That makes the 2017 an ideal vintage for readers who want to explore I Sodi, one of the most under the radar wines in all of Italy. Soft contours envelop a core of red berry fruit, dried flowers, licorice, mint and tobacco. (AG)

Toasty oak gives way to bright cherry, blackberry and violet aromas and flavors in this sleek, vibrant red, with wild herb, tobacco and mineral notes adding complexity. Supple, yet there's a firm matrix of refined tannins and the finish is defined by lively acidity and finesse. Sangioveto and Malvasia Nera. (BS)