This 2000 spent 12 months in 100% new French oak, and was bottled unfined as well as unfiltered. It boasts a dense purple color in addition to thick flavors of black currants, graphite, and vanilla. Reminiscent of a barrel sample of a 2000 Medoc, it is a powerful, chewy Italian red with considerable upside. At the moment, it remains disjointed and foreboding, yet the wine is extremely pure, rich, and promising. This is the debut vintage for this blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot made by Umbrian oenologist Riccardo Cotarella. Patience will be required to see what is going to emerge in the bottle, but I'm an optimist. (RP)