The 2009 Kepos is a blend of Grenache, Mourvedre, Carignano, Alicante and Marselan aged in a combination of cement and oak. It is an eccentric wine laced with sweet red cherries, wild flowers and sage. The wine blossoms nicely on the palate, showing considerable sweetness in its high-toned fruit, but at times lacks focus and comes across as diffuse. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2014. Ampeleia is Elisabetta Foradori’s project in Maremma. The large property is essentially divided into two large sections, each of which makes wines that are so different; they might easily be mistaken for two separate estates. The lower and middle parts of the estate, known as Ampeleia Sotto and Ampeleia Mezzo, are mostly planted with Mediterranean/Rhone varieties, while the upper slope, Ampeleia Sopra is predominantly planted with Cabernet Franc. Thus far, Amepelia Sopra is the part of the estate that has shown the most potential. Importer: De Santis Selection Imports, Missouri City, TX; tel. (281) 437-1616