My favorite wine from Ampeleia this year is the 2011 Ampeleia. Cabernet Franc is blended with Sangiovese and other grapes to produce this rich and eccentric red wine. The bouquet opens to dark fruit, tobacco and pressed berry fruit. There is a distant touch of pungency and some unexpected bitterness in the mouth. You also feel the heat of the 2011 vintage in the plump darkness and general textural richness of the blend.