The 2005 Montiano (Merlot) is a very pretty, accessible version of this wine with an elegant expression of dark fruit, sweet herbs and toasted oak. To be sure the 2005 is a slender Montiano but what it lacks in concentration it more than makes up for with superb drinkability. This is a beautifully balanced wine to drink now and over the next few years. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2013. Riccardo Cotarella’s numerous consulting engagements take him all over the world, but it is Falesco, his estate in the rolling hills of Umbria, that he calls home. Falesco is a family affair, with Cotarella’s brother Renzo, and daughter Dominga involved in running the winery. The sprawling property covers 670 acres, 370 of which are under vine. Quality is incredibly consistent when one considers that nearly 3 million bottles emerge from these cellars each year. Never one to rest on his laurels, Cotarella has several new projects in the works. One of the most intriguing of these is a Sagrantino he is making from three hectares of rented vineyards in Bevagna. The first vintage, 2006, will be released later this year.Importer:A Leonardo Lo Cascio Selection, Winebow, Montvale, NJ; tel. (201) 445-0620

Very pretty mineral, blackberry, licorice and dark chocolate aromas follow through to a full-bodied palate, with ultrafine tannins and a gorgeous finish. Merlot. Best from 2008 through 2014. 5,000 cases made. -JS