The 2007 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva Pieluni is the estate's top selection. Waves of inky, jammy fruit flow onto the palate in this rich, extroverted Montepulciano. Two years of French oak have given the Pieluni considerable textural richness and volume, but also left the wine with plenty of tannic heft. Whether or not the tannins ultimately soften is an open question, but sometimes less is more, as is quite evident in tasting the estate's lower-end wines, many of which I prefer. Still, the wine's aromatic complexity and nuance all suggest this could be a significantly more important bottling with a more refined approach in the cellar. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2022. Illuminati is a good source for bold Montepulciano and Montepulciano-based reds. Importer: Tricana Imports, Plainview, NY; tel. (516) 935-4080