The 2009 Montevertine comes across as more classic than the Pergole Torte. Firm yet well-integrated tannins support expressive sweet red cherries, freshly cut flowers and mint. The 2009 is a highly attractive, pointed Montevertine that oozes class and elegance. Clean, saline notes inform the beautifully pointed, delineated finish. This is far from an easygoing 2009. The wine still needs time to fully come together. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2029. Montevertine is one of the reference point producers in Tuscany for ageworthy, traditionally made wines. The estate’s flagship, Le Pergole Torte, plays in the same league with the very finest wines in the world. Proprietor Martino Manetti describes 2010 as a year with constantly changing weather. An irregular flowering lowered yields. Rain interrupted the early part of the harvest before an Indian summer drenched with heat allowed the last phase of ripening to occur without further incident. In the warm 2009 vintage, these high-altitude, late-maturing vineyards got an extra shot of richness that filled out the wines without going to extremes. Readers may want to check out my vertical of the flagship Le Pergole Torte in this issue, as well as my video interview with Martino Manetti that is posted on our website. Importer: Rosenthal Wine Merchants, Pine Plains, NY; tel. (800) 910-1990