The 2010 Pian del Ciampolo impresses for its density. Sweet dark cherries, flowers, mint and licorice are some of the many notes that emerge from the glass. There is a purity and beauty to the 2010 that I admire. This is a gorgeous entry-level wine from Montevertine. As always Pian del Ciampolo is mostly Sangiovese with a dollop of Colorino and Canaiolo. I tasted the wine from cement one week prior to bottling. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2020. 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