A 50/50 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, the 2010 Outsider is a delightful interpretation of these two important French grapes in an all-Umbrian setting. The wine delivers extra heft, determination and textural richness that very much seems to mirror the rugged nature of this beautiful landscape in central Italy. The excellent vintage also plays its part to render a deep sense of harmony and balance. This is a great wine to pair with your favorite beef or lamb dishes.

The 2006 Rosso Outsider is an outstanding wine. In fact, most any producer would be thrilled to have made a wine of this quality. Still, next to Caprai’s 2006s it is quite clear that something is missing. The international varieties may work to some extent in these vineyards, but they don’t come close to reaching the eloquence of Sangiovese or Sagrantino. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2016. Marco Caprai has long led the way in Montefalco. These 2006s are Caprai’s best wines yet and capture all of the promise they showed when I tasted them from barrel a year ago. Simply put, readers will not want to miss these fabulous wines. Importer: Folio Fine Wine Partners, Napa, CA; tel. (707) 256-2700

The 2006 Rosso Outsider is an outstanding wine. In fact, most any producer would be thrilled to have made a wine of this quality. Still, next to Caprai’s 2006s it is quite clear that something is missing. The international varieties may work to some extent in these vineyards, but they don’t come close to reaching the eloquence of Sangiovese or Sagrantino. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2016. Marco Caprai has long led the way in Montefalco. These 2006s are Caprai’s best wines yet and capture all of the promise they showed when I tasted them from barrel a year ago. Simply put, readers will not want to miss these fabulous wines.Importer: Folio Fine Wine Partners, Napa, CA; tel. (707) 256-2700

The 2005 Rosso Outsider is a vibrant, powerful red laced with violets, graphite, dark cherries, minerals, French oak and sweet herbs. The wine shows outstanding depth in a fairly full-bodied style. Ideally another year in bottle should help smooth out the tannins. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2015. This is another strong set of releases from Marco Caprai, the producer most responsible for calling attention to the potential of Sagrantino in these hillside vineyards. The estate itself is sprawling, and covers 150 hectares of vineyards planted to various densities and trellising systems that clearly show the enormous expense Caprai has undertaken to fully understand the unique qualities of Sagrantino. At the heart of the property is a large, well-appointed visitors’ center and tasting facility that looks more like something out of Napa Valley rather than rural Italy. My tasting at Caprai was remarkable as I had a chance to revisit a number of older vintages, which will be reviewed in a forthcoming article on www.erobertparker.com. Caprai’s wines tend towards the modern end of the spectrum, with French oak used for both malolactic fermentation and aging. The wines often appear tough when young, but with a few years in bottle they can develop beautifully. In the finest vintages, Caprai’s top wines drink well to age 15 and occasionally beyond. Importer: Villa Italia Imports, South San Francisco, CA; tel. (650) 873-6060