This blend of 70% Merlot, 20% Petit Verdot and 10% Sangiovese has a dark, inky appearance and follows up on that with some very big shoulders. The 2016 Il Brecciolino provides good thickness and darkness throughout, with spicy tones and tobacco provided by the extra time the Petit Verdot and Merlot spend in wood. There is a nice touch of sweetness, but overall it's not a very complex wine, probably best reserved for some beef barbecue.

The 2015 Il Brecciolino is a blend of 70% Merlot, 20% Petit Verdot and 10% Sangiovese, and the wine is entirely aged in new oak. Indeed, the Merlot and the Petit Verdot spend more time in oak compared to the Sangiovese. The results show soft and lush concentration with black fruit, exotic spice, black peppercorn and cured tobacco. The oak element does come through with extra spicy, layering and structure. Some 7,200 bottles were produced.

The 2008 Il Brecciolino is striking in this vintage. Finessed tannins provide the backdrop for this highly expressive, nuanced wine. Sweet dark cherries, mint, licorice and new leather all meld together beautifully. Some very slight rustic edges remain, but not enough to detract from the wine’s considerable personality. Il Brecciolino is 50% Merlot, 20% Petit Verdot and 30% Sangiovese. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2023. Importers: Atlantic Importing, Framingham, MA; tel. (508) 665-4272; Aventine Hill Wines, Stratford, CT; tel. (203) 386-0615; Domace Vino, Saint Paul, MN; tel.(612) 865-3150

The 2007 Brecciolino represents a departure from previous vintages. Beginning with 2007, Brecciolino is predominantly Merlot (60%), with 30% Sangiovese and 15% Petit Verdot, with much of that change directly tied to the estate’s new pure Sangiovese bottling. This sleek, harmonious red shows lovely spiciness in dark red fruit that flows effortlessly through to the round, opulent finish. The estate changed its barrels beginning in 2007, and the move to Francois Freres barriques seems to have had a positive impact on this bottling. If this is the direction the estate is headed, the future appears very bright. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2022. This is a lovely set of new releases from Castelvecchio. Consulting oenologist Luca D’Attoma has worked here since 2003. A 100% Sangiovese is also on the horizon, and should be a fascinating wine given the progress the estate has made in recent years. Importers: Aventine Hill Wines Llc., Westport, CT; Atlantic Importing, Framingham, MA; tel. (508) 665-4272; Domace Vino, Shoreview, MN; tel. (612) 501-5799; Lyra Fine Wine Importers, www.Lyrawine.com

The 2006 Brecciolino (70% Sangiovese, 20% Merlot and 10% Petit Verdot) is a dark, extroverted wine that relies on power, but there is a certain level of finesse that is missing while much of the upfront intensity tapers off on the mid-palate. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2012. This is a lovely set of new releases from Castelvecchio. Consulting oenologist Luca D’Attoma has worked here since 2003. A 100% Sangiovese is also on the horizon, and should be a fascinating wine given the progress the estate has made in recent years. Importers: Aventine Hill Wines Llc., Westport, CT; Atlantic Importing, Framingham, MA; tel. (508) 665-4272; Domace Vino, Shoreview, MN; tel. (612) 501-5799