The 2001 Rosso Piceno's aromas of sweet and sour cherries, plums and almonds are followed by a medium-bodied, ripe, fleshy red with good sweetness and no hard edges. Drink this pleasant 2001 over the next 1-2 years. Readers may be interested to know I inserted this wine into a blind tasting of 1997 Brunello di Montalcinos, and the Rosso Piceno out-distanced fifteen 1997 Brunellos that sell for five to ten times the price. Ummmm! A Marc de Grazia Selection, various American importers, including Michael Skurnik, Syosset, NY; tel. (516) 677-9300; Vin Divino, Chicago, IL; tel. (773) 334-6700; and Estate Wines, Ltd., San Rafael, CA; tel. (415) 492-9411

An alluring value, the dark ruby/purple-colored 2000 Rosso Piceno is a blend of Sangiovese and Montepulicano aged in one-year old barrels. It exhibits loads of fruit in its big, sweet nose of black cherries intermixed with saddle leather and earth. Ripe and lush, with no hard edges, it will drink well for two years. A Marc de Grazia Selection, various American importers, including Michael Skurnik, Syosset, NY; tel. (516) 677-9300, Vin Divino, Chicago, IL; tel. (773) 334-6700, and Estate Wines, Ltd., San Rafael, CA; tel. (415) 492-9411

The deep ruby/purple-colored, super-ripe 1999 Rosso Piceno offers abundant quantities of cherry, raspberry, and strawberry fruit, a sweet, glycerin-imbued texture, and a long, supple finish. Consume it over the next 3-4 years. A Marc de Grazia Selection, various American importers, including Michael Skurnik, Syosset, NY; tel. (516) 677-9300, Vin Divino, Chicago, IL; tel. (773) 334-6700, and Estate Wines, Ltd., San Rafael, CA; tel. (415) 492-9411

Ripe fruit provided a spicy, smoky, cherry/strawberry-scented and flavored wine with medium body, up-front lushness, and abundant flavors. Made primarily from Sangiovese, it should be drunk over the next 1-2 years. An excellent value. A Marc de Grazia Selection, imported by Michael Skurnik, Syosset, NY; tel. (516) 677-9300