This is a single-vineyard wine that represents a textbook taste of Sangiovese from the Emilia Romagna region in Central Italy. From a warm, balanced and sunny vintage, the 2015 Romagna Sangiovese Superiore Riserva Pruno (with 20,000 bottles made) offers an authentic portrait of this grape. Compared to Sangiovese-based wines from Tuscany, this expression from a next-door neighbor offers succulent and abundant fruit that delivers more in softness of texture and richness than it does linearity or depth. The wine is honest and accessible with mild tannins, making it the perfect partner to a cheeseburger with your favorite toppings.

The 2011 Romagna Sangiovese Superiore Riserva Pruno is a single-vineyard expression and a top-shelf wine from this celebrated estate in central Italy. The wine shows great depth and elegance, with dark fruit and spice that are nicely contrasted. Riserva Pruno offers support and richness in the mouth. Cigar smoke and crushed mineral appear on the finish.

In the best vintages, three barrels (either barrique or tonneaux) that show exceptionally good results are set aside, destined for extended aging and a late commercial release. Such is the case with the beautiful 2006 Romagna Sangiovese Superiore Riserva Pruno Grande Annata. Winemaking is identical to the current release of Pruno (with 18 months of aging), only this wine has been set aside to rest for an additional seven years. Indeed, you might notice that the outdated appellation on the bottle is written as Sangiovese di Romagna instead of Romagna Sangiovese. That's a minor detail; what's more important here, however, is the encouraging aging trajectory shown by this wine (offered at a fraction of the price of a neighboring Sangiovese from Tuscany's Chianti Classico of Brunello di Montalcino appellations). Subtle tertiary notes of road tar and licorice appear at the back of dried berry fruit, black currant and balsam herb. This is an elegant mid-weight red wine that raises the flag for Emilia Romagna. A mere 1,213 bottles exist.

This beautiful wine opens with soft aromas of milk chocolate and vanilla, backed by red cherry and blueberry. Its ruby color is luminous and bright and the wine tastes chewy, soft and decadent. This is a standout product from the Emilia-Romagna region of Central Italy.——M.L.(9/1/2009)—— 90