The 2010 Merlot possesses lovely inner perfume and expressive dark fruit. The wine retains its freshness and vibrancy through to the finish, where fragrant white flowers add lift. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2016. Brothers Renzo and Riccardo Cotarella make a wide range of wines at Falesco, their family-owned winery on the Umbria/Lazio border. As always, readers will find a number of great values in this lineup. The range includes three additions that have been in the works for the last few years; the Sagrantino, Syrah Tellus and Assisi Rosso, the wine I am personally the most excited about. A Leonardo Lo Cascio Selection, Winebow, Montvale, NJ; tel. (201) 445-0620

The 2009 Merlot is one of the finest wines I have ever tasted from Falesco. It is a decidedly firm, vibrant Merlot that stands in stark contrast to the super-ripe, obvious Vitiano Rosso. Here the fruit is wonderfully precise and elegant. Jammy blueberries, blackberries, cinnamon, leather and crushed rocks are woven into a beautiful fabric. The French oak is layered very nicely, adding depth and flavor, but never overpowering the wine. This is impressive juice from proprietor Riccardo Cotarella. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2017. A Leonardo Lo Cascio Selection, Winebow, Montvale, NJ; tel. (201) 445-0620

The estate’s 2008 Merlot offers up plenty of super-ripe, jammy dark fruit, but its balance is not quite at the level of the finest wines here. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2011. Riccardo Cotarella’s wines at Falesco continue to deliver incredible value.A Leonardo Lo Cascio Selection, Winebow, Montvale, NJ; tel. (201) 445-0620

The 2007 Merlot, on the other hand, is just plain delicious. The wine possesses notable depth and inner sweetness, with waves of dark fruit, chocolate, spices and French oak that flow from its full-bodied, richly-textured frame. This bottling reveals terrific complexity and harmony, particularly in this price range. Riccardo Cotarella is known for his work with Merlot, and the wine is proof of his mastery with the grape. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2010. Although oenologist Riccardo Cotarella is best known for the numerous high-end wineries for whom he consults, he also turns out delicious value-priced wines at his Falesco estate.A Leonardo Lo Cascio Selection, Winebow, Montvale, NJ; tel. (201) 445-0620