From the IGT Salento appellation, the 2015 Primitivo Orion is a thick and sticky red wine with exuberant aromas of cooked cherry, blackberry and juicy prune. This is a thick and succulent red wine that evokes the scorching sunshine and the iron-rich red soils of the beautiful Salento region in the deep south of Italy.

The 2010 Salento Primitivo Orion is a pretty, juicy wine laced with dark, red cherries, flowers, mint and licorice, all of which come together in an attractive, vinous style. Soft floral notes reappear on the finish, adding lovely perfume. This is a fairly laid back style for Primitivo. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2014. Li Veli is one of the most exciting wineries to come on the scene in the last few years. The Falvo family has done a great job ratcheting up the quality following their sale of Avignonesi in Montepulciano. As has been the case since Li Veli was founded, many of the gems in this range are found at the more modest price points. Importer: Dalla Terra, Napa, CA; tel. (707) 259-5405

The 2009 Primitivo Orion comes across as relatively delicate and feminine for a variety that can so easily be overblown. Juicy, generous fruit flows through to the long, polished finish. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2012. Importer: Dalla Terra, Napa, CA; tel. (707) 259-5405