The Saracco 2017 Piemonte Pinot Nero offers more plumpness and ripeness compared to recent past editions. The wine is also a bit more muted on the nose and in terms of its overall complexity compared to Pinot Nero from a cool vintage. In fact, the bouquet is more bold and horizontal in delivery with dark fruit nuances of dried blueberry, plum and violets. All said and done, this wine tastes exactly as it should: It is a hot-vintage expression of the Burgundian grape from a cool Italian climate.

The Saracco 2016 Piemonte Pinot Nero is a fragrant and floral expression with rose hip, lavender and candied orange peel. There is a point of sweetness on the close with candy cherry or raspberry twist. This is a fresh and bright red wine with lean consistency and good acidity to enjoy in the near term with white meat or fish.

Paolo Saracco makes a fine expression of Pinot Noir in a region that is otherwise associated with the mighty Nebbiolo grape. The 2015 Piemonte Pinot Nero is a delicate and graceful wine that delivers a stern grip on the finish. The bouquet seduces with wild flower, candied fruit and dried violets. But the mouthfeel offers more structure and firmness than you would normally expect of this silky and subdued grape variety. This is a lovely wine to drink in the near term.

I loved the 2013 Piemonte Pinot Nero. This is a fragrant and articulate wine that puts a high priority on freshness and varietal purity. The bouquet delivers vibrant aromas of wild berry, blue violet and candied cherry. The aromas are crisp and absolutely pristine. It's worth mentioning the cooling menthol notes that wholly complete this very pretty picture. I would suggest a near-term drinking window just because the wine's inner energy is so irresistible now.

I wanted to return to a slightly older vintage to see the aging potential of Paolo Saracco's delightful Burgundy-inspired red. The 2011 Piemonte Pinot Nero is a dark and savory wine that maintains its value-added appeal. Tertiary aromas of tilled earth and licorice now stand before dried cherry and balsam herb. All said and done, this wine has embraced the aging process very gracefully. If you have a bottle, I suggest drinking it within the next 3-5 years.