The 2009 Alto is all Sangiovese colored by the warm temperatures and strong sunlight of southern Tuscany. The aromas are bold, confident and very compelling with dried raspberry and wild spice. Altro is silky smooth and silky on the close. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2018. The man behind Bellavista, Contadi Castaldi (both in Franciacorta) and Tenuta La Badiola in Maremma, entrepreneur Vittorio Moretti engaged the talent of architect Mario Botta to build Petra near Suvereto in 2001. Italy’s era of the designer winery was suddenly born. The monumental building is inspired by “stone in motion,” thus the name Petra. Importer: Terra Moretti Trading USA; www.tmtrading-usa.com

The 2008 Alto shows the muscle and volume that Sangiovese is capable of achieving. A huge, dramatic wine loaded with fruit, the Alto sweeps across the palate with dark red cherries, flowers, spices and leather. This rich, textured wine is more about the Maremma than Sangiovese, to tell the truth, but it all works. Tobacco, flowers, mint and spices are layered into the finish. Alto is 100% Sangiovese. The 2008 saw a lengthy period of contact on the skins of 25 days in conical oak vats, and was subsequently aged in a combination of 600-liter demi-muids and 30-hectoliter casks. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2023. I rarely hear Petra mentioned in a discussion of the best wines and wineries from the Tuscan coast, but year after year the wines are reliably outstanding and fairly priced for the neighborhood. The house style is one of bold, exuberant wines. Frankly, I am not sure it is possible to make anything but that type of wine in this part of Maremma. Petra is part of Vittorio Moretti’s empire, which is best known for its crown jewel, Bellavista. In 2009 the estate decided not to make their top selection, the Petra Rosso. At a time when virtually all wineries bottle their flagships pretty much every year, it is refreshing to see a winery willing to skip a vintage it deems less important. Importer: TMT USA, Inc., Manhasset, NY; tel. (210) 316-0106