From jeweler-turned-vintner Giovanni Bulgari, the Podernuovo a Palazzone 2018 Argirio is Cabernet Franc, although past vintages were blended with some Cabernet Sauvignon. The first thing you notice is the power of the wine and the 15% alcohol content, which reflects the warm sunshine of southern Tuscany and a hot vintage. The bouquet reveals dark fruit, spice, spicy redwood, teak and baker's chocolate.

This is basically Cabernet Franc with a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2015 Argirio shows a pretty saturated color and presents big fruity ripeness. In fact, the folks at Podernuovo a Palazzone waited to harvest in order to get that extra maturity and eliminate any green notes from the grapes. This Tuscan red shows some light chalky, mineral notes of limestone beyond blackberry and backcurrant. It spends eight to 12 months in barrique. Oak spice and smoke aromas do emerge with clarity. There is a bit of toasted chestnut and dry hay on the close.

Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot make up the 2014 Argirio. Those Cabernet aromas reign supreme. Inky dark fruit is followed by grilled herb, rosemary twig and cured leather. This is a full-bodied red wine with luscious dark fruit and savory spice. Those spicy flavors follow through with persistence and power on the finish.

Giovanni Bulgari's 2012 Argirio is a dark and succulent wine with a full bouquet of Cabernet-like aromas. No surprise, the blend consists of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and you taste each one of those grapes in distinct fashion. Bold dark fruit comes on the heels of savory spice, dark tobacco, bitter chocolate and grilled herb. The ample heat of the vintage is a guarantee that you never get any green or astringent tones. In fact, the results are soft, supple and smooth. The finish is velvety and long.

A blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot from a seven-hectare vineyard, the 2011 Argirio is the most modern and extracted of Podernuovo's new releases. You can feel the heat of the vintage in the extraordinary opulence and softness of the fruit. In fact, it's almost too much of a good thing and you taste the 14.5% alcohol on the finish as well. Black impenetrable fruit sets the stage, and the wine follows through to the palate with super thickness, firm tannins and full-bodied appeal. Argirio is named after the thick, clay soils of the vineyard.