The Poliziano 2016 Cortona Merlot in Violas pours from the bottle with a dark and thickly concentrated appearance. The wine opens to rich fruit, plum, blackberry, rosemary essence and a touch of dried mint. The tannins show some fine texture or graininess on the close, but the richness of the mouthfeel washes smoothly over any rough edges. This wine has the depth and width to pair with a succulent steak in cream and pepper sauce.

The 2007 Merlot In Violas is a surprisingly big, powerful wine bursting with sheer personality. Varietal character takes a back seat in this full-bodied, structured Merlot. Tar, smoke, licorice and a host of dark aromas and flavors are layered into the brooding finish. The wine's balance and overall sense of harmony are superb. This is a super-impressive showing. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2017. Importer: Dalla Terra, Napa, CA; tel. (707) 259-5405

This is a gorgeous wine with enormous intensity of fruit that comes forward as cherry, blackberry, spice, leather and cigar box. The texture is soft, smooth and velvety: In Violas has the heft and persistency to stand up to rosemary-marinated T-bone steak. ——M.L.(12/15/2010)—— 92

In Violas is an oak-driven expression of Merlot from Cortona in Tuscany with dark concentration, ripe berry aromas and loads of spice, toasted nut, tobacco and leather. The wine still shows some bitterness on the tannins that will soften with more time in the bottle. It ends with almond-like flavors.——M.L.(11/1/2009)—— 91