Super ripe black cherries, mint, tar and licorice burst from the glass in the 2009 Nero di Troia Violante. This exuberant, super-ripe wine delivers incredible quality and pure personality within its price range. Hints of tar, smoke and incense lend a brooding quality to the finish that is highly appealing. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2015. Rivera is one of the great estates in Italy. The estate excels with their reds, which are not only gorgeous in absolute terms, but also exceedingly fairly priced. Under the direction of proprietor Sebastiano de Corato, Rivera makes wines that capture the exuberance that Puglia is capable of, while maintaining a gorgeous sense of structure. Readers who want to discover the wines of Puglia would do well to start with Rivera. Importer: Bedford International, Larchmont, NY; tel. (914) 833-2725

The 2008 Nero di Troia Violante is a big wine packed with dark cherries, spices and licorice. There is plenty of density and length to match an unrestrained wildness that is quite appealing, especially in this price range. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2018. Rivera is one of the top names in Puglia. The entry-level wines generally deliver excellent value while the higher-end wines compete with the best in the region. Unfortunately I was not able to taste the 2006 Aglianico Cappellaccio, which the estate felt needed more time in bottle. Importer: Bedford International, Larchmont, NY; tel. (914) 833-2725

The 2007 Nero di Troia Violante is deep and textured in its vibrant dark fruit. This is another delicious, juicy wine from Rivera that offers incredible quality for the money. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2012. This is another strong set of releases from Rivera, one of Puglia’s leading producers. Even better, the wines remain very fairly priced considering the quality of what is in the bottle. Importer: Bedford International, Larchmont, NY; tel. (914) 833-2725