A blend of 44% Sangiovese, 37% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19% Merlot, the 2019 Modus is a very contemporary wine with soft extraction, lots of dark fruit and gentle tannins spread over a full-bodied style. You get sunshine and warm Tuscany in the glass, and although this blend of grapes tells you less about its territory, it gives you a generous glass to pair with grilled meats. Black cherry is followed by pencil shaving, sweet earth and barbecue spice. Only the 15% alcohol content is a little too much.

A blend of Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon (almost in equal parts), the barrique-aged Ruffino 2017 Modus is soft, rich, modern and fruit-forward. The wine adopts a familiar blueprint as a blended red from sunny Tuscany that joins the forces of its indigenous and international grapes. You get terrific value and a fundamentally versatile Italian wine that could pair with local or international dishes. This is the ultimate all-rounder.

This is a well-priced blend of 39% Sangiovese, 35% Merlot and 26% Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2016 Modus opens to a darkly enriched and concentrated appearance. This is a full-bodied Tuscan red with layers of black fruit, spice, tar and fragrant tobacco. The wine is dense, velvety and firm with soft tannins. This is a great steak fajita wine. An ample 185,000 bottles were made.

The 2015 Modus is a Tuscan blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. This is a dark, contemporary and profoundly exuberant wine that shows the confidence, opulence and richness of this warm and sunny vintage. The wine opens to an inky and darkly saturated appearance. Aromas of black fruit, spice, tar and rose lift heavily from the bouquet. This vintage of Modus hits all the high notes with a thick and lavish approach.

The 2013 Modus is a rich and succulent Tuscan red but I don't believe it breaks the 90-point barrier. The blend is Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, and the style adopted here is richly extracted and thickly textured. The bouquet offers a solid core of black fruit and currant with green notes of caper, olive, spice and grilled herb. The bouquet is driven by the two French grapes, although the mouthfeel shows an authentic Italian personality with bright acidity and Mediterranean intensity.