Notes from the bottle: From grapes on our Tuscan estate in the hills of Cortona. Aged 12 months in small french oak barrels to ensure smootheness and early drinkability. Excellent with antipasto and pasta, and with red or white meats.

Producer: Baracchi Winery. The Baracchi winery is located on the Cortonese hillside and adjoins the Relais. Riccardo Baracchi strongly desired to continue the family tradition of growing grapes and producing wine since 1860 giving it now a modern character and great quality with renowned wine maker, Stefano Chioccioli

Grape composition: 100% Sangiovese

My notes: Absolutely perfect itallian for a rather cold rainy summer evening. I am not a big fan of Sangiovese's but this one is quite remarakable, ruby red. I think cherries... very concentrated cherries....very yummy! Very smooth, very elegant, very cherries and just yummy.

Buy Factor: Good and Giftable.

Cost: $24.99 a bottle.