One of the benefits of the Bella Terra series of wines is the aging in bottle prior to release (~1 – 1.5 years) – allowing the wines to fully meld so that when it’s time to release them they are ready to drink. Just released, this 22 month in 1/3 new, 1/3 one year old and 1/3 neutral oak housed wine shows it’s a “gorgeous piece of winemaking” (quoted from my own rough notes): smooth and silky with lots of dark fruit (blackberry / black cherry) subtle cedar, smoky and spicy with nips of vanilla and cinnamon; there’s a touch of violet wafting up from the glass as well. Ready now but will definitely be available for your drinking pleasure till 2030. Price: $44.95 – Rating: ****+