Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: 95 points

($70) Saturated garnet with dark ruby reflections. Alluring nose of cinnamon, cedar, mint and iris. Wonderfully sweet in the mouth, with remarkably pure, fresh flavors of ripe plum, bing cherry and vanilla bean. Silky tannins and intriguing whiffs of cocoa and cassis on the lingering finish. This unfiltered wine is the first vintage from a single vineyard on the Castello Banfi estate. (Banfi Vintners, Old Brookville, NY)

Review date: July 2002