An outstanding Bolgheri here that delivers both freshness and some excellent depth and complexity. Plenty of dark cherries and fresh blackberries on the nose with some cocoa powder, dark olives, stones and peppercorn spices. The full-bodied palate delivers plenty of fine, dusty tannins with a juicy, broad middle and a long, focused finish. Bravo! From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.

Showing a decisive primary note with generous fruit, the Podere Sapaio 2021 Bolgheri Rosso Volpolo has dark berries and black cherry, with hints of pie crust, a strong theme of purple fruits and a sharper note that is not completely mineral but flinty. Spice appears with more time in the glass with hints of light cinnamon and nutmeg. The wine has great length with powdery tannins. The blend is 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 15% Petit Verdot. You get great value, and this wine gives us great hope for the upcoming 2021 Sapaio. This is a 90,000-bottle release.

A nose full of dark berries has savory undertones and a stony saltiness that keep things interesting. Berries carry over to the palate, while undertones shift sweeter and more citrusy, before a spicy nuttiness emerges on the finish. Balanced tannins and acidity provide warmth. — Danielle Callegari

A taut, elegant red, with a pure beam of black cherry, blackberry, violet and mineral flavors. Balanced overall, with tannins unfolding as this winds down on the finish. Needs a year or two to open. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2024 through 2036. 7,500 cases made, 1,375 cases imported.

The current release of this cuvée, the 2021 Volpolo was bottled in December of 2022 after 14 months in a mix of barrique and tonneaux. The blend is 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot and Petit Verdot. Pouring a deep purple/red hue, it opens to aromas of Mediterranean herbs, blackberry, and mint. Full-bodied on the palate, it’s lush with ripe, plush, textured tannins that provide a silky mouthfeel, and it has a clean finish. Offering a nice balance of fruit and savory richness, with notes of turned earth on the finish, this generous but well-balanced wine is drinking well now or and will drink well the next 8-10 years. Drink 2024-2034.