The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot Brentino is impossible to ignore. White pepper offsets an alluring mix of crushed raspberries and lavender. This is like pure silk, communicating elegance and refinement, with wild berry fruits and purple-toned inner florals that drench the palate, lifted by a core of brisk acidity. The 2020 comes across as more immediate than past vintages, finishing with medium-length yet only lightly structured while leaving a hint of licorice to linger on. The Brentino continues to be a remarkable value.

A blend of equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2020 Brentino is a darkly saturated red wine with dried blackberry, dark currant and exotic spice. You also get hints of Mediterranean rosemary or lavender bud. The finish, however, sees a lot of toasted chestnut and clove over full-bodied texture. Some 90,000 bottles were made.