Agostino Lenci—a shoe designer with a passion for agriculture and fine wines—personifies the modernization of this previously overlooked region, the Maremma. He bought property (with great southern exposure) there in 1997, immediately started planting vines, constructed a modern cellar on his property, and concentrated all of his efforts on the noble task of crafting high-quality wines. Fattoria di Magliano encompasses a total of 91 hectares, half of which are planted with vines. Despite the relatively large size of his vineyards, Agostino follows high-density farming practices and harvests low yields in order to maintain a degree of concentration in his wines that is virtually unheard of in the region.

Heba is a heady blend of 85% Sangiovese and 15% Syrah, and is beyond any doubt the juiciest, most extracted and powerful example of Morellino di Scansano at PJ’s. With its deep ruby red color with lovely shimmering violet highlights it offers an intensely fruity nose of blackberries, plums, cherries, fresh warm vanilla beans and a sublime underlying smoky cedar note. The explosive fruit on the palate is dense and simultaneously vibrant, while exquisite wild herb and supple wood notes embrace the finish. Heba is a must have for your next barbeque, a dream with short ribs, perfect with herb encrusted slow roasted pork and ideal with aged, veined cheeses.

—Donald