"The 1990 Le Pergole Torte marks the first vintage that saw a young Martino Manetti in the cellar working beside his father. This was an excellent vintage across Italy. Sadly, both bottles I tasted showed some faint cork taint or some other issue. Because a Riserva was produced in this vintage, the best barrels were directed to that effort and this wine suffered, no matter how you look at it. This wine opens to a very pretty appearance with dark saturation and thick concentration. The bouquet delivers dried fruit, candied citrus and fragrant tea leaf. Dark spice and bitter chocolate also appear in supporting roles. Instead of presenting evolved aromas, it appears inward looking and shy."