Merlot – Sagrantino – Sangiovese is a regional blend of three red wine varieties in Umbria, central Italy. The finest expression of the blend, the Montefalco DOC, requires that the wine is comprised of at least 70 percent Sangiovese. Sagrantino is the other key player in the blend, adding an intense dark color and earthen spiciness to the wine's aroma profile. Sagrantino is a tannic variety and responds well to barrel maturation, which allows the mouthfeel to mellow and for the flavors to balance. Black cherries and blackberries are common flavors associated with Sagrantino and higher proportions of the grape result in a darker, more brooding wine. Merlot has become one of Italy's favorite adopted grapes since the variety gained prominence in Tuscany in the 1990s. It is used, typically sparingly, in this blend to help smooth out some of Sangiovese and Sagrantino's more austere edges, and to add some fruitful buoyancy.