It may surprise you, but in Italy, where indigenous varietals such as Nebbiolo, Sangiovese and Aglianico are the source of some of the country's greatest red wines, Merlot carries a reputation that is arguably as impressive as these other selections.

Excellent versions such as the Brandolini Vistorta in Friuli or Pàtrimo from Feudi di San Gregorio in Campania display notable complexity and breeding. But the most remarkable examples of Italian Merlot, wines that offer power and impeccable structure, originate from one region, Tuscany, where a handful of producers have fashioned some of the country's most iconic and in-demand wines.