2007 Italo Pietrantonij Pecorino IGT 13.5%
Anis, white flower and mineral aromas. Acidity greater than sweetness before food but perfect balance with food - textbook gastronomic. In fact, it's been a while since I've tasted so little sweetness in a white. A wine with character and self-esteem, with absolutely no need to please, but which does for precisely that reason.
1999 Tenuta di Sesta Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 14.0%
Pleasant cherry and light oak. Attractive, with alcohol and wood both well integrated at this point. Quite nice, though not as oomphy as a Brunello should be.
2003 Giuseppe Cappellano Barolo Pie Rupestris 14.0%
Had a gun to my head, so I had to open this. Had some hope it might be open for business because a winemaker we visited last week said he had drunk an 03 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo at lunch that same day and it was wonderful. But Cappellano's Barolo is from tougher soil than Mascarello's... Anyway, very interesting and idiosyncratic nose, with more gunpowder, eucalyptus and cloves than red fruit. Good acid/sweet balance, but still very tannic, specially if you swirl. Rich and complex, but needs time, much more time, too bad about that gun