WTN: Sella Lessona

When Betsy said she was making duck breast for dinner, my thoughts turned to Chambolle. Then she mentioned it was duck breasts with chiles and lemon, and Burgundy no longer seemed so wise. So went downstairs for an inexpensive Syrah, but somehow came upstairs with the 2001 Sella Lessona. Medium bodied, sweet cherry fruit, with soil, leather, and tar tones. This is more mature than I would have imagined, not at all over thehill, but the tannins seem integrated and the flavors developed. Balanced acidity, nice length. Not super-complex but interesting and fun, B+

The duck breasts were actually fried, spiced with a Sichuan pepper/salt mixture, topped with lemon, scallion, and chile. Sounds like a total wine killer, but actually didn't clash much (it helped the chile was mild, and the sichuan peppercorns were toasted with the salt, seemed to integrate them). We also had rice, carrots with dill, and salad.

Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency. 

We recently enjoyed the '08 Sella Orbello, which is a blend of mostly Barbera with some Nebbiolo and a bit of Vespolina, Bonarda and Cab Franc (IIRC). It started out really tight but blossomed nicely in our glasses over the course of a couple hours. A lovely food wine. I may need to pick up the Lessona - being mostly Nebbiolo, do you think this is a wine that benefits from some age?

I like the Orbello a lot (at least past vintages, the '08 is ordered and in box waiting for me at CSW).
I thnk the '01 was a bit more complex than it was when it first came out, and tannins more integrated. Maybe this could age longer, but I think I'll drink my other up in next 2-3 years.