2001 Sella Lessona Alto Piemonte 13.0%
Nose of stewed prunes and leather with a hint of oxidation. Quite astringent, with marked tannins and considerable acidity, the latter initially overwhelming the fruit. Over time, with pâté de campagne and baguette, the acidity is neutralized by the alkalinity of the food, the tannins soften, the oxidation vanishes, and everything falls into place, like a play after so many rehearsals. The end of the bottle became quite pleasurable; this is clearly a food wine, that needs to be paired with its natural local complement, tomato sauce, or neutralized by the mild fattiness of a pâté.