1997 Cervaro della Sala

This is the chardonnay, with 20% of the local grechetto in the blend, and the 1997 appears to be the best since 1994. Light and brilliant gold in color. Honey and vanilla on the nose along with candied citric notes. Well sustained but by no means overbearing, with good volume and flavor density. Long and continuous on the palate but poised and balanced. Lower in acidity than usual (1997 was very warm in September) and, in all probability, likely to be shorter-lived.