Agricole Vallone Salice Salentino Rosso Riserva Vereto, 2000

This has been a very good wine, but it's time to drink up. The volatile acidity that was once part of its rustic charm has now taken over too much of the wine's personality. It's still deep and dark with smells and flavors of dark cherries and their skins, licorice and purple flowers. It matches up well with ribollito, a rustic Italian vegetable stew, and is very enjoyable. But its better days are in the past.