Agricole Vallone Salice Salentino Rosso Riserva Vereto, 2000

Agricole Vallone's Salice Salentino has reached a good stage of maturity, at least for my taste. The color has lightened to a brick red, and the aromas and flavors are nicely burnished, although this wine has never been anything other than outgoing and friendly. I smell dark cherries, licorice and lots of ripe skin tannins. There is substance and structure, mostly from the peels, but the ripe fruit qualities still dominate. It's silky smooth, and the flavors glide all the way to a long, pleasing finish. I bought this wine for $4.79 on closeout three or four years ago, and I'm still getting my dividends on a regular basis. Alas, only two bottles left.