A little more than a year ago, I picked up two bottles of this well regarded wine. A couple months later, we opened one; much to our dismay, it was awful. I suspected it was corked, although the taint in the wine was rather unusual. In any event, that bottle went down the drain, and the other gathered dust in the cellar for the last year.
Last night we were having a bolognese, and figured 'what the heck, let's try it again'. So we popped the cork about an hour before dinner - and had a back-up Cabernet on hand just in case. The back up wine is now safely back in the cellar --- the Trinchero was amazing. The color is deep, very deep, but clear. Wonderful nose. Great varietal character. Rich, with just a hint of oak. Dark fruits, supple, and balanced tannins. While it might continue to do well for a few years, the
2000 is definitely drinking right now.
My only regret - I broke my own rule and only bought 2 bottles at the time. I almost always insist on buying 3 bottles when trying a wine that I have any expectations of. Dang it - now to try and find some more 2000!