Last night was second without power, but I could use stovetop and decided to cook something simple by candlelight. Some good Italian fennel sausage was browned and then added to a tomato sauce sauce, pasta was cooked. And wine was opened - the 2000 Taurino Salice Salentino Riserva. A bit of oaky vanilla and spice on the nose, rather ponderous red fruit. This was a bit disappointing in comparison to other vintages- less acidic backbone, just ripe bordering overripe dark fruit. Decent enough for keeping warm when there's no heat (Con Ed came this afternoon, whew), but I won't rebuy this vintage. B-
Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.