I'm always curious to taste old vintages from Italian regions--like Puglia--that have not enjoyed a very long tradition of wine cellaring. In fact, there are very few wineries with library stocks that go back in time. This is something that Tormaresca is trying to rectify. The 2007 Castel del Monte Chardonnay Pietrabianca is a fascinating wine. It definitely shows its age and signs of oxidation. But instead of abrupt butterscotch or caramel, the aging process has veered towards mellow tones of honey and candied fruit. The wine possesses natural thickness and creaminess, but the flavor profile and the bouquet are pretty much intact considering the fact that this wine was originally engineered for near-term consumption.