The 2008 Pinot Bianco offers up ripe, tropical fruit in a forward, up-front style. It shows excellent length and a polished, refined close. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2011. Gianni Menotti makes some of the richest, most fully-flavored wines readers will come across in Friuli. The entry-level 2008 whites appear to be excellent across the board, but it is the 2006 Merlot Graf de La Tour that steals the show among these new releases. Importer: Empson, USA, Alexandria, VA; tel. (703) 684-0900