The 2003 Pignacolusse (Pignolo) is a full-bodied effort packed with dark jammy fruit, chocolate and toasted oak. Still quite primary, it also possesses excellent length but the tannins finish hard and dry, very much in keeping with the quality of the vintage and the variety. The wine's imposing tannins will require some time to settle down. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2018. Silvio Jermann was among the early leaders in the move towards high quality wines in Friuli. His Vintage Tunina, a field blend of late-harvested fruit, was a trail blazing wine in the 1980s even if today it is not always as outstanding as it used to be. Jermann has finally finished construction of what can only be described as a massive, cavernous cellar in Ruttars, the source of the fruit for his Capo Martino and Pignolo. The estate makes a set of entry-level varietal wines as well as its top bottlings, most of which are blends. Jermann appears to have been more successful with his whites in 2004 and 2006. His 2005s seem to lack body as well complexity.Importer: Empson, USA, Alexandria, VA; tel. (703) 684-0900.