Regarded as one of the best producers in Friuli, the wines of Ronchi di Cialla age remarkably well, and they are known for holding back certain vintages and re-releasing them to the public, many years later. A case in point, with this 1999 Cillabianco, which represents an exceptional year in Friuli thanks to a moderate summer and a long, dry autumn. A blend of 60% Ribolla Gialla with Picolit and Verduzzo, Ciallabianco is the top white wine of the estate, fermented and aged in barrique with minimal lees stirring. Strong and broad in its youth, the Ribolla is now mellow, making a fine stage for Picolit and Verduzzo to shine with marzipan, rose, and candied citrus. Gold in the glass, the fruit still hangs-on with dried pear, nectarine pit, and yellow apple skin, then fades away nicely into a strong, Riesling-like minerality. With one or two more years left “in the tank,” I would enjoy this with grilled seafood, garlic-ginger sauces, or anything pork "plus" bacon, and share it with an old friend who appreciates older wine, perhaps, someone you met in 1999.~Allegra A