Antinori Pian Delle Vigne (Brunello di Montalcino) 1997 w/ osso buco

As noted when last reviewed in 10/2012, I had targeted this wine for drinking in late 2013. So I popped it tonight to serve with veal osso buco (using the recipe from Williams-Sonoma Essentials of Slow Cooking cookbook). As expected, the wine was at peak or just past it. The bouquet was redolent of tobacco, earth, fall leaves, dried herbs, and red fruit. On the palate, it suggested blackberries, black cherries, prunes, and cedar. This bottle was slightly better than the last one. Grade: A-/A