The 2006 Vintage Tunina (Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Ribolla Gialla, Malvasia Istriana, Picolit) is quite rich and honeyed in this vintage. The ususal aromatic complexity seems stifled here by the super-ripe fruit and full-bodied personality, both of which dominate the wine’s balance. The 2006 comes across as a heavy and uninteresting Tunina. Since Jermann began using oak on this wine a few years back it has never been the same as the older vintages on which this wine’s reputation was built. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2014. Silvio Jermann has much more competition from his neighbors these days. One can’t help noticing that Jermann is increasingly being left behind by the area’s new generation of ambitious, quality-minded producers, something that was brought home to me quite clearly when I visited the region’s top estates a few months ago. Ironically for a producer famous for his whites, it is actually the reds that are now among the estate’s most interesting wines.Importer: Empson, USA, Alexandria, VA; tel. (703) 684-0900