Notes from easy take-out lunch at Jojo's shop. All wines again courtesy of Jojo who insisted.
Champagne Jacquesson Avize 1996 - Lovely fresh-baked bread nose. Light, lemony and fresh. Some sour apple and light coffee. Perhaps lacks a bit of depth now but it's possible age will cure that defect. Much better than the previous Jacquesson 1996 we had.
With pasta and roast chicken:
Roberto Voerzio Barbera d'Alba Vignetti Ceretto 2004 - Very dark. Without food, rather dumb and closed. Wakes up with food. A little hot. There seems to be an underlay of oak here but thankfully it's not overdone and just barely registers. Sweet fruit. Very soft and friendly. Very good.
Paolo Scavino Rocche dell' Annunziata Riserva Barolo 1998 - Wonderful aroma of leather-bound books. Pretty dark for Barolo. Sweet ripe fruit. Dried plums. Mushroom and tobacco. Already quite approachable. I would say not quite at peak yet but really close. Very good.