This has been our biggest Barbera find ever even though its discovery was accidental- the byproduct of a dalliance with Palladino’s two amazing Serralunga d’Alba Barolos.  It was the Palladinos’ importer who tipped us off.  ‘No one knows about their Barbera,’ he said, ‘and it’s killer, especially for the price!’ Turns out he was absolutely right!  Here was everything we could possibly ask for in a juicy, complex Barbera d’Alba at a price that allows us to enjoy it every night of the week should you want Barbera every night of the week- and why wouldn’t you?  Sourced from older Barbera vines in the Parafada, Ornato and San Bernardo crus of Serralunga, the wine is aged for eight months in large, neutral Slovenian oak botti casks before being released.  There’s texture from the wood aging but no taste of oak.  It’s really a marvelous, very tasty red.  The 2018 has had time to mature in the bottle and its initial edginess has given way to rich, plummy purple fruit and a very generous palate. Of course it has all of the natural acidity associated with this grape but in a rounder, more pleasant and more complex format.  The classic partner to red-sauced pasta, it would be a marvelous call with your next bowl of spaghetti and meat balls, a delicious pork stew or even a big plate of your favorite smoked meats and cheese.  Drinking perfectly well now, it will provide excellent house wine service over the next five to seven years.  But yours will all gone by then.  I know mine will……   Very highly recommended.  

Winery Notes:  Both easy to drink and and elegant, it has a fruity nose with notes of blackberry, strawberry and cherry.  The palate is well balanced, with a fresh, dry taste. As it ages, it relaxes and becomes soft and velvety. Intense ruby red. On ageing, develops dark red tinges. Vinous, intense, becomes ethereal and fragrant on ageing.  Dry, crisp, full-bodied, with a pleasant tarry flavour.  It adapts easily to any kind of food. To be served at a temperature of 18° C when young and 18° C if aged.