Aged Barbera!

There is joy in a glass of Barbera when its treated like a Barolo. Flavio Roddolo does this better than most, hailing from the southern Monforte d'Alba in Barolo. With a little age, Barbera's boisterous personality is tempered by brooding fruit and enough acidity to carry it for years, a hallmark of this grape.

Brawny, layered and evolved Barbera from an uncompromising winemaker in Barolo. In their youth, Roddolo wines are chalky and austere, promising real beauty down the road. Well, we have arrived with this 2012 Barbera d’Alba Superiore, a beautifully crafted red that unfolds gracefully without ever losing its backbone. Macerated cherries, Aleppo pepper and black tea are just a few of my notes during a recent tasting.

• WINEMAKER: Falvio Roddolo
• VARIETAL: Barbera
• APPELLATION: Bricco Appiani, Monforte d’Alba
• REGION: Piemonte
• VINEYARD: organic with biodynamic preparations
• WINERY: native yeast fermented, aging in neutral casks
• ABV: 14
• SERVE: Open, decant for 30m, enjoy slowly over an evening