Simone Scaletta, Sarsera, Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont, 2010

Tasting: Barbera d’Alba

Fragrant violet nose. Crunchy berries midpalate. Elegant and spicy. Good complex red fruits and firm gripping tannins. Meaty and savoury finish.

Tasting: Barbera d’Alba

Opaque red. Rather stewed nose with some reduction. Broad and plump, rich and dense, but it’s also quite heavy-handed and extracted and shows a lack of purity. Thickly textured. Very oaky finish with some gawky acidity.

Tasting: Barbera d’Alba

Deep red. Minty floral red berries and flowers, with a touch of overipeness. Then clean fresh and vibrant with lovely precision and laser-like delivery of the red fruit flavours. Long pure finish, but some may not like the stewed overripe quality.