November 22 - An Early Thanksgiving

Finished this puppy off last night, a lovely Barbera with a nice rump steak and Italian-style veg. Now Barbera (best known type is Barbera d'Asti, others are Barbera del Monferrato and Barbera d'Alba which rarely leave Italy) is one of the most widely-planted grapes in Italy, and is a very high-yielding little bugger, so usually when one purchases, especially at a lower price point (under 10 quid), one does not expect too much. However, this one delivered, and had the backbone to last me a week once opened as well. Cherries with a light vanilla and a definitive caramel toastiness; more acid than tannin. Typically aged in large barrels of Slovenian oak, but the trend recently has been to use small French; the black late-harvesting grape likes warmish climes, but grown in northwestern Italy mostly, under same conditions as Nebbiolo, so go figure. 13.5%, this beauty from the province of Alessandria (the "d'Asti" bit) is grown in a 40 hectare vineyard up in the hills of Alice Bel Colle with other worthies like Nebbiolo, Moscato and Dolcetto.