Marchesi di Barolo, Barbera d’Alba (Piedmont, Italy) 2008

 This is a delicious rendering of Barbera that is true to the variety (relatively low tannin and high acid) while showing enough soft, ripe fruit to work well with a wide range of foods or even be enjoyed as a stand-alone sipper…which is generally not the case with this variety.  Dark cherry fruit is brightened with a backnote recalling tart cherry pie filling, with accents of mushrooms and autumn leaves.  Versatile and very, very appealing.