I admit: I’m totally besotted with wines from this grape and appellation. It may not be for everyone. Its aromas are intense with roses, fresh and dried, strawberries and cherries. In the mouth, the roses persist with ripe cherry, strawberry, blackberry fruit with savory, wood spice notes. It’s medium bodied with vibrant acidity and ripe tannins. The fruit character, while intense, does not dominate. Fruit, acidity, tannins and alcohol strike a lovely balance. Don’t be confused by Alba in the name of the grape. It is from the Marche region of Italy, not Piedmont. The grape was nearly extinct, but has been revived by the interest of growers like Mario Lucchetti, who started planting the grape in the early 1980s. The Guardengo is a single vineyard wine.