Braida, Barbera d’Asti DOCG (Piedmont, Italy) 2015

 In the chase for the next great Nebbiolo from Barolo, wine lovers often overlook the exemplary character of the best Barberas.  Perhaps no Barbera is more worthy of attention than the Braida Bricco dell’Uccellone.  Giuseppe and Raffaella Bologna are the third-generation proprietors of the Braida estate and are united in their quest to elevate the Barbera to the top echelon of red wine grapes.  Their 2015 Bricco dell’Uccellone is a powerful and complex wine.  Lovely aromas of ripe plum, blackberry, violets, bay leaf and sandalwood emanate from the glass.  The flavors are luscious and rich, with layers of black cherry, plum and blackberry fruits underlain by a hint of vanilla and an earthy/leathery complexity that lingers nicely at the finish.  This is top-class Barbera that can compare with similarly-priced wines from any region or grape.