Vinchio-Vaglio Serra, Barbera d’Asti DOCG (Piedmont, Italy) 2018

 A cooperative winery founded in 1959, Vinchio-Vaglio is named for two small towns in Piedmont’s Asti region.  The vineyards are perched on steep slopes whose soils tend to be sandy and calcareous. “Vigne Vecchie”, produced to celebrate the estate’s fiftieth anniversary, is made from Barbera grapes from vineyards that are an average of fifty years old.  After aging in temperature controlled stainless steel and cement tanks for about 16 month, followed by 6 months of bottle aging, the resulting wine is fresh and fruity.  It is pleasingly dry, nicely structured, and offers generous dark berry and cherry flavors.  Pleasingly versatile at the table the wine makes a good companion to poultry, lamb and beef and, of course, to red-sauced pasta preparations.