Araldica, Barbera d’Asti (Piedmont, Italy) 2012

This is a fabulous bargain.  Barbera from Asti and the Monferrato Hills consistently provides a lot of character for a very affordable price.  The 2012 Araldica bottling is exemplary.  Luscious raspberry, red cherry and red plum fruit tones are interwoven with elements of dried herbs, earth, potpourri  and cracked pepper.  The flavors are pure and multilayered, with the juicy red fruits enhanced by the herbal and spicy nuances.  The texture is rich and the finish is long.  It’s a perfect pasta or pizza wine for the coming winter months.