G. D. Vajra, Barbera d’Alba (Piedmont, Italy) 2011

Vajra is a top Barolo producer, so when I spied their Barbera on a list at East 12th Osteria, an excellent, but under-the-radar restaurant with a thoughtful wine list in New York City, it was an obvious choice.  Ripe and juicy, it had the refreshing and bright acidity characteristic of Barbera without a trace of sourness.  Its suave texture makes it easy to drink now with hearty wintertime pasta, such as tagliatelle with a mushroom sauce.