Perla Terra, Barolo DOCG (Piedmont, Italy) 2018

 Dalla Terra has specialized over the years in representing good-quality-for-price Italian family wineries spread out across that peninsula.  In bringing out its own Barolo, although under a separate brand, the company explains it wanted to create a quality Barolo at a price somewhat lower than the norm.  To do so, they became négociants in buying grapes from several different Barolo crus and then making the final wine.  It’s a very good first attempt, certainly one worth the price if you like fine Nebbiolos.  It have lots of aromas of berries and barrels, and the taste is very smooth with rounded cherry and blackberry flavors, lots of pecan-shell tannins and mellow wood.  It has great structure, with opulent clouds of fruit at the beginning, followed by a long, lean finish with just a hint of bitters.  It would pair beautifully with the succulent rare meat, mushroom duxelles and flaky puff pastry of beef Wellington.