Poderi Elia, Barbaresco (Piedmont, Italy) 2012

I’ve never taken particular note of any wine from this producer before, but this one took me by the collar and demanded my attention.  Ripe and juicy on the nose as well as the palate, it offers fabulous breadth and depth of flavor, but without seeming over-ripe, over-extracted, or over-anything.  There are no signs of cellar tricks or bolstering from wood here, just perfect Nebbiolo fruit.  Fabulous.