Notes from Astor Wines:

"This Barbera comes from vines in the San Lorenzo vineyard in Barolo. The soils are a mix of sand, chalk and clay soils and the vines are 25 years old. Aged in old, large casks (botti) for 20 months before bottling. Pristine and fresh on the palate.

Many Italian brands are well known and respected around the world. So, if the best shoes and dresses are tailored in Italy and the fastest cars are assembled and designed there, then is there any surprise that other pleasures are made there as well. You, of course, know there are many winemakers in Italy, but only a few of them have made the name for themselves approaching the status of Gucci or Ferrari. Bartolo Mascarello has become a luxury brand name in the winemaking industry. This family-owned winery best known for their Barolo makes one of the best, sophisticated, and brilliant Barbera d’Albas. If you feel festive or have something to celebrate, go for this bottle of fresh dark fruit and elegance on the palate.

Barbera is grown all over Italy, but the best examples of this red grape come from Piedmont, where it is made into all manner of wines - from easy-drinking quaffers to serious, cellar-worthy bottlings. Wherever they fall on the spectrum of stodginess, however, they are generally ruby-colored, full-bodied, and highly acidic, with remarkably low levels of tannins. The areas that are most strongly associated with Barbera (for good reason) are the Alba and Asti DOCs, which consistently produce delightful wines at a wide range of price points. Outside of Italy, a few other regions are growing Barbera as well, including Argentina, California and Australia."