Tasting Notes - Italy, Piedmont

2007 Pio Cesare Dolcetta d'Alba

Known as the wine of the peasants, this reknowned producer has made the most of this underrated grape. Plenty of sour red cherry, with some coffee and spice, and a slight hint of smoke, combines with medium acidity and a very soft texture to make a very easy-drinking and food-friendly wine. A good effort, and a general party-pleaser. (05/10)

2007 Vietti Barbera d'Alba Tre Vigne

Dark ruby red colour with bright cherry aromas, plus blackberries with a bramble-like edge and a hint of vanilla. Saliva-inducing acidity in the mouth, medium-bodied with very soft tannins, but the palate is dominated by sour cherries, which leaves a slightly bitter aftertaste which lingers a touch too long. Maybe in time this will soften, there is well enough fruit there to make me think that this could be the case. (04/10)

2005 G.Canonica Barbera d'Alba

Soft ripe black cherry cheesecake on the nose - slightly sweet ripe juicy fruit with good underlying structural tannins and silky texture - still has typical slight confected character but this is a serious style barbera nonetheless - very good