Barbera

As widely planted in Italy as Sangiovese, but at its best in the hills around Alba and Asti in Italy's north-west, where it is planted on east and west facing slopes. Good, low-cropped Barbera has a deep colour, low tannins, crisp acidity and rich fruit flavours of forest fruit, cherry and, particularly, blueberry. It works well either as a tank-aged fruit driven wine or, chiefly for the old vines and well-placed single vineyard sites, as a complex, silky barrique-aged wine.