The 2006 Barbera d’Alba Fides is a dark, brooding wine loaded with ripe dark fruit, tar, smoke and French oak. This is an especially dark, sensual Barbera. Sweet, perfumed notes linger on the long finish. The Fides is very strong in 2006. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2014. Proprietor Pio Boffa clearly has a huge passion for wine. Then again, he owns some of the finest vineyards in the region. My recent tasting with Boffa included a number of older Barolos, all of which had developed very nicely. Importer: Maison Marques & Domaines, Oakland, CA; tel. (510) 587-2000

Offers blackberry and toasty oak on the nose, with dark chocolate. Full-bodied, soft and round, with loads of fruit. This loses a little focus on the center palate, but the finish is beautiful and focused. Drink now. 700 cases made, 200 cases imported.??–JS??Region: Italy / Piedmont / Barbera d'Alba Select to Add

A sinewy wine that begins with fruits de bois and chocolate, bolstered by cherry notes on the palate and just the faintest splash of tannin. The lovely plum-infused finish goes on and on. Drink with the best wood-burning oven pizza.——W.E.(2/1/2010)—— 90