Remarkable is the 1998 Barbera d'Asti Ai Suma. This is the quintessential expression of super-concentrated, barrique-aged Barbera that other producers attempt to emulate. Braida's inky black/purple-colored 1998 boasts an explosive bouquet of blackberry and cherry jam mixed with graphite, vanilla, roasted meats, and spice. A sensual, full-bodied, voluptuously-textured offering with extraordinary purity, this is a monumental Barbera. Whether it will improve beyond 5-7 years is open to conjecture, but who can resist its provocative charms? Great stuff! Importer: Vinifera Imports, Ronkonkoma, NY; tel. (516) 467-5907