The 2011 Barbaresco opens to a thin garnet color and feminine aromas of pressed blue flowers, white almond skin and cherry cola. Pretty nuances of spice and tobacco also appear but in small, distant pulses. This interpretation is gentle and mild in terms of intensity, but its mild-mannered personality is ultimately the wine-s biggest selling point. It is appropriate for near-term consumption. Drink: 2015-2020. Owned by the Stupino family, Castello di Neive includes 60 hectares of vines in the Neive township. The family purchased the castle and their flagship Santo Stefano vineyard holdings back in 1964. Importer: Winebow Inc., www.winebow.com

Offers cherry, tar and menthol flavors, emphasized by dense tannins. Starts out graceful, turning chewy, with a rustic feel on the long, briary finish. Needs time to resolve, but shows character. Best from 2017 through 2025. 4,000 cases made, 1,200 cases imported.??–BS??Region: Italy / Piedmont / Barbaresco Select to Add