The 2010 Barbera d’Asti Superiore Epico is one of the most unusual wines I tasted this year. The Epico emerges from a parcel of 60-year-old vines. Part of the fruit is given 20 days or so of drying, while the rest of the fruit is left to hang until it reaches an advanced stage of maturity, an approach typical in some parts of Italy (Veneto comes to mind), but not Piemonte. As one might expect, the resulting wine is rich, voluptuous and deeply textured. Cinnamon, tobacco, dried flowers and plums are all woven together nicely. The 2010 possesses lovely depth and volume all the way through to the finish. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2016. Importer: Massanois Imports, Washington, DC; tel. (202) 470-6769