The F.lli Cigliuti 2018 Barbera d'Alba Campass opens to a medium dark color with hues of garnet and ruby. This wine from the Cigliuti family is robust and slightly wild in character, with brambly fruit, sour cherry and a touch of bitter almond. This release of 4,000 bottles is faithful to Barbera's roots, and you cannot help but ponder a heaping dish of tajarin with cheese, especially to soak up some of the 15% alcohol content. This refreshing and food-friendly Barbera closes with a faint hint of crushed white pepper. Campass is a section of the Serraboella cru.

The 2012 Barbera d'Alba Campass opens to dark, brooding concentration. This wine is ripe and succulent with sweet berry flavors that add to the power and richness delivered here. Tobacco and sweet spice appear briefly on the finish.

The Cigliuti’s 2010 Barbera d’Alba Campass is tightly wound and full of energy at this stage, which is not surprising given the personality of the vintage. Sweet red berries, flowers and spices emerge over time, but the 2010 needs at least another year in bottle to be fully expressive. The vibrant saline-infused finish is highly appealing. The 2010 Campass spent 18 months in barrique, 50% new. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2016. Cigliuti is one of the many small, family-run estates that embodies the finest of the artisan traditions of Piedmont. I found a lot to like in these current releases. The 2009 Barbareschi showed quite well, even though they had been bottled just prior to my visit. They are fresh, vibrant wines with lovely balance for the year. The 2010s are shaping up to be even better, but they are at least a year away from hitting the market. Claudia Cigliuti describes 2009 as a vintage with heavy snowfall in the winter and considerable rain during the spring. The summer was warmer than normal, which resulted in a slightly early harvest that started on September 8 and finished with the Nebbiolo being brought in between the 20th and 25th. Cigliuti makes two Barbareschi. The Vie Erte (formerly Vigne Erte) is aged in cask, while the Serraboella is aged 60% in cask and 40% in French oak. Importers: Indigenous Selections, Fort Lauderdale FL; tel. (954) 530-4021; David Vincent Selection, Union, NJ; tel. (908) 397-9117; Bianco Rosso Imports, Seattle, WA; tel. (206) 781-0702

The 2009 Barbera d’Alba Campass is a beautiful if somewhat bombastic Barbera that literally explodes on the palate with masses of dark red fruit, flowers, licorice and spices. The 2009 is an intense Campass, but the silky tannins add just enough refinement to balance some of the wine’s more opulent leanings. This is very nicely done. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2020. Importers: Indigenous Selections, Fort Lauderdale FL; tel. (954) 530-4021; David Vincent Selection, Union, NJ; tel. (908) 397-9117; Bianco Rosso Imports, Seattle, WA; tel. (206) 781-0702

The 2007 Barbera d-Alba Campass emerges from the glass with layers of silky, perfumed fruit. The 2007 is a gorgeous Campass endowed with superb depth in a style that avoids excess heaviness. This beautifully balanced, refined Barbera should drink well to age ten, perhaps beyond. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2017. Importers: Indigenous Selections, Fort Lauderdale FL; tel. (954) 530-4021; David Vincent Selection, Union, NJ; tel. (908) 397-9117; Bianco Rosso Imports, Seattle, WA; tel. (206) 781-0702