Powerful and concentrated, featuring blackberry, plum, fruitcake and iron flavors. Exuberant and resonant on the long, iron- and spice-tinged finish. Think salumi and cheeses. Drink now through 2028. 1,300 cases made, 50 cases imported.??–BS??Region: Italy / Piedmont / Barbera d'Alba Select to Add

The Elio Grasso 2020 Barbera d'Alba Vigna Martina shows hot-vintage intensity with dark cherry, blackberry and spice. Barbera has a medium-long vegetative cycle, and it handles the warm seasons very well, although Gianluca Grasso tells me that the upcoming 2022 vintage is especially well-suited to this grape. This wine sees 20 to 25 days of submerged cap and finishes with 18 months in oak. The grape has naturally high acidity, "but climate change helps mitigate that issue," says Gianluca.

The barrique-aged Elio Grasso 2019 Barbera d'Alba Vigna Martina is a lovely expression of Piedmont's versatile Barbera grape. The wine is absolutely full and generous with a wide aromatic playlist that skirts across black cherry, spice, hazelnut and bitter chocolate. The high 15% alcohol is noticeable, but the wine offers plenty of layering and richness to round it off. This is a big production of 18,000 bottles.

What you notice first on the Elio Grasso 2017 Barbera d'Alba Vigna Martina is a medley of crushed mineral, plum and some charred meat on the grill. The hot vintage works well with the Barbera grape, lowering the acidity and adding extra flavors of hazelnut, crushed flowers and dark fruit. Overall, this pretty wine is fresh and vibrant. Production is an ample 24,000 bottles.

A fresh style, breezy and full of black cherry and black currant flavors, with a kiss of oak spice. Balanced and charming, ending with a light dusting of tannins. Drink now through 2023. 2,000 cases made, 28 cases imported.??–BS??Region: Italy / Piedmont / Barbera d'Alba Select to Add