A very different product compared to the Barbera d'Asti Superiore Ca' di Pian, the 2018 Barbera d'Asti Superiore Bionzo shows dark and mature fruit with more oak, spice and softness. The fruit is concentrated and bold, showing broad-brush intensity with blackberry, plum and a pop of fresh acidity.

Packed tight with black fruit and dried blackberry, the 2017 Barbera d'Asti Superiore Bionzo is an inky and darkly concentrated expression that brings on all the rich fruit of the vintage. There are subtle hints of spice, tar and campfire ash at the rear, but this vintage will be remembered for the depth and intensity of all that black primary fruit. Some 10,000 bottles were released.

Bionzo is a vineyard site in Costigliole d'Asti planted to vines aged 80 years old or more. The La Spinetta 2016 Barbera d'Asti Superiore Bionzo is a bold wine that offers generous fruit, but then it pulls back with care to show elegance and complexity. The vibrant character of the fruit shines bright, as does the softness and textural richness of this vintage. Dried plum, blackberry and sweet cherry are backed by baking spice, tilled earth and cedar wood. Some 10,000 bottles were made.

The mint, eucalyptus, black currant and black cherry flavors are mature in this red. Its tannins are assertive and dry, but there is no point in aging this further. It needs a plate of salumi. Drink now. 2,900 cases made, 950 cases imported.??–BS??Region: Italy / Piedmont / Barbera d'Asti Select to Add

Barbera enthusiasts should drop whatever they are doing and actively seek this wine. The 2014 Barbera d'Asti Superiore Bionzo is a creation of inspiration and beauty—and not just because it defies logic that such a sumptuous wine could be made during a growing season that was harder on the Barbera grape above all. This is not the first rodeo for these old vines. Some sort of internal plant institutional memory has cleverly guided these vines though adverse growing conditions. Of these old vines, up to 20% are still planted on their original root stock, and those roots have penetrated profound depths. Indeed, this wine opens to an inky black, impenetrable appearance. Dark fruit aromas float slowly to the top. Efforts have been made to keep the alcohol low, but this powerful wine still registers 14.5% alcohol. Because of severe fruit selection, only 1,500 bottles were made in 2014, down from an average of 3,000 in an average vintage. This is a lovely wine.