A plush, vibrant version, exuding blackberry, black cherry and earth flavors. It's velvety and intense, with fine balance and a fresh, fruit-filled aftertaste. Drink now. 220 cases made, 30 cases imported.??–BS??Region: Italy / Piedmont / Barbera d'Alba Select to Add

The Massolino 2017 Barbera d'Alba Gisep focuses on the sultry, smoky and sophisticated side of this favorite Piedmont grape. If the estate's classic Barbera is a naked and stripped-down expression, this wine shows the fancy clothing and accessories that get it into the VIP room. This hot vintage is especially dressed up with tighter extract, weight and fruity darkness. The structural imprint of the wine is more pronounced with fruit and oak tannins. It ages in botte and tonneaux in equal parts. This vintage is almost overdone, but Barbera always holds the heat of the vintage in a more controlled manner. Some 5,300 bottles were released.

A chunky style, dense with blackberry and plum fruit flavors and solid tannins. The telltale acidity keeps this moving, lending energy to the lingering finish. Drink now through 2024. 416 cases made, 30 cases imported.??–BS??Region: Italy / Piedmont / Barbera d'Alba Select to Add

This wine is named after grandpa Giuseppe, or Gisep, who planted the vines used to make this wine some half century ago. The 2016 Barbera d'Alba Gisep is only made in the best years, and the fruit is harvested and fermented separately from Massolino's other Barbera. This wine was made in 2015, 2016 and 2017, but not 2018. Opening to a beautiful and opulent dark color, it shows considerable power and heft. It ages in oak for 18 months in both small oak barrel and botte grande, but it could use another year of aging to reach an even higher level of integration and balance. The Giusep is a perfect wine for grilled steak.

Bright, with cherry, blackberry and violet aromas and flavors, this is expressive and complex. Very harmonious, with an aftertaste of bitter cherry, almond and mineral. Drink now through 2023. 200 cases imported.??–BS??Region: Italy / Piedmont / Barbera d'Alba Select to Add