Il Cascinone Barbera d'Asti Rive 2007

Here is a wonderful Barbera I had at Il Poeta paired with an appetizer of porcini mushroom risotto with truffle oil and a main course of short ribs. The woody character of the truffles compliments Barbera's smoky nuances very well. Good acidity also cuts through the richness of the red meat, with aromas running the gamut from lavender, to pepper, to barnyard and smoke. Lush, creamy, ripe dark blue fruits, medium to heavy body with dark purple ruby colors, a velvety texture with extracted but mellow ripe cherries, and just loaded with luscious raspberry fruits at the finish.