Bel Colle, Ape Reale, Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont, 2011

Tasting: Barbera d’Alba

Dark and intense nose. Pomegranate juice concentration. Good balance of acidity and fruits. Dusty chocolate and roasted coconut on the finish. Quite elegant overall, despite the alcohol level.

Tasting: Barbera d’Alba

Pale crimson ruby. Fresh and ripe with a hint of aniseed. Full aromas of ripe plum. Round and juicy with fair intensity of bramble fruit flavours. Some balance and length.

Tasting: Barbera d’Alba

Purple-tinged ruby. Aromatically compressed aromas of dark plums and spices. Then big and rich, with youthfully chewy tannins providing support to the tenuous amounts of fruit present. Finishes clean and long, but I would have liked a little but more fruit.