Marchesi di Barolo Barbera del Monferrato “Maraia, 2016

In the dialect spoken in the Piedmont area of northern Italy, "maraia" refers to a group of rowdy youngsters or "brats." And I like the lively "bratty" traits of this wine. It was a perfect match for the delicious Capellina Pomodoro I had at Uncle Sal's Italian restaurant in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Dark ruby, lively and brilliant. Dark cherry/berry smells along with cassis and vanilla. Lively acidity and just the right amount (13%) of warmth and body. Will get better with a year or two in the bottles but beautiful right now.