The Vinum 002 Langhe Rosso, 2010

As far as I'm concerned, there is no better wine grape than Nebbiolo grown in the Piedmont area of Italy. It has hauntingly beautiful scents, prettier even than those of Pinot Noir, with a rich mouth feel and bountiful tannins and acids for long term aging. As Barolo, Barbaresco and even lesser known wines such as Carema, Boca, Gattinara, Spanna and Ghemme, the quality of Nebbiolo is well recognized and these wines are priced accordingly. This Langhe Rosso is 50% Nebbiolo and has most of the traits that I love in Nebbiolo wines. The other half is Barbera from the same region, and the resulting blend is, for my taste, near perfection--at a more affordable price (I paid $10 a bottle on closeout from Peloton Imports, but I think the usual retail price is more like $20 to $25).

Beautiful deep ruby without the orange tints that might appear in a 10-year-old Nebbiolo. This is the Barbera speaking. The bouquet is Nebbiolo at its finest--roses, violets, dark cherries and licorice. On the palate, the tannic grip of Nebbiolo is apparent but it is countered to a pleasant degree by the friendly red and black fruit flavors of Barbera. A touch of mint and/or clove adds uplift on the long finish. This is a marriage made in heaven.

The Vinum 002 Langhe Rosso is difficult to find in my part of the country. But G.D. Vajra's Langue Rosso (which includes Dolcetto, Freisa and other grapes as well as Barbera and Nebbiolo) offers similar pleasures for about $15 a bottle and is usually available at Village Corner in Ann Arbor and Mega-Bev in Grand Rapids, MI. Another option, also available at those locations, is Paolo Scavino's Vino Rosso.