The 2009 Barbera d’Alba Scarrone Vigna Vecchia shows a bit more precision and nuance than the straight Scarrone. In this vintage, there isn’t as much difference between these bottlings as there typically is. Here, too, the Vigna Vecchia emphasizes polish and harmony, with less of the sheer size that is normal for the wine. The French oak is very much in the background. Sweet floral notes add lift on the finish. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2021. The biggest news at Vietti is the recent acquisition of new parcels in Brunate and Lazzarito. Finding high quality plots in Piemonte’s grand crus and then financing their purchase is a massive endeavor and a huge accomplishment. Luca Currado is quite open in his view that 2008 was a challenging year in the vineyards, where the constantly changing weather required a nimble, flexible approach. Currado did quite a bit of bleeding to bring his wines into balance. I also tasted all of the 2009, 2010 and 2011 Baroli. Of those vintages, the 2010s are shaping up to be heroic wines. Among the new releases I am less enthusiastic about the 2009 Barbere, wines that are very good, but not as exceptional as they so often are. Importer: Dalla Terra, Napa, CA; tel. (707) 259-5405

Bright and vividly flavored with black currant, violet, black cherry and pepper, allied to a silky texture. Concentrated, with a long, fresh finish. Drink now through 2020. 296 cases made.??–BS??Region: Italy / Piedmont / Barbera d'Alba Select to Add