The Bruno Rocca 2018 Barbera d'Asti shows a lot of character with a strongly developed side that shows ripe black fruit, contrasted against a savory side with tobacco and garden soil. These territory-driven themes give the wine a deep sense of authenticity, with the kind of immediate, food-friendly personality that makes it the perfect choice for hand-kneaded pasta or wood-oven pizza with sourdough crust. To the palate, the wine delivers a good amount of fruit weight and balanced freshness. These are two more important traits when serving the wine next to a regional Italian pasta dish. It ages in French oak for a brief 12 months for added spice and structure.