The Barbera d’Alba Superiore Santo Stefano di Perno is a stunner in 2007. Violets, red berries, sage, rosemary and licorice meld together seamlessly in this hugely enjoyable, gorgeous Barbera. In this vintage the Santo Stefano di Perno possesses breathtaking balance, well-defined aromatics and a prominent streak of minerality that keeps the ripeness of the fruit in check. This is first-class juice. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2022. Proprietor Mauro Mascarello is best known for his Baroli, but his entry-level wines also merit considerable attention. The wines are always released on the late side, so finding the time to review them can be a challenge, hence their inclusion in this issue. I also had a chance to taste Mascarello’s 2007 Baroli from cask and they are living up to the immense promise I sensed when I first sampled them a few years ago.Importers: Doug Polaner, Polaner Selections, Mt. Kisco, NY; tel. (914) 244-0404, The Rare Wine Co., Sonoma, CA; tel. (707) 996-4484