The 2009 Monferrato Rosso Il Baciale bursts from the glass with a rush of dark red fruit. This vinous, juicy wine is meant to be enjoyed on the young side, before its rustic personality begins showing too many of its less polished edges. Il Baciale is Barbera, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2014. It’s been a long time since I have been this excited about new releases from Braida. The 2009 Barberas are truly stellar. They are less bombastic than some of the wines of the recent past, and more built on minerality and length. Let’s hope that is a sign of even greater things to come.Importer: Vinifera Imports, Ronkonkoma, NY; tel. (631) 467-5907

The Monferrato Rosso Il Baciale is a wine I have often enjoyed, and the 2008 is another winner. An unusual blend of Barbera, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, the Baciale flows with sweet red cherries and flowers in a soft, accessible style. The finish is long, precise and wonderfully nuanced. This mid-weight, gracious red is an excellent choice for drinking over the next few years. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2013. These are some of the most exciting wines I have tasted from Braida in a long time. In particular, the 2008 Barbere are exceptional. It’s hard to tell how much of that is attributable to the vintage itself versus winemaking, but the simple reality is that the 2008s are beautiful, elegant, refined Barbere that avoid the excessive heaviness that was common in the past.Importer: Vinifera Imports, Ronkonkoma, NY; tel. (631) 467-5907

The 2007 Monferrato Rosso Il Baciale offers up soft, floral red fruit in a feminine, approachable style. This blend of 60% Barbera, 20% Pinot Noir 10% Cabernet and 10% Merlot is a consistently delicious red from Piedmont’s Monferrato. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2014. Braida is best known for their high-end Barberas – Bricco dell’Uccellone and Ai Suma in particular – but these entry-level wines deliver tons of pleasure at far more accessible prices.Importer: Vinifera Imports, Ronkonkoma, NY; tel. (631) 467-5907

The 2006 Il Baciale is a blend of 60% Barbera, 20% Pinot Noir, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot. It is a soft-textured ripe wine with plenty of fruit and an accessible personality, although it naturally lacks some of the character of the best wines here. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2010. Braida is based in Rocchetta Tanaro, in the province of Asti. Although the property is best-known for its large-scaled, super-ripe Barberas, the simpler wines in the range merit close attention as well.Importer: Vinifera Imports, Ronkonkoma, NY; tel. (631) 467-5907