Cantina Braida (Italy) Barbera D’Asti ‘Il Monello’ 2003
This is a special parcel sourced by Oddbins from the famous estate of Braida in Piedmont, and is a one-off, so buy now if you are interested. 100% Barbera, aged for a year in French oak, it has a very bright, cherry red colour and a smoky, schisty, black fruited nose with lots of herbal, leafy cherry character backed up by a spicy depth of dark fruit. The palate is dry and powerful, with a good quality of black fruit running through the mid-palate, and a taut edge of cherry-skin acidity adding bite. Finishing crisply, there are just hints of charry oak and a liquoricy tannic grip in a savoury wine that cries out for some substantial food or a chunk of Parmesan. £7.99 Oddbins