2010 Barbera Conca Tre Pille

(aged 14 months in new barriques and bottled in November of 2012): Aromas of spicy caraway seed and coffee torrefaction, with a cherry element emerging with air. Very rich and nicely delineated, with sappy flavors of medicinal cherry, minerals, licorice and leather accented by tart-edged (actually 6.8 grams per liter) acidity. Some firm oak-driven tannins call for a bit of patience. A very good vintage for this bottling, which the Conternos hold back for almost two years. "The very low yield in 2010 made a huge difference," noted Conterno.