Why Albarola? It's Barbera Del Monferrato

Alessio and Romina Tacchino are the third generation to run their family's Tacchino wine business.  The  2016 Tacchino Albarola Barbera del Monferrato DOC is, despite what the name suggests, a 100% varietal wine, made from Barbera grapes grown in Piedmont, in the clay soil hills of Monferrato, in the Comune di Lerma and Castelletto d'Orba.  The name, Albarola, is also the name of a white grape, found mainly in Liguria.  The word was chosen for this wine as a tip of the hat to the last remaining tower on the property, named Albarola.

The wine was first produced in 1999, and was vinified in stainless steel before being aged in big wooden vats (tonneaux).  Romina says 30% of the wine has  oak treatment, because she doesn't like too much wood in the wine.  Alcohol hits almost 14.5% abv and the wine sells for around $15.

The nose is beautiful on this wine - perfumed blackberry, strawberry and plum.  It has some noticeable sweet oak spice with a good whiff of vanilla.  The palate brings flavors of red fruit with a slightly tart edge to it and a very good acidity that is lip-smacking.  There is a savory undercurrent that I find irresistible.  The finish lingers quite a while.

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