Sandrone’s layered, polished Barbera is drawn from four sites: Cascina Pe Mol, (mentioned above); Ravera and Rocche di San Nicola (in Novello); and Albarella (in Barolo). At 350 to 450 metres, these are some of the region's highest, most exposed vineyards, bringing superb freshness and vibrancy to this wine. To balance the structure and acidity for which this wine is noted, Sandrone matured the wine in 500-litre tonneaux (40% of which are new). The estate has special, untoasted barrels made in Burgundy for this cuvée to ensure the wood impact is as discreet as possible. When the wine is young, some wood shows through on the nose, and it is seriously classy oak. With age, the integration is seamless. Crafted from small, concentrated berries this year, it’s a fleshy yet fluid Barbera—expect juicy waves of macerated blueberry with complex hints of white pepper and a dusting of spice from the Monforte vines. True to form, there is great class on offer here.