1 | Wine | Barbaresco, $20 to $50, 86 or higher

"This bright red exhibits floral, cherry and tar flavors, with a firm edge of tannins closing the wine down on the finish. An elegant Barbaresco that should fall into place in a few years."

"The 2008 Barbaresco Serra flows with sweet rose petals, cherries, spices and minerals. It shows lovely overall balance and harmony especially in the energetic finish. The Serra is already pretty inviting, but it will be better with a little more bottle age."

"An aromatic and flavorful red, with rose, cherry, licorice, tobacco and briar notes. Both supple and vibrant, this has an elegance that belies the extremely dense tannins. Shows excellent length, with an aftertaste of fruit, underbrush and mineral."

This wine was named #17 of Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2012.

"This concentrated, well-toned red is packed with cherry, plum, soy and spice aromas and flavors. Round and balanced, with a sweet berry and mineral aftertaste. Really builds nicely, gaining elegance and intensity. The fine aftertaste of cherry, tobacco and woodsy notes lingers."

"The 2006 Barbaresco Sori’ Paitin flows onto the palate in a masculine expression of dried cherries, autumn leaves, tobacco, roasted coffee beans, licorice and leather. The wine possesses notable concentration and depth, but the aromas are slightly forward. The former suggests the wine will age gracefully on its fruit, the latter that it will develop rather quickly. My best guess is that the Barbaresco will drink well for a number of years even if it won’t necessarily improve. Readers who enjoy the firm style of Barbaresco typical of this part of Neive will find much to admire here."

"The 2007 Barbaresco Martinenga emerges from the glass with a delicate expression of fruit that in essence defines the house style. The 2007 is a wonderfully open, expressive Martinenga laced with ripe red berries, flowers and spices, all of which come together on a weightless frame of notable class. This is a fabulous effort from Marchesi di Gresy."