The 2006 Barbera d'Asti La Crena is a dense brooding effort loaded with mineral-infused dark fruit violets graphite flowers and French oak. This is an especially seamless yet mid-weight La Crena built on elegance rather than power with an impeccably clean polished finish that rounds things out. Usually I prefer Barbera on the young side but La Crena truly sings around age ten or so. It remains one of the most under-the-radar wines in Piedmont. La Crena is made from vines that are over 70 years old in Agliano one of the most privileged sites for Barbera in Piedmont. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2021. -Antonio Galloni