BERA 'BASARIN' BARBARESCO RISERVA 2018, Piedmont

The nose on this 2018 Barbaresco Riserva just keeps unfolding, layer after layer of dark cherry and something almost floral. It's still young but the structure is there, and I can tell this bottle will only get better over the next few years.

Opened this for a special dinner and the 2018 Riserva poured beautifully—deep and structured, with that classic Piedmont grip that needs a bit of air. It’s a proper Barbaresco, and the extra aging shows in how the tannins have softened into something elegant.

That 2018 vintage really shows how well Barbaresco ages—the tannins have softened beautifully but it still has that classic Piedmont structure. I opened it with braised beef and the earthy finish paired perfectly. Definitely worth cellaring a few more years if you can resist.