Eraldo Viberti 1999 Barbera d'Alba Vigna Clara

Opaque, reddish-purple at the edges.

Smell of prunes, cherry, leather.

Fruit dominates the flavor, black plum, black cherry, mild oak, long food-friendly finish that so characterizes Barbera.

Excellent medium-to-full-bodied bottle, $24.99. Impressive fruit for a wine with this much age on it.

Cascina Chicco 2007 Barbera d'Alba Granera Alta

Opaque, ruby red at the edge.

Smell of blackberry, cherry, a walk in the woods after a rainy autumn day.

Taste of fruity cherry and blackberry at the beginning, tart acid dominates finish.

Very good full-bodied wine, $22.99 / bottle.

Conterno Fantino 2008 Barbera d'Alba Vignota

Another entrant in the festival of Barbera!

Very dark color

Smell of lots of fresh oak, plum and prune.

Dark stone fruits, vanilla oak, deep flavor.

Full-bodied bottle for $30.99, fuller than any of the other Barberas I've had recently. Would be better, though, with a little more restraint in the cooperage.

Boroli 2006 Barbera d'Alba Quattro Fratelli

Another entry in my festival of Barbera.

Very dark color.

Plum and prune smell.

Dark plum and prune fruit, oak with restraint, sweet fruit well-balanced with plenty of acid.

Very good bottle for $20.99, medium-bodied but a bit fuller-bodied than the examples of Barbera d'Asti I've enjoyed over the last few days.

Matteo Correggia 2007 Barbera d'Alba

Opaque dark purple color.

Smells of plum and black cherry.

Full flavor of plum, blackberry, and blueberry. No oak, all fruit.

Extremely good bottle for $19.99. Full bodied wine that's a fine match for any full-flavored food.

Pio Cesare 2005 Barbera d'Alba

Medium-dark red color.

Vanilliny oak dominates the smell, with cherry, plum, and peach.

The flavor, too, is splintery with oak, and here, too, stone-fruits lurk behind the trees.

Refreshing with tart acid. It's not an unpleasant bottle but for $19.99 I'd prefer more fruit, less wood.

Giacosa Fratelli 2005 Barbera d'Alba Bussia

Near opaque dark red color.

Smell of prune, plum, and black cherry, with pencilbox cedar.

Black cherry and plum flavor, oak, long finish. Refreshingly tart.

An impressive, easily enjoyed, wine for $19.99.

(Bussia is a vineyard in Monforte d'Alba)