Piedmont

Festive cranberry in color with an aromatic bouquet with hints of raspberries, strawberries and rose. A fresh raspberry taste, with crisp acidity, enticing the palate with an initial softness, graduating to a round and luscious finish. A unique and festive sparkling wine and a seductive aperitif. Pairs well with seafood, cheeses, spicy fare and chocolate. Serve chilled.

The 2009 Barbera d?Alba Vignota emerges from the glass with layers of radiant fruit. Dark berries, flowers and sweet spices come together beautifully in this fleshy, engaging Barbera. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2014.

Conterno-Fantino's 2004 Barolo Vigna del Gris offers an enticing array of floral aromatics that lead to sensations of candied cherries, small red fruits, spices and marzipan. With air, this sensual, feminine Barolo opens to reveal notable inner perfume and superb length. As is usually the case, the wine doesn-t quite have the stuffing to balance its tannins and it does dry out just a bit on the finish, but it is nevertheless a gorgeous, gorgeous wine. In 2004 Vigna del Gris contains fruit from both old vines and a recently re-planted section of the vineyard. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2019.

Another highlight in this portfolio, the 2010 Langhe Nebbiolo is a deep, resonant wine endowed with serious structure and class. Dark red fruit, tobacco, mint and spices are some of the notes that emerge from the glass, but in the end, the 2010 is a wine of depth and structure. Although delicious today, the 2010 will start to blossom in another year or two. It shows remarkable depth and pure breed for a wine of its level. Readers looking for an easygoing Nebbiolo should look elsewhere. This is serious juice. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2020. Aldo and Milena Vajra are among the quietest and most introspective of Piedmont's top echelon growers. It is the wines that do the talking here, and they do that ever so eloquently. The estate's continued focus on excellence throughout their entire range comes through in spades in these new releases. One of the most interesting wines I tasted during my most recent visit might never be released, but it speaks to the high level of quality that is synonymous with the Vajra name. Some years ago, the Vajras purchased a plot in the Ravera vineyard planted with Nebbiolo. The vineyards are now about 15 years old, but the Vajras have never released a Barolo from this site because they don't think the wine is important enough for their label. I tasted the 2008 from tank and can only say most producers would kill to have a wine of this level in their cellar. But at Vajra, it remains a work in progress. I hope the Vajras will decide to bottle this Barolo one day, as it seems a crime to deprive the world of this terrific Barolo. For those who are wondering, the Ravera is closer to the Barolo Bricco delle Viole than the Barolo Albe stylistically.