I may be more excited about this wine arriving at Surdyk's than any other, and that is not an exaggeration. You see, this is my desert island wine. I fell in love with Oddero wines at a tasting several years back. The funny thing was, the Barbera was one of the opening wines, not at all meant to be the star of the tasting. That was the job for their amazing Barbaresco and Barolos. And yes, those wines were truly stunning, but this captured my heart. 100% Barbera, organically farmed in the heart of the best vineyards of the Piedmont region. The winery began in the late 18th century, and today, 5th generation owner Giacomo Oddero, now 97 years old, still keeps an overseeing eye on the family business. It is run by his daughter and grandchildren, who represent the 6th and 7th generation of Oddero ownership. The nose is all I could ask a wine to be, offering notes of cherry, mulberry, peppercorn, and slate. The flavors are like a piece of music, one moment rich and plush, then bright and energetic. There's an undercurrent to it, thanks to sixteen months aged in oak, which tames Barbera's famous acidity. It's an absolute chameleon with food, obviously ideal with tomatoes, cheese, and salumi, but also great with cheeseburgers, salmon, and saffron-infused paella. Perhaps, for me, its best feature is that I never tire of drinking it. - Noelle Starr