Barbera Pozzo dell Annunziata Riserva, Roberto Voerzio 1998

The dense opaque purple-colored 1998 Barbera d'Alba Riserva Pozzo dell'Annunziata resembles vintage port in its color, texture, and flavor saturation. Opulent, with extreme richness, this full-bodied, super intense, compelling, flamboyant Barbera (less than 1400 magnums produced) possesses freshness and exoticism. It boasts unctuous black cherry, chocolate, espresso, licorice, and strawberry liqueur aromas as well as flavors, immense body, major levels of glycerin, and gorgeously integrated sweet new oak (from 100% malolactic in new wood). While it is impossible to predict how such wines will age, given its size and strength, it will certainly drink well for a decade. I recommend consuming it at a young age to take advantage of its exuberance.