Barbera d'Alba, Punset 2024 75cl

Barbera is Piedmont's everyday hero — the wine the locals actually drink while the Barolo rests in the cellar — and Punset's organic Barbera d'Alba is a lovely example. The 2024 is juicy, fresh and built for the table.

Punset in Neive have farmed organically for decades, and that care shows in the purity of their fruit. Barbera d'Alba comes from vineyards around Alba where the grape ripens fully, and Barbera's great gift is its combination of deep colour, generous fruit and naturally high acidity with very little tannin. Stainless-steel handling here keeps the style bright and unfussy.

The wine pours a vivid purple-ruby and offers a nose of ripe black cherry, blackberry, plum and a savoury hint of dried herbs. The palate is medium-bodied and mouth-wateringly fresh — that racy acidity is the signature, making it feel lively and food-friendly rather than heavy. Soft, low tannins mean it goes down easily, with a clean, fruit-driven finish.

Drink it now and over the next two to three years, lightly chilled if you like. At around £22 it is proper, honest Piedmont at a fair price: an organic, characterful red for pizza nights and midweek dinners alike.

How to Serve

Serve at 15-17°C, a touch cooler than a big red, in a medium glass. No decanting required.

Where to Drink It

Trullo in Highbury for pasta and easy reds. Lina Stores in Soho for a relaxed Italian lunch. Bocca di Lupo in Soho for regional cooking.

Food Pairings

The acidity makes it a natural with tomato-based pasta or a classic Margherita pizza.