2012 Piero Benevelli, Barbera d’ Alba DOC, Bricco Ravera, Piedmonte, Italy.
Massimo Benevelli only makes about 4,000 total each vintage from family plots in Barolo’s Monforte d’ Alba in the Southern most part of the zone near Serralunga, in fact most of his fruit comes off one of the regions top Cru sites, the Ravera Cru with great soils and exposure. This is great terroir and Benevelli makes some fantastic wines that are still reasonable and are super finds for the traditionalists, especially Massimo’s 2010 Barolo Ravera, but I particularly love the 2012 Barbera from hillside fruit, it is a stunning example of this varietal and old school winegrowing, you should not miss it. The newest release from Benevelli, imported by Kermit Lynch, is a pure and earthy effort with a rich dark color, lively palate and is a superb food food with complexity and pleasing balance, this wine over performs in it’s price range. The 2012 Bricco Ravera Barbera d’ Alba starts with an intense and earthy entry with violets, plum, game and wild mushroom notes leading to layers of blackberry, red cherry, light mineral elements and savory spices with licorice, saline and tangy currant. This wine seems vigorous, robust and has a nice interchange of sweet, sour and savory, there is density and good almost full figured body, firm fine grain tannins, but with drive and focus with juicy acidity making for a very savvy wine, best with simple cuisine, this Barbera has a hint of rustic charm and lots of character, drink from 2015 to 2018.
($20 Est.) 92 Points, grapelive