50 Years of Barbera: A Wine to Keep at Home

There are people with whom, at first glance, you establish an understanding – you sense that the person in front of you has something in common with you, even if you can't quite say what; sometimes we meet these kindred individuals in the places we least expect, and little by little what bound us in that inexplicable closeness comes to the surface.
The person who had me try this wine belongs exactly to this category, and over time we discovered the things we share: one of these, among many, is a passion for wine.
We don't see each other often, but when we do we exchange wines from our home regions or from places we've visited in the meantime.
Proud and deeply in love with his land, my friend decided to let me try this wine: 50 anni di Barbera produced by Cantina Sociale Barbera dei Sei Castelli.
The wine is dedicated to the first half-century of activity of the winery, and comes with a simple, eye-catching, and youthful label that suits a "ready-to-drink" wine perfectly.

In the glass it shows a deep red color with violet reflections; on the nose you get blueberry, raspberry, woodland undergrowth, and spices with pepper standing out. On the palate the body is full, dense, and intense with good freshness and decent persistence; the substantial alcohol content (14.5% vol.) also makes itself known.

Everything you'd expect from a Barbera – a well-made wine.
Great to drink with a meal, it pairs well with red meats and game or well-aged hard cheeses.
Personally, I'd be happy to pay 8–12 euros for a wine like this; do you know how much it costs? 4.50–5 euros! A real bargain!
Not very well known, good, and affordable – I'd always want to have a few bottles of this at home.

I thank the person who let me try it – for the wine (or rather, for the wines) but above all for the friendship he has offered me, one that renews itself every day; I do so by toasting in his way: gaze fixed and steady in the eyes of your companion, clink, glass touching back down on the table, then the sip – "Because my grandfather always used to say: 'there are two things they can never take from us: good wine and the table.'"

Cheers.