Tenuta Il Cascinone Crocera Barbera d'Asti Superiore 2022

This is a really tasty, vibrant red with loads of ripe cherry and juicy plum on the nose. The vineyards were replanted not that long ago, which gives the wine a lovely freshness. It's all Barbera grape, and you get that classic mix of intense fruit and a touch of savoury herbs. A bit of oak ageing adds a nice depth and richness - it feels substantial without being too heavy.

A bottle worth opening any night of the week, especially when you've got a hearty casserole or a slow-cooked pork dish on the table.

Tenuta Il Cascinone dating back to 1920, is a now revived gem of Piedmont's Monferrato hills. Once a revered Barbera d'Asti specialist, the estate was in decline before being rescued by the highly respected Araldica group of wineries in 1999. They've breathed new life into its steep, demanding vineyards which are now flourishing and turning out reliably good wines which are great value for money.