2018 Alessandro & Gian Natale Fantino Vigna dei Dardi Barbera d'Alba Italy 750 ml

Alessandro and Gian Natale Fantino craft “some of the most unique and original wines being made in Piedmont today,” according to Vinous founder Antonio Galloni, the Italian-wine expert who first made his name writing the Piedmont Report. And if you want to get an idea of why he described tasting Fantino wines as “a thrill,” pour yourself a glass of the 2018 Alessandro & Gian Natale Fantino Vigna dei Dardi. 

Barbera is the wine that Piedmont locals have on their table every night, and this bottle shows why. Grown on a top site and polished by the expert enologist behind some of the region’s iconic wines, it’s a vibrant, complex boutique bottling that scarcely escapes the local area. 

Wine Advocate called Fantino “one of Piemonte’s most overlooked growers,” and it’s easy to see why: They eschew marketing and promotion so completely that they don’t even have a website. Instead, they focus on crafting incredible wines from their 20-acre hillside vineyard right in the geographic center of Bussia—one of the most important and renowned crus in Monforte d'Alba. 

Their 2018 shines bright, showing vibrant energy and engrossing complexity. Each swirl seems to conjure new aromas of black fruit, fresh herbs, rooibos tea, and violets. Bold black fruit on the palate opens up to earthy herbs and bright acidity, finishing crisp and refreshing. It’s the perfect dinner wine, and we love to turn a few heads by serving it alongside tajarin pasta or grilled hanger steak—although the 2018 Fantino is plenty captivating on its own.