Vigneti Massa Terra 2024

Vigneti Massa was founded in 1879 in the hills of Tortona in Colli Tortonesi, eastern Piedmont, and is run today by Walter Massa, best known for rescuing the white grape Timorasso. Terra is the estate's fresh, everyday Barbera, grown organically on the calcareous clay hillside soils of the Tortona valleys. Barbera is naturally low in tannin and high in acidity, and the cool hill sites with good day-to-night temperature swing keep that acidity vivid. The wine is aged in stainless steel rather than oak, a choice that preserves the grape's bright primary fruit and crisp freshness while keeping the texture clean and unoaked. Temperature-controlled fermentation in tank locks in the aromatics. Expect a deep ruby colour and a nose of sour cherry, blueberry and blackcurrant with black pepper, dried herbs and an earthy note. The palate is medium bodied and juicy, with low tannin, the lively acidity characteristic of Barbera and a savoury, mineral finish. Serve at around 15 to 16 degrees, lightly chilled if you like. It is a flexible food red, suited to charcuterie, tomato-based pasta and roast pork.