Starde Barbaresco Dezzani 2020 75cl

Nebbiolo from Barbaresco in Piedmont is where pretty aromas meet serious grip. Dezzani’s 2020 is a dry, full-bodied Italian red with rose-petal lift, red cherry bite, and the kind of tannins that make rich food suddenly feel like a very good idea.

If Chianti is your usual Italian red, this is a brilliant next step. It keeps the dinner-table friendliness, then adds more perfume, more structure, and a darker little herbal streak that makes you slow down between sips.

• Appearance: Clear garnet red with a slightly brick-toned edge, classic Nebbiolo behaviour.
• Nose: Rose petals, sour cherry, dried raspberry, liquorice, tobacco leaf, and a touch of earthy spice.
• Palate: Dry and layered, with bright red fruit, lively acidity, and firm tannins that feel grippy rather than bulky.
• Body: Full-bodied, but lifted. It has power without feeling heavy.
• Finish: Long and savoury, with cherry skin, dried herbs, and a gentle tea-like bitterness hanging around.
• Food pairings: Mushroom risotto, roast duck, beef braised in red wine, truffle tajarin, or aged Parmigiano-Reggiano.

Pour this when dinner has a bit of richness to it. The acidity cuts through creamy pasta, the tannins lock in with roasted meats, and the floral side keeps the whole thing from feeling too serious.

Think of it like Pinot Noir’s more intense Italian cousin. You still get that aromatic, red-fruited charm, but Nebbiolo brings extra structure, earthiness, and a little “pay attention, this is good” energy.

Fun Fact: Barbaresco must be made from 100% Nebbiolo, and this grape is famously pale in colour while being huge in tannin. Sneaky little powerhouse.