The 2010 Barbera d’Alba Morassina stands apart from the other wines at Cortese, as it is the only offering aged in French oak barrels. There is good depth and definition in the fruit, along with reasonable complexity, but this style doesn’t seem to be a strong suit. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2016. Piercarlo Cortese describes 2009 as a very consistent year. The 2009 harvest started at the end of September, slightly ahead of normal, and finished on October 15. The Cortese Barbareschi undergo malolactic fermentation in steel and are aged exclusively in cask. Cortese has recently expanded their holdings with a new lease in Rabaja, which will bump production up slightly in coming years. A Leonardo Lo Cascio Selection, Winebow, Montvale, NJ; tel. (201) 445-0620