When Luigi Tacchino was 11 year old, his father passed away, and his mother Clelia had to sell the family vineyard to make ends meet. Years later, Luigi was able to buy the vineyard back, so it meant a little more to the family when he was able to pass the operation of the winery on to his children Romina and Alessio. Today the winery makes a range of Piedmont classics in the southeastern corner of the Monferratto hills near the town of Ovada. This is a region well out of the spotlight but it deserves more attention, because there’s plenty of good limestone clay and hillside vineyards more than 1000 feet above sea level, ideal conditions for well-balanced Barbera. This black and blue wine is farmed organically, picked by hand, and aged in steel tanks to make the purest wine possible. It starts with a pungent nose of mashed black cherries, cinnamon, dusty earth, cocoa, and orange oil. The palate follows with a lush texture framed by dusty tannins, full of cherries and black plums, leather and dusty earth. Serve it up with lasagna or a hearty ragu.