Price: $20

Producer: Lano

Origin: Piedmont, Northwestern Italy

Type of wine: Dry red wine made from the Barbera grape

Try it with: A great food wine. Pair with slow roasted beef, rack of lamb, pasta in hearty tomato sauce

Date Reviewed: Feb. 2004

If you can find a better wine for $20, please let us know! This is a great wine. By definition, Barbera d’Alba is made near the Italian town of Alba from the Barbera grape. Lano has produced a classic example of this wine. Its deep inky color with brick-red rim hints at maturity and complexity. Fondo Pra exhibits complex aromas of black plum, prunes, mint, smoke and figs. In the mouth, the wine is framed by round tannins and balanced acidity. The flavors are all very subtle and evolved – wood, smoke and earth. This wine is ready to drink and is dying to be paired with food. The perfect match with Sunday dinner. If you can’t find the ’99 vintage, seek out the 2000.