2007 Produttori del Barbaresco Nebbiolo delle Langhe

A classic expression of Nebbiolo from one of the best wine cooperatives in the world, Barbaresco’s baby bro carries a taste of black cherries and earth from the Langhe region around Alba. Elegant and chiseled, it’s a bit softer than a Barbaresco, just delicious and ready for drinking now. A steal at this price.

Open a bottle for a bowl of pasta in meat sauce, grilled lamb or pork chops or a braised beef or short-rib dish.

-- S. Irene Virbila

Region: Piedmont, Italy

Price: About $18 to $22

Style: Elegant and chiseled

What it goes with: pasta, grilled chops, braised beef dishes

Where to find it: Du Vin Wine & Spirits in West Hollywood, (310) 855-1161, www.du-vin.com; the Wine House in West Los Angeles, (310) 479-3731, www.winehouse.com; Carpinteria Wine Co. in Carpinteria, (805) 684-7440, www.carpinteriawineco.com; and Wine Exchange in Orange (714) 974-1454, www.winex.com