2019 San Hercurmer delle FrecceBarbera

The mini-donkey returns! Barbera has always been evocative of donkeys for me -- in Piemonte, Nebbiolo is the show pony everyone fawns over, but Barbera is the loyal, hard-working donkey that tills the fields and hauls the produce to market. Stubborn, yes, but with a big heart, and never flighty. Some years ago I had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of a mini-donkey named Hercurmer who lives in Fiddletown, and after he was shot with a pair of arrows (not fatally, thank goodness) by some miscreant I decided to canonize him and make him the patron saint of our Forlorn Hope Barbera. Saint Hercurmer of the Arrows -- ever your loyal companion.