Time to Wine

Last weekend our friends Ryan, Brenna and their daughter Lydia came over for dinner.  Brenna and I joke about this being our annual "pow wow."  They live in Italy most of the year, Ryan plays professional basketball (so cool right?!).  Brenna always brings the wine and she never fails to disappoint.  We loved the wine so much we went out (the very next day) and bought three bottles.  I sheepishly report we are about to open that third bottle tonight.  THAT is how much we loved this wine.

Okay, about the wine.  Brenna comes bubbling in about the the Trader Joe's sales guy (merely 21 yrs old) who knew way too much about wine. She hypothesised his dad must have been in the CIA or something extraordinary because he was just too young to be a fountain of knowledge.
Apparently (so the story goes) this Bastardo is actually a Barolo but since there are a restricted number of neck labels allowed for Barolo's it comes packaged as a Bastardo.  This undercover Barolo will set you back just $8 at Trader Joe's   It is oh so smooth and layered with flavors.  This scrumptious bottle has found a permanent place at our home.