Good Friends are Like Good Wine

No, wait, that's not what I meant...Good friends who like good wine are good friends to have. My good friend, Shelly, gave me a delicious bottle of Sebastiani Barbera (primarily barbera with a little petite syrah) for my birthday. I cracked it open tonight. Wow, not only is Shelly a good friend, she has excellent taste in wine. I've had Barbera before, but never one as good as this. The color is a deep purple red, like a beautiful ruby. It's peppery on the nose. The taste is a nutty, brambly, smokey, licorice with a long hot finish, smooth and delicious. It's been a long time since I've had a red wine this good. Thank you, Shelly.