2004 Shenandoah Vineyards ReZerve
Barbera
Score: 85.0
Riper than its Italian counterparts. Deep plum and violet a roma and flavor. It's fuller than full bodied; it's obese, with soft tannins and a touch of dark chocolate on the overly warm finish. Only 426 cases produced.
|
2003 Gozzelino
Lorenzo Gozzelino vineyard Barbera d'Asti Superiore
Score: 88.0
Nice earthy-tobacco notes and noticeable oak, but in balance with the supple, ripe cherry-berry fruit and a hint of vanilla. Crisp and stylish.
|
2004 Caudrina
La Solista vineyard Barbera d'Asti
Score: 88.0
A bit over-ripe, the pruney flavors are saved by a light floral edge. This is a full-bodied, mouthcoating wine with soft tannin. Perfect for steak or barbeque.
|
2001 Cascina Marcantonio
Barbera d'Asti
Score: 89.0
A very complex and complete wine with a nose like chocolate mint on top and mushrooms beneath, with a base of sweet plums and an herbal-fruity finish of some length. Drink now.
|
2003 Vietti
La Crena vineyard Nizza Superiore Barbera d'Asti
Score: 89.0
Ripe plum and blackberry flavors give this wine a sweet impression, though it is dry on the palate. Soft tannin makes it drinkable now. Bracing acidity gives it a lift in the finish and guarantees it will work well at the dinner table.
|
2004 Cantine Valpane
Rosso Pietro vineyard Barbera del Monferrato
Score: 89.0
This is a somewhat atypical but very good Barbera, with violet, camillia, and strawberry pie aromas and flavors, it seems more like Pinot Noir, but the structure says Barbera. When I encounter a Barbera like this (about 5% of Italian Barberas fit this description), I assume some Nebbiolo or Dolcetto has been included in the blend. Regardless, it's a very attractive wine that is worth searching for.
|
2004 Cantamessa
San VI vineyard Barbera D'Asti
Score: 89.0
Deep forest floor-earthy aromas with a core of strawberry fruit and jasmine, tart acidity and long strawberry finish. The description might fit a Pinot Noir, but it really has very good varietal definition. This is a lighter style, elegant wine with some complexity
|
2003 Dino Mutti
S. Ruffino vineyard Colli Tortonesi Barbera
Score: 89.0
A big, powerful, extracted wine showing jammy, spicy plums and good balance of oak to fruit. It's big, yet there is still some elegance, and it should improve over the next 5 to 10 years.
|
2003 Tenuta La Fiammenga
Paion vineyard Barbera D'Asti Superiore
Score: 89.0
A very supple, engaging wine with vibrant acidity, sweet tannins and subtle minerality that surrounds a core of cherry and plum fruit. Fine long finish. A great find. One of the few really good 2003 Superiores.
|
2003 Cantina di Nizza
Ceppi Vecchi vineyard Nizza Superiore Barbera D'Asti
Score: 89.0
Tart cherry aroma and flavors with milk chocolate and cinnamon accents on the palate. Fine concentration of flavors, soft tannin, crisp acidity and good length
|
2003 Baravalle
Nizza Superiore Barbera D'Asti
Score: 89.0
Cinnamon bark, rhubarb pie, pepper and plums with soft tannin and a fruity-mineral finish. Winemaking magic.
|
2004 Oddero
Vinchio e Vaglio Serra Barbera D'Alba
Score: 89.0
Oddero has been steadily improving over the past 10 years, as a producer of Barbera, Barolo and Barbaresco. This offering is deep purple, with a vibrant cherry-plum-floral aroma, medium body, silky texture, and long spicy finish. The floral component suggests a little Nebbiolo in the blend.
|
2004 Terralba
Identita Vineyard Colli Tortonesi Barbera
Score: 90.0
The wine is built on a core of plummy fruit surrounded by earth, mineral and orange peel aromas and flavors. Somewhat silky, it shows a firm structure, moderate tannin, excellent balance, and an extremely long finish.
|
2004 Cossetti
Venti di Marzo Barbera D'Asti
Score: 90.0
Very good typicity, with plum and cherry cobbler flavors, full body, moderate tannin, and an aromatic finish of great length.
|
2004 Vecchia Cantina Sociale di Alice Bel Colle e Sessame D'Asti
Barbera D'Asti
Score: 90.0
Quintessential Barbera. Medium-bodied, silky (yet showing vibrant acidity), plum, strawberry and dead leaves, powerful but restrained.
|
