I opened this wine supposedly 3 years past its prime (Cellar Tracker said to drink it by 2012). This may be true, but it is still an excellent wine. I tasted it right after opening the bottle. The color is a clear garnet and the flavor is fruity and dry, definitely an Italian wine. Seems promising. I'll add more notes after it aerates and I drink it with food. After about 45 min, we started the meal (satay pork skewers and charcoal-grilled chicken wings). I found that this wine just got better. The aroma and flavors continued to develop. What I initially interpreted as "dry" developed into peppery and leather notes. The essential fruit flavors became more complex, dark cherry, maybe a bit of pear. Some oak, too. Overall, a lovely wine which has handled its age very well. I will have to get some more of this (maybe not hold it so long, ha!).
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Reddish brown color, on the nose tar, tobacco, cherry. On the palate very textured, and the earthy aromas was dominant. Tannins nicely integrated, but missed some fruit - maybe its a little over the top?if you have any left its time to drink it!
Started out a little sharp, but opened up beautifully over about an hour. Vanilla notes with some lighter, almost floral notes. Certainly not the body and character of the Pio Barolos, but still a great wine.
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Medium- to full-bodied, with lots of berry, smoke, and a slight touch of dried mushroom and mineral. Nice balance on the palate, with very fine tannins and a fresh finish. - JD88
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We paired this with veal scaloppine in parchment with asparagus and fontina cheese along with pasta/red sauce and the wine delivered in spades. Decanted several hours ahead of eating and was very smooth. Definitely recommend.
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Pleasant. Not fruity, but not-fruity is how I like my Barbera, so that's a good thing. There was some oak that I didn't really like. Overall, good wine, I'd recommend it.
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Medium Bodied. Some decent cherry fruit on the nose and palate wth significant oak. This wine is simple, easy to drink, and improves greatly with food.
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Shining delicious barbera fruit, unpretentious, fresh and supple. Just lovely, not complex or long. Typical for the house style and extremely good value.
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The acidity of lingonberries, generous cherry fruit and some creamy butterscotch from the casks. Refreshing, with some core bitterness, supple and easydrinking. Gives appetite for more!
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A barbera in the vein of Pio Cesare's Nebbiolo Langhe. Some house style! The same gravel and dust, ground almonds, big casks and dried fruit. Good lively acids drive the slender fruit with shiny pastille qualities. Supporting butterscotch in the refreshing, slightly drying mouthfeel. Nice, enjoyable, direct and uncomplicated wine to drink by itself - or with pizza and pasta. After a day of airing or some cellaring the wine can also match deer or ragù. With Pio Cesare we are immediately at home.
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The nose is dominated by oak and wood at first, but this slowly turns into vanilla, chocolate, and subtle cherry fruit notes. There is an undersirable roasted element here as well that was present at all times. Fairly dark colored, but not particularly impresssive in the mouth...a little thin and flabby. Alright though...not nearly as good as the Giacosa Barbera's.
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cherry and chocolate nose with dark fruit on the palate. Short mid-palate with oaky overtones. High acid and tannins mellow over first hour. Nice Juice.
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Deep crimson/purple. Big nose of red berries, cherries, some violets, flowers, vanilla, almost Barolo-esque. Medium- to full-bodied with lovely fruit concentration, mouth-filling, very nice acidity yet drinking exceptionally well. Lingers nicely. I've yet to try a wine from this producer that I didn't love and this is a brilliant QPR. I'm going back for more to drink over the next couple of years.
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3/14/2015 - RDGinSA Likes this wine: 90 Points
I opened this wine supposedly 3 years past its prime (Cellar Tracker said to drink it by 2012). This may be true, but it is still an excellent wine. I tasted it right after opening the bottle. The color is a clear garnet and the flavor is fruity and dry, definitely an Italian wine. Seems promising. I'll add more notes after it aerates and I drink it with food.
After about 45 min, we started the meal (satay pork skewers and charcoal-grilled chicken wings). I found that this wine just got better. The aroma and flavors continued to develop. What I initially interpreted as "dry" developed into peppery and leather notes. The essential fruit flavors became more complex, dark cherry, maybe a bit of pear. Some oak, too. Overall, a lovely wine which has handled its age very well. I will have to get some more of this (maybe not hold it so long, ha!).
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5/16/2012 - Tom Henriksveen Likes this wine: 86 Points
Reddish brown color, on the nose tar, tobacco, cherry. On the palate very textured, and the earthy aromas was dominant. Tannins nicely integrated, but missed some fruit - maybe its a little over the top?if you have any left its time to drink it!
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5/22/2010 - closetcook Likes this wine: 89 Points
Just a damn good bottle. Light to drink, yet with some serious notes. Everybody enjoyed.
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1/12/2010 - cliffo41 wrote: 90 Points
Started out a little sharp, but opened up beautifully over about an hour. Vanilla notes with some lighter, almost floral notes. Certainly not the body and character of the Pio Barolos, but still a great wine.
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12/13/2009 - InternationalWineReport wrote: 88 Points
Medium- to full-bodied, with lots of berry, smoke, and a slight touch of dried mushroom and mineral. Nice balance on the palate, with very fine tannins and a fresh finish. - JD88
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2/21/2008 - J2K wrote: 85 Points
Light to medium body, cherry, chocolate, good acidity. Needs time time to open up. Good wine with pasta and sauce
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11/30/2007 - curtispomeroy wrote: 88 Points
We paired this with veal scaloppine in parchment with asparagus and fontina cheese along with pasta/red sauce and the wine delivered in spades. Decanted several hours ahead of eating and was very smooth. Definitely recommend.
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9/9/2007 - MarcInDSM wrote: 88 Points
Pleasant. Not fruity, but not-fruity is how I like my Barbera, so that's a good thing. There was some oak that I didn't really like. Overall, good wine, I'd recommend it.
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8/27/2007 - benfri wrote: 91 Points
Great wine,oppulent blackberries and cherries. Perfect with pasta and chantarelles. Terrific value.
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7/12/2007 - d'Yquembe Mutombo wrote: 85 Points
Medium Bodied. Some decent cherry fruit on the nose and palate wth significant oak. This wine is simple, easy to drink, and improves greatly with food.
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7/8/2007 - bboy wrote: 84 Points
This is a good friend of italian food. Nice fruit, easygoing, round and smooth.
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6/18/2007 - Finare Vinare wrote: 87 Points
Shining delicious barbera fruit, unpretentious, fresh and supple. Just lovely, not complex or long. Typical for the house style and extremely good value.
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6/11/2007 - Finare Vinare wrote: 87 Points
The acidity of lingonberries, generous cherry fruit and some creamy butterscotch from the casks. Refreshing, with some core bitterness, supple and easydrinking. Gives appetite for more!
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5/19/2007 - Finare Vinare wrote: 87 Points
A barbera in the vein of Pio Cesare's Nebbiolo Langhe. Some house style! The same gravel and dust, ground almonds, big casks and dried fruit. Good lively acids drive the slender fruit with shiny pastille qualities. Supporting butterscotch in the refreshing, slightly drying mouthfeel. Nice, enjoyable, direct and uncomplicated wine to drink by itself - or with pizza and pasta. After a day of airing or some cellaring the wine can also match deer or ragù. With Pio Cesare we are immediately at home.
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5/4/2007 - Apollo5710 wrote: 87 Points
The nose is dominated by oak and wood at first, but this slowly turns into vanilla, chocolate, and subtle cherry fruit notes. There is an undersirable roasted element here as well that was present at all times. Fairly dark colored, but not particularly impresssive in the mouth...a little thin and flabby. Alright though...not nearly as good as the Giacosa Barbera's.
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5/2/2007 - KLT wrote: 83 Points
So so, not enough acid or tannins
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4/28/2007 - cgrimes wrote: 85 Points
Fun and fruity with a wonderful nose but the palate was one dimentional with a short finish.
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3/23/2007 - boreddoughboy wrote: 87 Points
cherry and chocolate nose with dark fruit on the palate. Short mid-palate with oaky overtones. High acid and tannins mellow over first hour. Nice Juice.
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2/16/2007 - Northern wrote:
Still drinking well, however this time the oak was very noticeable and a slight too much.
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12/23/2006 - ELecompte wrote: 93 Points
Great wine, well balanced... yet with strong tannins.
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12/12/2006 - spacewrangler wrote: flawed
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
CORKED
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12/2/2006 - Northern wrote: 91 Points
Deep crimson/purple. Big nose of red berries, cherries, some violets, flowers, vanilla, almost Barolo-esque. Medium- to full-bodied with lovely fruit concentration, mouth-filling, very nice acidity yet drinking exceptionally well. Lingers nicely. I've yet to try a wine from this producer that I didn't love and this is a brilliant QPR. I'm going back for more to drink over the next couple of years.
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