Delicious, slightly oxidized, lots of earth and leather along with prunes. If this was a typical bottle, don't hesitate to drink these sooner rather than later.
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Over four-and-a-half years since my previous bottle, and this is still a magnificent wine. Still getting some pencil box, and lots of dark fruit. Tannins let you know they're there, but aren't pushy about it. Soft finish. Paired very nicely with fairly spicy black-eyed peas, sausage and cornbread.
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Haven't had one of these in quite some time, and it's absolutely wonderful. Right out of the bottle (through a Vinturi), the nose is very expressive and it just developed even more over the next hour or so. Worked perfectly with my spaghetti dinner. I actually can't find words to express the flavors on the palate, other than bold, with combinations of fruity & earthy with hints of spice. It's a somewhat bright fruit. The finish isn't as long as I would like, but it has good balance and a solid acidity.
Very smooth from start to finish, no rough edges at all. Dried cherry flavors with moderate acidity. Wonderful food wine. The label stated this was an old world wine, but I have to disagree. The bright fruit from the CA sunshine makes me go new world.
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Lovely. Probably not the right choice if you're eating something with a lot of garlic, but was quite good with a home-made pizza. Bright and spicy, and very pencil-boxy.
Keep for a couple of more years, it will definitely improve. Looking as if it'll be very good but I can't tell yet. Drink the Mountain Reserve Barbera 06 instead for now, and keep this beast!. Needs good decantig to open and soften up. The Mountain (Red label) 's not as intense as this one but it's amazingly red fruitily effervescent, with round body and good mouthfeel.
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Most of this bottle was consumed after a light tomato-based pasta meal. It was nice with the dinner. After the garlic mostly cleared my palate I began to appreciate this wine more. Crayola does not make this color. 133 colors and this is not one of them. It is somewhere between Crayola Maroon and a Garnet Stone...the redder Garnet stones not the Purple ones. Anyway, the flavor is more describable. Dark Cherries with a smidgen of vanilla bean and some kind of dusty wood...like an old wooden box that had once held coffee. Scramble all that together and you get a mighty fine wine. We have 2 more bottles and we are looking forward to them. I think they are going to get better.
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Had at a winemaker road show. A show stopper wine and amazing with food; extremely well made: pepper, blackberry, black cherry, clove/spice and amazing finish. Will age for another 8+/- years and drinks amazingly well now.
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Rich,candied red fruit--cherry, strawberry (with a hint of twizzler). Mouth coating texture. Smokiness comes and goes. Good, long finish. One of my all-time favorites (I don't buy expensive wines).
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A very polished, balanced, & food friendly quaff! This is the perfect wine for any zesty italian dish. My thoughts are drink sooner rather than later if you're holding some.
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1/17/2018 - klezman wrote:
Delicious, slightly oxidized, lots of earth and leather along with prunes. If this was a typical bottle, don't hesitate to drink these sooner rather than later.
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9/2/2016 - foobarski Likes this wine: 90 Points
Over four-and-a-half years since my previous bottle, and this is still a magnificent wine. Still getting some pencil box, and lots of dark fruit. Tannins let you know they're there, but aren't pushy about it. Soft finish. Paired very nicely with fairly spicy black-eyed peas, sausage and cornbread.
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1/18/2016 - scott w Likes this wine: 91 Points
Another find while cleaning up my cellar. This was a beauty, bold melange of fruit and some dusty earth, balanced acid and just a great food wine.
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11/28/2015 - ssoard Likes this wine: 90 Points
Light and fruity for a deep dark red. Really nice afternoon sipping wine.
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6/20/2015 - klezman wrote:
Bright, vibrant, fruity, earthy, slight secondary notes were evident. Amazing the stuff Scott does with Barbera.
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1/18/2013 - HitAnyKey Likes this wine: 91 Points
Haven't had one of these in quite some time, and it's absolutely wonderful. Right out of the bottle (through a Vinturi), the nose is very expressive and it just developed even more over the next hour or so. Worked perfectly with my spaghetti dinner. I actually can't find words to express the flavors on the palate, other than bold, with combinations of fruity & earthy with hints of spice. It's a somewhat bright fruit. The finish isn't as long as I would like, but it has good balance and a solid acidity.
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12/15/2012 - BeaverBob Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very bright new world style Barbera. Great food wine.
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12/14/2012 - ecola Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very smooth from start to finish, no rough edges at all. Dried cherry flavors with moderate acidity. Wonderful food wine. The label stated this was an old world wine, but I have to disagree. The bright fruit from the CA sunshine makes me go new world.
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6/16/2012 - Ann&Wayne wrote: 88 Points
Very nice; grab a bottle.
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1/21/2012 - foobarski wrote: 90 Points
Lovely. Probably not the right choice if you're eating something with a lot of garlic, but was quite good with a home-made pizza. Bright and spicy, and very pencil-boxy.
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2/15/2011 - richardhod wrote: 92 Points
Fantastic fresh Barbera, with leather notes as it ages. Good acid and flavours, with tannins providing some structure.
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5/3/2010 - richardhod Likes this wine: 91 Points
Keep for a couple of more years, it will definitely improve. Looking as if it'll be very good but I can't tell yet. Drink the Mountain Reserve Barbera 06 instead for now, and keep this beast!. Needs good decantig to open and soften up. The Mountain (Red label) 's not as intense as this one but it's amazingly red fruitily effervescent, with round body and good mouthfeel.
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3/22/2010 - Ann&Wayne wrote: 88 Points
This is a good consistent wine in our cabinet. The flavor is bright cherry with a little wood but not astringent. We like it
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1/7/2010 - Ann&Wayne wrote: 88 Points
Most of this bottle was consumed after a light tomato-based pasta meal. It was nice with the dinner. After the garlic mostly cleared my palate I began to appreciate this wine more. Crayola does not make this color. 133 colors and this is not one of them. It is somewhere between Crayola Maroon and a Garnet Stone...the redder Garnet stones not the Purple ones. Anyway, the flavor is more describable. Dark Cherries with a smidgen of vanilla bean and some kind of dusty wood...like an old wooden box that had once held coffee. Scramble all that together and you get a mighty fine wine. We have 2 more bottles and we are looking forward to them. I think they are going to get better.
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10/6/2009 - klezman wrote:
Supple and velvety. Great flavour
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8/28/2009 - hershelk wrote: 93 Points
I really enjoyed this wine. Well balanced with tastes of toffee and black berry jam.
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8/8/2009 - bkarney wrote:
tasting w/ PolarBear @ Vico - SE FL #1. Didn't take notes but was one of my favorites of the evening
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8/6/2009 - jwink wrote: 94 Points
Had at a winemaker road show. A show stopper wine and amazing with food; extremely well made: pepper, blackberry, black cherry, clove/spice and amazing finish. Will age for another 8+/- years and drinks amazingly well now.
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6/23/2009 - houtx wrote: 87 Points
Rich,candied red fruit--cherry, strawberry (with a hint of twizzler). Mouth coating texture. Smokiness comes and goes. Good, long finish. One of my all-time favorites (I don't buy expensive wines).
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5/26/2009 - RossR wrote: 90 Points
A very polished, balanced, & food friendly quaff! This is the perfect wine for any zesty italian dish. My thoughts are drink sooner rather than later if you're holding some.
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5/9/2009 - mzf wrote: 91 Points
Easy drinking red. Nice balance between fruit and acidity.
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4/29/2009 - dsm0721 wrote: 90 Points
Awesome bottle of wine, light red fruits and very smooth. Would highly recommend.
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