John's note below very well describes the experience over two nights with this mature, very solid bottle of Barbera. This particular bottle was rejected as part of a larger sale of a portion of my cellar to make room for new arrivals (due to stained/worn out label). The cork pull showed a perfect cork with no signs of age or dryness. I'm glad I had a chance to try this wine, as I haven't had many (if any) 15+ year aged Barbera before. The wine was complex, had loads of depth and carried its components with still loads of verve and bright energy. That Teriyaki and umami note that John included in his TN stands out. I'm not sure when I'll come by another one of these with my current wine purchasing patterns, but the memory of this wine will stick for at least another 15-years.
It's been six years (7/20/2015) since previously tasting this wine and over ten years (1/23/2011) since my first write-up on this vintage. This wine continues to evolve at a glacial pace.
Bottle resting in cool cellar since purchase. Ullage was good and cork was clean and tight. Glad the bottle was decanted due to a combination of large and fine sedimentation.
At this time, the wine is becoming a bit more approachable - as predicted in 2011 - but it remains deeply red with big flavors of iron, molasses, and dark cherries along with touches of teriyaki and umami elements. A leather element was detected and represents the wine's evolution into a less primary phase.
Amazingly concentrated for a now “approachable” 14-year-old bottle of Barbera. Probably in a good drinking window right now and for another five to seven years. Overall, following this wine and its evolution has been fun. Wish CA still made some old-fashioned Barbera wines, but those vines have long since been pulled up and re-planted with who knows what that sells.
(Served with spaghetti and spicy homemade sauce. Excellent combo.)
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Tasted double blind from a small bottle. Jay nails this right away as Barbera - but it feels modern - super juicy and ripe and maybe a bit overripe so we think it is a modern producer, although I hedge by saying that you never really know with Barbera. Nose has big fruit - blueberry violets coffee , spices. Palate is big, blue fruits, vanilla, violets, savory (lactic?). salty? maybe a 14/20. I come back to a little bit i have left in my glass after an hour or so and it is improved - not as forward and blocky and hot - now maybe 16/20.
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From magnum; Still a really good style of Barbera. It is big and rich and a superb Wagyu burger wine. Good opportunity to follow over a few nights. First night was big red forest fruits with some earthiness and quite intense with robust acidity in the finish. From second to third nights the fruit intensity dropped off and the earthiness came forward. Still enjoyable, but less of what I want from this varietal. Interesting experiment. Still enjoyable for many more years, I believe.
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I wonder if there’s bottle variation as I don’t share the same experience as those with low ratings. This is on the rich side for sure, but for me not out of balance. I also get the cinnamon/spice, but there’s a nice acidic backbone and for me it’s not drinking “hot”. Was wonderful right from the open with no decanting.
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Lots of dark cherry, cinnamon, minerals on the nose, matched to a rich earthy palate with more cherry, good balance and finish. Richer than I expected but not out of whack. Good acid complements food nicely. I see Eric’s brown sugar and licorice, though it was more in the cinnamon spice range. I’m not sure what happened to the Chicago crew. Perhaps a bad bottle? My experience was nothing like theirs.
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"Wines that don't suck" (Chicago, IL): Served double blind. Heady, sweet, and ripe, in a somewhat anonymous style. Really sweet, with lots of fruit, and not much else going on. A fair bit of alcoholic heat on the finish too... "A wine of process," I said. Whoops.
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The 2007 Conterno Barbera Francia is a beast of a wine, in an absolute sense and relative to cooler vintages of this wine. The nose on the '07 is dark, with brown sugar, black fruit, licorice and graphite. The palate is super rich and almost viscous, coating the mouth in intense black fruit. This is the oldest Barbera I have tasted, but my guess based on this showing is that ideally one should age this one a bit further.
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The nose on the 2007 was massive, with brown sugar, balsamic spice, black cherries dipped in liquor, baked plums and tobacco. On the palate, zesty acidity gave way to dried cherries, savory herbs and minerals with saturating concentration leaving an impression that the best is yet to come. The finish was medium long and mouthwatering, as mineral-tinged red fruits and spice lingered long.
Languorous Memorial Day Barbecue Lunch (San Francisco): Dark ruby, thick looking, notable legs. Wild, ripe aromatic mixture of black and dark red fruit with minimal VA and bitter chocolate. Full and glycerine yet held in check by fine acidity. Added complexity from a hit of mint. Long and roundly tannic. Hors classe for Barbera, should hold well from here.
Still going strong after 2 nights in the fridge. No less fruit but more menthol and soil.
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Pnp. This wine is accessible upon opening. Dark fruit, herbs, smoke and earth on the nose. Palate has some sweet black fruit that is balanced perfectly with acidity. Not the most complex wine but very enjoyable. 4 more bottles to go. No need to wait.
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Deep purple. Blackberry, blueberry, crushed herbs, and a wild, animal component. Just unbelievable weight and density for Barbera, yet miraculously, it is neither heavy nor alcoholic due to dusty earth and atypically strong acidity for the year which keeps the ripeness in check. I should not be making sweeping proclamations about Barbera since my experience is so limited, but if there are any other producers making versions that can rival this for depth, gravitas, or aging potential, I'd love to hear about them!
Two days later, still dark as the night. A lot of the fruit had peeled back, and it showed more typical tart Barbera acidity and significant minerality. This put on quite a show for a 10 year old wine from a warm vintage.
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My last bottle and as impressive as always! Fresh sour cherry with minerality, present acidity and nicely integrated tannins. But (again) the most impressive thing is the depth, complexity and that immense extract!! Hammer- Barbera! Hammer- Wine!
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Just a great wine. Has great mouthfeel with cherries and bramble and lots of minerality. Although from a big vintage and the alcohol is higher than normal (15%), it comes across clean not bombastic. Is showing great for almost 10 years and should be nice for a few years more.
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I think this is finally settling down. There's not much I can add to the mass of notes here, but to my palate this is more drinkable now than prior bottles- all of which were too big. The wine is not so much aged at 10 yrs as tame enough to drink. I will say the heat that others note is there and does give me pause as to whether this gets better / more interesting with age- or just becomes a hot mess.
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Color: nearly opaque indigo core -> deep/dark fuchsia/purple rim. Dark, loamy bouquet showing spice, tar, anisette and a touch of juniper berries. Well balanced, young palate of dark chocolate, blackberries and black cherries with more licorice and fresh cut flowers. Heavier and to my mind less acidic than the Barbera d'Asti's I tend to gravitate toward. Quite lovely in its own dark, perfumed, sensual way though. Excellent structure with a gentle touch of tannins on the very, very long finish. Plenty to like and room to grow.
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Again excellent. Very dark in colour. Notes of tar, spices, dark fruit on the nose. On the palate youthful, grippy, mineral, still rather tight. The finish is very intense and powerful. Excellent length. Wonderful. Drink or hold. 93-95
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Very dark in color, almost purple-black. Nose has some currant and dark cherry fruit but also something like tar. Has some nice acidity but also tastes a bit pruney on the finish. I think I remember earlier bottles being better. Maybe was meant to drink younger (despite the very youthful color). Not a fan of this bottle.
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Ups! Da denkt man Ai Suma kann alles in Barbera und dann das... Am Anfang säurelastig, sperrig... Obwohl der Wein seit dem Vortag offen im Keller steht... Nach einer Stunde dann die Offenbarung - einfach eine Stufe über dem tollen, aber etwas überextrahierten Ai Suma. Mit gleichem Reifegrad (Ai Suma war 2004) sicherlich der grössere Wein. Einfach wirklich, wirklich gross!
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Very dark, hardly any discolouration. Layers of dark berries and cherries, spices, earth, flowers, balsamic notes. On the palate quite sweet and grippy. The tannins are ripe but still quite firm. Very powerful and rich, but there is very good acidity and excellent balance. Very long and detailed finish. Excellent. Drinking well, but no rush at all. 93-94+
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VERTICALE CONTERNO BARBERA CASCINA FRANCIA: Il più scuro della batteria, quasi un inchiostro. Primario, sul frutto rorido e grondante succo. Manca un pochino della spazialità e della tensione acida di un' annata più fresca, ma ha sensualità e corpo da vendere. Una versione meno a fuoco della 2009.
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Opened on the 18th of July, but decided to not drink too much until the 20th. This wine needs a ton of aeration. Like my notes from 2011, this wine continues to be amazingly dark and structured. Flavors of molasses, dark cherries, tar, and wild flowers. Probably more approachable in five to ten years time.
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Deep bouquet with ripe dark forest fruits, herbs and spices, chocolate and roasted nuts. Same on the palate, sweet ripe berries, vanilla and a firm dose of oaky flavors. Good acidity and round tannin with still a firm bite. Beautiful, complex and concentrated wine.
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Dark crimson red color in the glass. The nose was like a basket of fresh-picked, super-ripe berries followed by holiday spices, new leather and a bit of oak. Some heat was present but did not detract from the experience. On the palate, I found masses of dark fruit, sour licorice, pepper and bitters. Very balanced with the acidity showing just a bit through the rich fruit. The finish was long but fresh with blackberry fruit. Rich and forward, the ‘07 shows all of the hallmarks of the ’07 vintage, and I see no reason to wait any longer.
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Farge dyp rød mot sort. Skogsbunn som første duft, kjenner litt alkohol (15%) i munn. Lett syrlig, behagelige tanniner, rik og fruktig. Ikke altfor kompleks, men det skal ikke en Barbera være. Men alkoholen sitter i litt for lenge for min smak.
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Opaque ruby-black colour. Brooding, rich nose of creme de cassis, black licorice, black mission figs, tar, and hints of menthol/savory dried herbs. Full-bodied, stunning wine with fantastic acidity to support the fruit. More creme de cassis, black cherries, black licorice, and herbs on the palate through to the medium-long, 35-40s finish. For as rich and complex the wine is, the acidity lifts it effortlessly from the palate, preventing it from feeling heavy. A stunning Barbera, and one of the best I've ever had. Wow. Drink now-2020+.
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This wine is simply spoken: veeeeery enjoyable! So complex, deep, fruity. I had that with lunch and one bottle w/o food. It was my first experience with G.Conterno wines. If this is the entry level of G. Conterno then I am really looking forward to try his Barolos in my cellar. Only one "negative" point: With 15% Alc max two glasses to drink ;-) This wine I highly recommend!
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Big fruit, like a elegant amarone. Also great perfume, dried fruits, tea, and some signs that this is a maturing wine, notes of leather. 15% alcohol did not disturb at all.
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Popped and poured. Still showing primary fruit and slightly hard edged tannin. This bottle was just a babe. This wine was noble and while it showed the juiciness of Barbera is had the tannic structure to go for the long haul. I'd be curious to try one of these in 10 years. A lot of upside but a somewhat awkward drink at the moment.
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Huge nose soared out of glass. Black cherry, plum and spice. Dark color, bordering on black. Soft mouthfeel. Medium bodied with an easy long finish. Not a bomb by any means but plenty of nice dark fruit on the finish with almost a hot pepper twinge. A terrific Barbera. Drinking great now.
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This is just plain yummy. Not necessarily classic Barbera, but it has sweet tannins, fresh yet deep black fruit, nicely balanced acidity. Beautiful balance, lush and soft mouth feel. A lovely wine.
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yes its nice, BUT the fruit seems to lacks charm , bit of heat . maybe the vintage. I am a fan of giacomo conterno but maybe prefer the cooler vintage's. 2 years ago i drank this and was blown away. sadly not now.
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Eucalyptus on the nose; on the palate, raspberry and dark berries, with a touch of peppery spice and a bit of citrus on the finish, with good acidity. If I had tried this blind, I would have guessed it to be a 2009 Cru Beaujolais -- it has the same combination of brightness and power. I expect this will hold for several more years, and may improve.
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Am clearly less enthusiastic than some recent tasters - sour cherry and 'over-bright' to me, neither particularly long or multi dimensional. Full and easy - began to get more interesting when revisited day 3. Probably needs more time, but poor value at its normal pricing
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full body, med plus acidity, earthy before fruit, med minus smooth tannins, dark cherry, woods, red flowers, old oak, not the vanilla of new, med plus finish herbal notes a ric hmouthful best with food
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Dark rubin red. Intense and complex nose. Follows up on the palate. Great tight dark fruit. Elegant and impeccably balanced. Lovely texture and lingering finish with fine fresh acidity that lasts and lasts.
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Deeply colored. Well developed with nice balance of fruit and acidity. Drinking really well right now. I'd take this with pasta and red sauce over a Chianti any day!
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Needed a half hour air at least. Big,full bodied Barbera with good acidity to balance the massive fruit. Lacking in complexity and nuance, but enjoyable nonetheless.
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Big and a bit thick, lots of chocolate and dried fruit flavors, handles the alcohol relatively well but this lacks freshness and is just not that well balanced. Coarse and a bit clunky.
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At first this bottle was tight but with time and air it opened very nicely. The fruit was round and ripe (not surprising for 2007) but the acidity was good. There was some bitterness on the back end that lessened with time. Just a touch of heat began to show on the finish but it was minor. This is definitely a bigger barbera and if I were to drink it again I would decanted it first and give it a little time before drinking. 89+
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Decanted for two hours. Clear, almost opaque garnet with a purple rim, high viscosity, has a bit of sediment. Has a dark, intense and somewhat hot impression on the nose with aromas of cherries, flowers, earth, spices, licorice and oak. Full and initially very fruit-forward on the palate but the overall structure is still correct. The aftertaste is pleasantly acidic. Already an enjoyable wine but it's likely to improve with a few more years in the cellar. 91+
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Pretty amazing difference this wine has gone under since I last had in January of 2010. I recall that experience quite clearly, as it was one of the most fruit dominated young wines I have ever come across; not a jammy, flabby, Smuckers, Mollydooker nightmare, no, but a pure, red cherry driven Ferrari of red wine, lots of flash, but plenty of acidity to back it up. Now, it seems like the overall structure has simply caught up, leaving a more complete and balanced wine. While one still doesn’t have to look very hard for that overt, 07 black and red fruits, we now see plenty of earthy tannin in the mix, leaving us as a whole a very balanced, and dare I say classic Barbera. Should pair effortlessly with a myriad of food choices, though can you really beat a good, thin crust pizza on a cold Saturday night in January? I think not. Originally, I thought this would be best by 2014 or so, now, I might let my last bottle go another 5 years, see what happens, I’m feeling optimistic.
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Decanted 20 min and drank over 3 hours. Lots of sediment in the bottle. Very dark, almost black to the rim. Nose initially dominated by oak, later dark fruit but not very intense. Seemed very slightly corked on the attack. Silky smooth palate with lots of dark fruit. Veery fine and soft tannins. Usually I do not enjoy wines with 14.5% alcohol or more but here the 15% are incredibly well integrated - no heat. Medium finish. Not my prefered style of wine but very well made.
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Tight spicy fruit, some loamy earth, a touch of almost a grassy/herbal note, great food wine with good dollop of acidity. Nice at Coppa Italian in San Mateo, CA
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Notes from day 2. Dark purple in color. Nose of florals, black raspberries, tobacco, spice. Palate of mixed raspberries, licorice, tobacco, with some oak spice showing and some bitterness present toward the back. The finish was average to AA in length, decent mouthfeel. Solid bottle of vino, just wish I could get more into barbera. Hold: 50+5+12+17+6
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tight in the first two to three hours, after bottle decant 6 hrs, the smell and taste came out, Dark color, cherry, ripe black fruit, long finish. Good Price and Performance
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Late in the evening, after several bottles, judgment somewhat impaired. Just remember it was very dark, tannic and concentrated. I guess I'll end up drinking all my case way before maturity...
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Colore molto scuro, inizialmente naso molto vanigliato, poi lentamente si pulisce, virando su toni fruttati, quasi anguriosi. Non so se faccia legno piccolo ma l'impressione è quella. Bocca bella acida e bevibile, piacevole con bella lunghezza. Nel tempo migliora tantissimo, il naso perde tutti i toni vanigliati per rimanere sul frutto, bocca molto piacevole ed appagante.
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1/23/11 - Lovely dark, rich color full of purple tones. Amazingly dark, reflecting the character of Barbera at its finest. The nose is rich and the flavors are powerful. Full bodied berry flavors. The palate is rich and within the zone - i.e., not pruny. Licorice, dark cherry and iodine are just a few of the flavors found in this bottle.. Does have a warm finish, but it seems appropriate given the gobs of fruit. OK, I think this is a wonderful wine and I am going to put it away for one day. Its very good now, but I want to see how it develops. Rating pending.
1/24/11 - Same as above, still needs more time to breath.
1/25/11 - OK, this wine is finally manageable with loads of dark fruit, licorice, and cherry. The richness remains and the warmth of the flavors and alcohol are very much present. Fortunately, use of the vacuu-vin for two days help manage the - I am not sure this is the right word - rusticity of the wine. Very lovely and reasonably priced wine. I am buying more and lying them down in the cellar for seven to ten years..
(On 3/18/10, I tired a 1990 Moccagatta Barbera d'Alba Basarin - it was wonderful and was one of my top wines consumed in 2010 (see: CellarTracker notes for more discussion). I can't say if the Conterno will turn out the same as the Moccagatta Barbera d'Alba Basarin in 20 years, but its a steal and belongs in any wine nut's cellar.)
PS. Barbera is a lovely varietal thought its now relegated to jug wine production by most vintners in California. Back in the early 80s, I remember seeing old vintages of this varietal by Inglenook and other producers in the wine store I worked at. More recently, the 1995 (?) VJB did have success with their varietal bottling - thanks in part to a nice write-up in the NYT. Unfortunately, I've not followed the wine much. Fortunately, Italy still carries the torch.
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Once opened the nose seemed very tight and did not represent the aromas i had expected. Decanted for 1-2 hrs and then Boom! The wine opened up beautifully with hints of liquorice, black cherries, and a bit of menthol and a bit of tobacco. The palate initially very smooth with a medium to full body. The tannins have a nice edge that will to the wine good over some more years in the cellar.The wine appears a bit hot with the 15% especially to begin with, but after a while it softens out and works out fine. Very nice wine!
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Magnificent barbera....liquorice, spice and hints of rubber....great nose...long finish...doesn't feel like 15%..... Glorious...happy to have the rest of the case to draw out over the next decade....
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Pop & pour. Wow! Big nose of ripe red and black fruits, coffee, spices. Thick and silky in the mouth with gobs of fruit. Is that a touch of oak? This is a truly delicious young Barbera. Should age brilliantly for 20-30 years. 92-93 points.
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15% alc. Deep ruby. Intense warm nose of lightly sweet licorice, plums and prunes - yet remarkably balanced and elegant. The fruit on the palate are intense, yet paradoxically lifted, staying on the upper palate. Beautifully textured, with soft cashmere tannins, plums and cherries are softly turning to prunes, nuances of undergrowth. Drinks effortlessly thanks to amazing freshness despite 15% alcohol. Medium finish. From my cellar.
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Crazy, 15% alcohol! Fairly extracted stuff and a bit hot right now. Makes me wonder a little bit about the winery. Needs a little bit of time in the cellar to call down.
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Much bigger nose and surprisingly approachable after a short decant. Beautiful rose/ tar/ dark fruits. Much more supple than the 04 or 06 at this time point in evolution. Rich and lush while still retaining great freshness and having plenty of depth. this is beautiful stuff. No rush to drink it, and while i generally prefer this bottling after 3-4 years after release, this is singing right now. Great stuff!
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Wow! The nose is available from at least a foot away. Up close it's just a wave of dark fruit and tar. About as full bodied as a Barbera can get with sweet dark fruit, licorice, a touch of sweet oak and then a perfect pinch of cranberries on the backend. Completely balanced from the beginning to the very long finish. So glad to have three more and interested to see how it evolves over the next few years. Highly recommend.
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Barbera and Barbaresco: Dark, almost inky color. Chewy, dense, dark and spicy fruit. Faintly medicinal, very grapey and juicy but ultimately too primal and showing too much sharp tartness for me and desperately needs food.
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Love this stuff. A pure, dense, mouth-filling wine. Super-grapey with intense minerality, almost like vitamins. Although it has a relatively high alcohol content, it is so soft that it doesn't seem hot at all. Drinks great now, but has underlying acidity and tannic structure to age.
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Deep crimson color characteristic of barbera. Initial nose is reserved with faint mustiness. First taste is fruit with no predominant notes. Dark berries perhaps a hint of prunes. Fruit is close to syrupy. After an hour, the fruit becomes more alive matched with a morefruity nose. At 2 hours wine is a smooth, creamy, friendly and memorable. A great glass of juice. Definitely a Drink me now or drink me later wine.
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Stor, massiv frugt. Lang i eftersmagen. Alkoholen er en smule fremtrædende og syren ligeså - men det falder til ro om et år eller to og dermed fremstår en kæmpe vin til prisen.
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delish! better than both the 2005 and 2006. fresh, clean and lots of zip along with the bright red berries. this wine loves food and the feeling is mutual.
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Decanted 2 hrs and served in a Reidel Bordeaux stem. Although a primary shock wave of dark berried scents came through when poured in the decanter, this was primarily sporting a floral nose that gave very little indication of the power that was lurking in the glass below. My past experience with the 04 05 and 06 vintages did little to prepare me for the absolute assault of dark fruit (all black) that assimilated the entire palate and gums. Maybe even a touch of fig as well. Most importantly though, is how natural the ripeness comes across, nothing forced or tinkered with, simply a world class producer with a world class vineyard maximizing the hand nature dealt in 2007. Brilliant acidity on the back half provides more than ample structure, and the finish is loaded. Scary potential with a few years of cellar sleep, indeed one of the better sub $40 red out there? It makes a very strong case.....
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Decanted about three hours. This pours a very dark ruby, almost inky. The nose is reticent and floral, hinting at the big fruit on the palate but just barely. In the mouth, all the varietally correct notes --cherries, mushrooms, lemon juice-- but somewhat on steroids. As concentrated and powerful as this is, it is not really heavy, thanks to terrific acidity. Lively and long. And balanced, as the 15% alcohol is rarely noticeable, except in a few sips where a menthol note is more prominent. Man, I love this. This benchmark Barbera, one I'll measure all future bottles of this grape against. Just awesome, and likely even better with more time in the bottle. This has to be one of the great sub-$40 wines in the world. 93+.
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What can I say? This wine is amazing. It is so powerfull yet so well balanced. Loads of dark fruit with a touch of menthol. Good structure and acidity and a very long finish.
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very nice dark colour, takes some time to come together in the glass but when it does it starts to show some complexity and the mushroom and truffle that at the moment is more obvious in the 2006. However tasted together with the 2006, it seems that 2007 is going to be the better wine in the end.
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Simply put this wine was superb. Color was purple. Very fruit dominated, but with good underlying structure. At the moment the fruit dominates the acidity, however, I could feel the acidity, and I'm sure this wine will be long lived. Balance was superb - a true barbera masterpiece.
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3/19/2023 - z_willus_d wrote: 92 Points
John's note below very well describes the experience over two nights with this mature, very solid bottle of Barbera. This particular bottle was rejected as part of a larger sale of a portion of my cellar to make room for new arrivals (due to stained/worn out label). The cork pull showed a perfect cork with no signs of age or dryness. I'm glad I had a chance to try this wine, as I haven't had many (if any) 15+ year aged Barbera before. The wine was complex, had loads of depth and carried its components with still loads of verve and bright energy. That Teriyaki and umami note that John included in his TN stands out. I'm not sure when I'll come by another one of these with my current wine purchasing patterns, but the memory of this wine will stick for at least another 15-years.
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9/28/2021 - John Dunlap Likes this wine: 92 Points
It's been six years (7/20/2015) since previously tasting this wine and over ten years (1/23/2011) since my first write-up on this vintage. This wine continues to evolve at a glacial pace.
Bottle resting in cool cellar since purchase. Ullage was good and cork was clean and tight. Glad the bottle was decanted due to a combination of large and fine sedimentation.
At this time, the wine is becoming a bit more approachable - as predicted in 2011 - but it remains deeply red with big flavors of iron, molasses, and dark cherries along with touches of teriyaki and umami elements. A leather element was detected and represents the wine's evolution into a less primary phase.
Amazingly concentrated for a now “approachable” 14-year-old bottle of Barbera. Probably in a good drinking window right now and for another five to seven years. Overall, following this wine and its evolution has been fun. Wish CA still made some old-fashioned Barbera wines, but those vines have long since been pulled up and re-planted with who knows what that sells.
(Served with spaghetti and spicy homemade sauce. Excellent combo.)
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1/28/2021 - Seth Rosenberg wrote: 90 Points
Tasted double blind from a small bottle. Jay nails this right away as Barbera - but it feels modern - super juicy and ripe and maybe a bit overripe so we think it is a modern producer, although I hedge by saying that you never really know with Barbera. Nose has big fruit - blueberry violets coffee , spices. Palate is big, blue fruits, vanilla, violets, savory (lactic?). salty? maybe a 14/20. I come back to a little bit i have left in my glass after an hour or so and it is improved - not as forward and blocky and hot - now maybe 16/20.
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1/22/2021 - portman63 Likes this wine: 92 Points
From magnum; Still a really good style of Barbera. It is big and rich and a superb Wagyu burger wine. Good opportunity to follow over a few nights. First night was big red forest fruits with some earthiness and quite intense with robust acidity in the finish. From second to third nights the fruit intensity dropped off and the earthiness came forward. Still enjoyable, but less of what I want from this varietal. Interesting experiment. Still enjoyable for many more years, I believe.
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5/10/2020 - madvulture Likes this wine: 92 Points
I wonder if there’s bottle variation as I don’t share the same experience as those with low ratings. This is on the rich side for sure, but for me not out of balance. I also get the cinnamon/spice, but there’s a nice acidic backbone and for me it’s not drinking “hot”. Was wonderful right from the open with no decanting.
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5/30/2019 - Richard P Howden Likes this wine: 91 Points
Lots of dark cherry, cinnamon, minerals on the nose, matched to a rich earthy palate with more cherry, good balance and finish. Richer than I expected but not out of whack. Good acid complements food nicely. I see Eric’s brown sugar and licorice, though it was more in the cinnamon spice range. I’m not sure what happened to the Chicago crew. Perhaps a bad bottle? My experience was nothing like theirs.
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5/11/2019 - Burgundy Al wrote: 84 Points
Blind Tasting...Wines That Don't Suck (House of Nanda - Chicago IL): Tasted double blind. Fleshy, ripe and non-descript. Only marginally interesting at this point.
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5/11/2019 - Nanda wrote:
Blind. Yikes this was a hot mess. Ripe, roasted and hot. Out of balance. The warmer year hasn't aged well.
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5/11/2019 - acyso wrote: 83 Points
"Wines that don't suck" (Chicago, IL): Served double blind. Heady, sweet, and ripe, in a somewhat anonymous style. Really sweet, with lots of fruit, and not much else going on. A fair bit of alcoholic heat on the finish too... "A wine of process," I said. Whoops.
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2/7/2019 - Robmcl920 Likes this wine: 92 Points
The 2007 Conterno Barbera Francia is a beast of a wine, in an absolute sense and relative to cooler vintages of this wine. The nose on the '07 is dark, with brown sugar, black fruit, licorice and graphite. The palate is super rich and almost viscous, coating the mouth in intense black fruit. This is the oldest Barbera I have tasted, but my guess based on this showing is that ideally one should age this one a bit further.
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12/29/2018 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 92 Points
The nose on the 2007 was massive, with brown sugar, balsamic spice, black cherries dipped in liquor, baked plums and tobacco. On the palate, zesty acidity gave way to dried cherries, savory herbs and minerals with saturating concentration leaving an impression that the best is yet to come. The finish was medium long and mouthwatering, as mineral-tinged red fruits and spice lingered long.
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11/17/2018 - Lype Likes this wine: 89 Points
Pepper, herbs, liquorice, nice acidity, tasty and good.
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5/28/2018 - drwine2001 wrote:
Languorous Memorial Day Barbecue Lunch (San Francisco): Dark ruby, thick looking, notable legs. Wild, ripe aromatic mixture of black and dark red fruit with minimal VA and bitter chocolate. Full and glycerine yet held in check by fine acidity. Added complexity from a hit of mint. Long and roundly tannic. Hors classe for Barbera, should hold well from here.
Still going strong after 2 nights in the fridge. No less fruit but more menthol and soil.
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5/21/2018 - Burgnick wrote:
I wonder if this was an off bottle. Very oaky and modern with dark fruit. Missing the expressiveness and elegance of the previous bottle.
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4/2/2018 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Similar to prior note; delicious & ready to drink
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2/11/2018 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted for an hour then back in the bottle, similar to prior note; very good, drink up
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1/26/2018 - Burgnick Likes this wine: 91 Points
Pnp. This wine is accessible upon opening. Dark fruit, herbs, smoke and earth on the nose. Palate has some sweet black fruit that is balanced perfectly with acidity. Not the most complex wine but very enjoyable. 4 more bottles to go. No need to wait.
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1/16/2018 - drwine2001 wrote:
Deep purple. Blackberry, blueberry, crushed herbs, and a wild, animal component. Just unbelievable weight and density for Barbera, yet miraculously, it is neither heavy nor alcoholic due to dusty earth and atypically strong acidity for the year which keeps the ripeness in check. I should not be making sweeping proclamations about Barbera since my experience is so limited, but if there are any other producers making versions that can rival this for depth, gravitas, or aging potential, I'd love to hear about them!
Two days later, still dark as the night. A lot of the fruit had peeled back, and it showed more typical tart Barbera acidity and significant minerality. This put on quite a show for a 10 year old wine from a warm vintage.
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12/25/2017 - glou.sf Likes this wine: 92 Points
Berries, plums, smoke, and cedar on the nose. Good acidity with sour berries, pickled plums, and herbs on the palate. Good finish.
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10/21/2017 - Bradetti Likes this wine: 94 Points
My last bottle and as impressive as always!
Fresh sour cherry with minerality, present acidity and nicely integrated tannins.
But (again) the most impressive thing is the depth, complexity and that immense extract!!
Hammer- Barbera! Hammer- Wine!
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8/18/2017 - acidqueen wrote: 90 Points
a bit too ripe really. Tasted good, but time to drink it up.
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5/24/2017 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted, deep ruby, dark cherry with a touch of olive, soft tannins, med/long finish; delicious, great Barbera, ready to drink
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1/28/2017 - portman63 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Just a great wine. Has great mouthfeel with cherries and bramble and lots of minerality. Although from a big vintage and the alcohol is higher than normal (15%), it comes across clean not bombastic. Is showing great for almost 10 years and should be nice for a few years more.
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1/9/2017 - collin wrote:
I think this is finally settling down. There's not much I can add to the mass of notes here, but to my palate this is more drinkable now than prior bottles- all of which were too big. The wine is not so much aged at 10 yrs as tame enough to drink. I will say the heat that others note is there and does give me pause as to whether this gets better / more interesting with age- or just becomes a hot mess.
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11/12/2016 - BVal wrote: 92 Points
Color: nearly opaque indigo core -> deep/dark fuchsia/purple rim. Dark, loamy bouquet showing spice, tar, anisette and a touch of juniper berries. Well balanced, young palate of dark chocolate, blackberries and black cherries with more licorice and fresh cut flowers. Heavier and to my mind less acidic than the Barbera d'Asti's I tend to gravitate toward. Quite lovely in its own dark, perfumed, sensual way though. Excellent structure with a gentle touch of tannins on the very, very long finish. Plenty to like and room to grow.
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9/15/2016 - rossi.wine wrote: 94 Points
Again excellent. Very dark in colour. Notes of tar, spices, dark fruit on the nose. On the palate youthful, grippy, mineral, still rather tight. The finish is very intense and powerful. Excellent length. Wonderful. Drink or hold. 93-95
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5/7/2016 - rcg62 wrote: 89 Points
Very dark in color, almost purple-black. Nose has some currant and dark cherry fruit but also something like tar. Has some nice acidity but also tastes a bit pruney on the finish. I think I remember earlier bottles being better. Maybe was meant to drink younger (despite the very youthful color). Not a fan of this bottle.
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4/8/2016 - EMAZurich Likes this wine: 94 Points
Ups! Da denkt man Ai Suma kann alles in Barbera und dann das... Am Anfang säurelastig, sperrig... Obwohl der Wein seit dem Vortag offen im Keller steht... Nach einer Stunde dann die Offenbarung - einfach eine Stufe über dem tollen, aber etwas überextrahierten Ai Suma. Mit gleichem Reifegrad (Ai Suma war 2004) sicherlich der grössere Wein. Einfach wirklich, wirklich gross!
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2/29/2016 - rossi.wine wrote: 94 Points
Very dark, hardly any discolouration. Layers of dark berries and cherries, spices, earth, flowers, balsamic notes. On the palate quite sweet and grippy. The tannins are ripe but still quite firm. Very powerful and rich, but there is very good acidity and excellent balance. Very long and detailed finish. Excellent. Drinking well, but no rush at all. 93-94+
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2/26/2016 - galenico Likes this wine: 90 Points
VERTICALE CONTERNO BARBERA CASCINA FRANCIA: Il più scuro della batteria, quasi un inchiostro. Primario, sul frutto rorido e grondante succo. Manca un pochino della spazialità e della tensione acida di un' annata più fresca, ma ha sensualità e corpo da vendere.
Una versione meno a fuoco della 2009.
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12/19/2015 - gtonn Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drinking very well
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7/20/2015 - John Dunlap Likes this wine: 90 Points
Opened on the 18th of July, but decided to not drink too much until the 20th. This wine needs a ton of aeration. Like my notes from 2011, this wine continues to be amazingly dark and structured. Flavors of molasses, dark cherries, tar, and wild flowers. Probably more approachable in five to ten years time.
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4/25/2015 - Zweder wrote: 93 Points
Deep bouquet with ripe dark forest fruits, herbs and spices, chocolate and roasted nuts. Same on the palate, sweet ripe berries, vanilla and a firm dose of oaky flavors. Good acidity and round tannin with still a firm bite. Beautiful, complex and concentrated wine.
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1/16/2015 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark crimson red color in the glass. The nose was like a basket of fresh-picked, super-ripe berries followed by holiday spices, new leather and a bit of oak. Some heat was present but did not detract from the experience. On the palate, I found masses of dark fruit, sour licorice, pepper and bitters. Very balanced with the acidity showing just a bit through the rich fruit. The finish was long but fresh with blackberry fruit. Rich and forward, the ‘07 shows all of the hallmarks of the ’07 vintage, and I see no reason to wait any longer.
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9/3/2014 - Stickan wrote: 89 Points
Farge dyp rød mot sort. Skogsbunn som første duft, kjenner litt alkohol (15%) i munn. Lett syrlig, behagelige tanniner, rik og fruktig. Ikke altfor kompleks, men det skal ikke en Barbera være. Men alkoholen sitter i litt for lenge for min smak.
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8/25/2014 - futronic wrote: 94 Points
Opaque ruby-black colour. Brooding, rich nose of creme de cassis, black licorice, black mission figs, tar, and hints of menthol/savory dried herbs. Full-bodied, stunning wine with fantastic acidity to support the fruit. More creme de cassis, black cherries, black licorice, and herbs on the palate through to the medium-long, 35-40s finish. For as rich and complex the wine is, the acidity lifts it effortlessly from the palate, preventing it from feeling heavy. A stunning Barbera, and one of the best I've ever had. Wow. Drink now-2020+.
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8/25/2014 - Bradetti Likes this wine: 94 Points
This wine is simply spoken: veeeeery enjoyable!
So complex, deep, fruity. I had that with lunch and one bottle w/o food. It was my first experience with G.Conterno wines. If this is the entry level of G. Conterno then I am really looking forward to try his Barolos in my cellar.
Only one "negative" point: With 15% Alc max two glasses to drink ;-)
This wine I highly recommend!
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8/9/2014 - Blauweiss Likes this wine: 90 Points
Big fruit, like a elegant amarone. Also great perfume, dried fruits, tea, and some signs that this is a maturing wine, notes of leather. 15% alcohol did not disturb at all.
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4/24/2014 - EhrlichDY Likes this wine: 90 Points
Popped and poured. Still showing primary fruit and slightly hard edged tannin. This bottle was just a babe. This wine was noble and while it showed the juiciness of Barbera is had the tannic structure to go for the long haul. I'd be curious to try one of these in 10 years. A lot of upside but a somewhat awkward drink at the moment.
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3/14/2014 - rcg62 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Huge nose soared out of glass. Black cherry, plum and spice. Dark color, bordering on black. Soft mouthfeel. Medium bodied with an easy long finish. Not a bomb by any means but plenty of nice dark fruit on the finish with almost a hot pepper twinge. A terrific Barbera. Drinking great now.
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2/18/2014 - randyjc wrote: 92 Points
This is just plain yummy. Not necessarily classic Barbera, but it has sweet tannins, fresh yet deep black fruit, nicely balanced acidity. Beautiful balance, lush and soft mouth feel. A lovely wine.
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11/15/2013 - kernel Likes this wine: 88 Points
yes its nice, BUT the fruit seems to lacks charm , bit of heat . maybe the vintage. I am a fan of giacomo conterno but maybe prefer the cooler vintage's. 2 years ago i drank this and was blown away. sadly not now.
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9/23/2013 - RichardP wrote: 92 Points
Eucalyptus on the nose; on the palate, raspberry and dark berries, with a touch of peppery spice and a bit of citrus on the finish, with good acidity. If I had tried this blind, I would have guessed it to be a 2009 Cru Beaujolais -- it has the same combination of brightness and power. I expect this will hold for several more years, and may improve.
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8/23/2013 - finewinebuff57 wrote: 87 Points
Am clearly less enthusiastic than some recent tasters - sour cherry and 'over-bright' to me, neither particularly long or multi dimensional. Full and easy - began to get more interesting when revisited day 3. Probably needs more time, but poor value at its normal pricing
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8/18/2013 - FullerFamily wrote:
Tight sour cherry on pop n pour. After 1 hour decant this wine is amazing. Oaky with lots of raspberries and a green pepper finish.
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6/15/2013 - burgburgburg wrote: 91 Points
Amazingly balanced Barbera. On its' peak now. Just pop-n-pour and its' so appealing. Again, price reflects quality.
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1/9/2013 - Cantina Hill's wrote: 89 Points
full body, med plus acidity, earthy before fruit, med minus smooth tannins, dark cherry, woods, red flowers, old oak, not the vanilla of new, med plus finish herbal notes
a ric hmouthful best with food
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1/5/2013 - larsrog wrote: 92 Points
Dark rubin red.
Intense and complex nose.
Follows up on the palate. Great tight dark fruit. Elegant and impeccably balanced. Lovely texture and lingering finish with fine fresh acidity that lasts and lasts.
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12/30/2012 - gtonn Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deeply colored. Well developed with nice balance of fruit and acidity. Drinking really well right now. I'd take this with pasta and red sauce over a Chianti any day!
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12/26/2012 - MC wrote:
Ripe, expressive, long finish. In a great place right now - drink up. A-
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11/24/2012 - burgbob wrote: 91 Points
Needed a half hour air at least. Big,full bodied Barbera with good acidity to balance the massive fruit. Lacking in complexity and nuance, but enjoyable nonetheless.
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11/15/2012 - harupeiling wrote: 93 Points
Full bodied, but with elegance. Has improved considerably since I last tasted it a couple of years ago. Smooth would be the keyword here.
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11/2/2012 - drunkstar wrote: 92 Points
Dense brooding powerful barbera. Lovely long (maybe a touch hot) finish. I love it.
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10/21/2012 - MC wrote:
Lush, open, and packed with fruit. Drink now. A-
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9/22/2012 - Gregory Dal Piaz wrote: 86 Points
Big and a bit thick, lots of chocolate and dried fruit flavors, handles the alcohol relatively well but this lacks freshness and is just not that well balanced. Coarse and a bit clunky.
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9/19/2012 - gfish wrote: 89 Points
At first this bottle was tight but with time and air it opened very nicely.
The fruit was round and ripe (not surprising for 2007) but the acidity was good. There was some bitterness on the back end that lessened with time. Just a touch of heat began to show on the finish but it was minor. This is definitely a bigger barbera and if I were to drink it again I would decanted it first and give it a little time before drinking. 89+
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8/15/2012 - wine65 wrote: 92 Points
Dark purple red color, floral aromas soar from the glass. Herb, sweet cherry on the palate with nice acidity. Great wine drinking well now.
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6/15/2012 - Rubicante wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for two hours. Clear, almost opaque garnet with a purple rim, high viscosity, has a bit of sediment. Has a dark, intense and somewhat hot impression on the nose with aromas of cherries, flowers, earth, spices, licorice and oak. Full and initially very fruit-forward on the palate but the overall structure is still correct. The aftertaste is pleasantly acidic. Already an enjoyable wine but it's likely to improve with a few more years in the cellar. 91+
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6/9/2012 - gorm wrote: 90 Points
Dark fruited, plum, cherries, tar, tobacco, licorice. Dusty tannins, acid and very concentrated.
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5/3/2012 - bwillia wrote: 85 Points
This vintage seems over done in every way. Unfortunate.
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2/9/2012 - Pointchaser wrote: 92 Points
(from memory) bright cherry, palate staining and slightly viscous. Balanced, long. A highly satisfying drink.
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2/5/2012 - bobpsi wrote: 89 Points
Expressive nose of red cherry, violets and tobacco. Medium body of fresh cherry pie, pepper, and licorice. Medium dry finish.
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1/12/2012 - Lord Rayas wrote: 87 Points
Dinner with Eric and Jon (坤記): dark and brooding. not my style.
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1/10/2012 - Dale M wrote: 93 Points
Pretty amazing difference this wine has gone under since I last had in January of 2010. I recall that experience quite clearly, as it was one of the most fruit dominated young wines I have ever come across; not a jammy, flabby, Smuckers, Mollydooker nightmare, no, but a pure, red cherry driven Ferrari of red wine, lots of flash, but plenty of acidity to back it up. Now, it seems like the overall structure has simply caught up, leaving a more complete and balanced wine. While one still doesn’t have to look very hard for that overt, 07 black and red fruits, we now see plenty of earthy tannin in the mix, leaving us as a whole a very balanced, and dare I say classic Barbera. Should pair effortlessly with a myriad of food choices, though can you really beat a good, thin crust pizza on a cold Saturday night in January? I think not. Originally, I thought this would be best by 2014 or so, now, I might let my last bottle go another 5 years, see what happens, I’m feeling optimistic.
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1/1/2012 - BSpdx wrote: 93 Points
As good as always.
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11/19/2011 - pavel_p wrote: 92 Points
Decanted 20 min and drank over 3 hours. Lots of sediment in the bottle. Very dark, almost black to the rim. Nose initially dominated by oak, later dark fruit but not very intense. Seemed very slightly corked on the attack. Silky smooth palate with lots of dark fruit. Veery fine and soft tannins. Usually I do not enjoy wines with 14.5% alcohol or more but here the 15% are incredibly well integrated - no heat. Medium finish. Not my prefered style of wine but very well made.
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10/13/2011 - danstrings wrote: 89 Points
Tight spicy fruit, some loamy earth, a touch of almost a grassy/herbal note, great food wine with good dollop of acidity. Nice at Coppa Italian in San Mateo, CA
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5/13/2011 - Lord Rayas wrote: 88 Points
Dinner with Eric, Bernard, Ludo and wives (Ajitomi): Dense and thick. This is massive. Super ripe fruits but too concentrated and alcoholic for my taste.
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5/12/2011 - manonthemoon wrote: 90 Points
Notes from day 2.
Dark purple in color.
Nose of florals, black raspberries, tobacco, spice.
Palate of mixed raspberries, licorice, tobacco, with some oak spice showing and some bitterness present toward the back.
The finish was average to AA in length, decent mouthfeel.
Solid bottle of vino, just wish I could get more into barbera.
Hold: 50+5+12+17+6
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4/20/2011 - popup wrote: 92 Points
tight in the first two to three hours, after bottle decant 6 hrs, the smell and taste came out, Dark color, cherry, ripe black fruit, long finish. Good Price and Performance
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4/3/2011 - Flavito wrote: 89 Points
Late in the evening, after several bottles, judgment somewhat impaired. Just remember it was very dark, tannic and concentrated. I guess I'll end up drinking all my case way before maturity...
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2/3/2011 - Jossik wrote: 88 Points
Colore molto scuro, inizialmente naso molto vanigliato, poi lentamente si pulisce, virando su toni fruttati, quasi anguriosi. Non so se faccia legno piccolo ma l'impressione è quella. Bocca bella acida e bevibile, piacevole con bella lunghezza. Nel tempo migliora tantissimo, il naso perde tutti i toni vanigliati per rimanere sul frutto, bocca molto piacevole ed appagante.
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1/23/2011 - John Dunlap Likes this wine: 93 Points
1/23/11 - Lovely dark, rich color full of purple tones. Amazingly dark, reflecting the character of Barbera at its finest. The nose is rich and the flavors are powerful. Full bodied berry flavors. The palate is rich and within the zone - i.e., not pruny. Licorice, dark cherry and iodine are just a few of the flavors found in this bottle.. Does have a warm finish, but it seems appropriate given the gobs of fruit. OK, I think this is a wonderful wine and I am going to put it away for one day. Its very good now, but I want to see how it develops. Rating pending.
1/24/11 - Same as above, still needs more time to breath.
1/25/11 - OK, this wine is finally manageable with loads of dark fruit, licorice, and cherry. The richness remains and the warmth of the flavors and alcohol are very much present. Fortunately, use of the vacuu-vin for two days help manage the - I am not sure this is the right word - rusticity of the wine. Very lovely and reasonably priced wine. I am buying more and lying them down in the cellar for seven to ten years..
(On 3/18/10, I tired a 1990 Moccagatta Barbera d'Alba Basarin - it was wonderful and was one of my top wines consumed in 2010 (see: CellarTracker notes for more discussion). I can't say if the Conterno will turn out the same as the Moccagatta Barbera d'Alba Basarin in 20 years, but its a steal and belongs in any wine nut's cellar.)
PS. Barbera is a lovely varietal thought its now relegated to jug wine production by most vintners in California. Back in the early 80s, I remember seeing old vintages of this varietal by Inglenook and other producers in the wine store I worked at. More recently, the 1995 (?) VJB did have success with their varietal bottling - thanks in part to a nice write-up in the NYT. Unfortunately, I've not followed the wine much. Fortunately, Italy still carries the torch.
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1/15/2011 - TAE wrote: 92 Points
Once opened the nose seemed very tight and did not represent the aromas i had expected. Decanted for 1-2 hrs and then Boom! The wine opened up beautifully with hints of liquorice, black cherries, and a bit of menthol and a bit of tobacco. The palate initially very smooth with a medium to full body. The tannins have a nice edge that will to the wine good over some more years in the cellar.The wine appears a bit hot with the 15% especially to begin with, but after a while it softens out and works out fine. Very nice wine!
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12/27/2010 - drunkstar wrote: 92 Points
Rubber...cement dust....and nail polish nose.....fantastic wine
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11/28/2010 - FredrikL wrote: 91 Points
Maffig, kraftfull Barbera. Opakt och koncentrerad. Svarta körsbär, kryddor och lakrits.
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11/27/2010 - drunkstar wrote: 91 Points
Magnificent barbera....liquorice, spice and hints of rubber....great nose...long finish...doesn't feel like 15%..... Glorious...happy to have the rest of the case to draw out over the next decade....
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11/25/2010 - kenv wrote: 92 Points
Pop & pour. Wow! Big nose of ripe red and black fruits, coffee, spices. Thick and silky in the mouth with gobs of fruit. Is that a touch of oak? This is a truly delicious young Barbera. Should age brilliantly for 20-30 years. 92-93 points.
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10/28/2010 - TT87 wrote: 92 Points
Udseende:
Dyb rubinrød
Duft:
Røg, vanilje, sød lakrids, chokolade
Smag:
Mørk, mørk mørk, jord,blod, mørke kirsebærsten. Fantastisk lækker syre og meget stramt fokuseret.
Næsen er markant anderledes i forhold til smagen. Smagen er meget Old world jord og terroiragtig. Virkelig old school Piemonte
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10/11/2010 - BSpdx wrote: 93 Points
Delicious!
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10/10/2010 - EleonoraScholes Likes this wine: 90 Points
15% alc. Deep ruby. Intense warm nose of lightly sweet licorice, plums and prunes - yet remarkably balanced and elegant. The fruit on the palate are intense, yet paradoxically lifted, staying on the upper palate. Beautifully textured, with soft cashmere tannins, plums and cherries are softly turning to prunes, nuances of undergrowth. Drinks effortlessly thanks to amazing freshness despite 15% alcohol. Medium finish. From my cellar.
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10/7/2010 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Crazy, 15% alcohol! Fairly extracted stuff and a bit hot right now. Makes me wonder a little bit about the winery. Needs a little bit of time in the cellar to call down.
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9/30/2010 - cct wrote: 93 Points
Much bigger nose and surprisingly approachable after a short decant. Beautiful rose/ tar/ dark fruits. Much more supple than the 04 or 06 at this time point in evolution. Rich and lush while still retaining great freshness and having plenty of depth. this is beautiful stuff. No rush to drink it, and while i generally prefer this bottling after 3-4 years after release, this is singing right now. Great stuff!
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9/5/2010 - BSpdx wrote: 93 Points
Wow! The nose is available from at least a foot away. Up close it's just a wave of dark fruit and tar. About as full bodied as a Barbera can get with sweet dark fruit, licorice, a touch of sweet oak and then a perfect pinch of cranberries on the backend. Completely balanced from the beginning to the very long finish. So glad to have three more and interested to see how it evolves over the next few years. Highly recommend.
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8/1/2010 - jimbomatic wrote: 81 Points
Who took Washington Merlot and put it in my Conterno Barbera bottle? Scoundrels! Definitely NOT what I am looking for in Barbera. Get rid of the rest.
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7/30/2010 - andtheodor wrote:
Barbera and Barbaresco: Dark, almost inky color. Chewy, dense, dark and spicy fruit. Faintly medicinal, very grapey and juicy but ultimately too primal and showing too much sharp tartness for me and desperately needs food.
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4/30/2010 - Khamaj wrote: 93 Points
Love this stuff. A pure, dense, mouth-filling wine. Super-grapey with intense minerality, almost like vitamins. Although it has a relatively high alcohol content, it is so soft that it doesn't seem hot at all. Drinks great now, but has underlying acidity and tannic structure to age.
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4/24/2010 - Apgoop20 wrote: 92 Points
Deep crimson color characteristic of barbera. Initial nose is reserved with faint mustiness. First taste is fruit with no predominant notes. Dark berries perhaps a hint of prunes. Fruit is close to syrupy. After an hour, the fruit becomes more alive matched with a morefruity nose. At 2 hours wine is a smooth, creamy, friendly and memorable. A great glass of juice. Definitely a Drink me now or drink me later wine.
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4/15/2010 - beezer6 wrote: 87 Points
Binny's Italian Night (Binny's South Loop - Chicago, IL): Pure and fresh. One dimensional as a whole though. Nice, but nothing too unique.
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3/9/2010 - edjade wrote:
Yum, more please! Well balanced, complex wine with a super long finish.
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2/5/2010 - kreavin wrote: 90 Points
Stor, massiv frugt. Lang i eftersmagen. Alkoholen er en smule fremtrædende og syren ligeså - men det falder til ro om et år eller to og dermed fremstår en kæmpe vin til prisen.
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1/25/2010 - br wrote:
delish! better than both the 2005 and 2006. fresh, clean and lots of zip along with the bright red berries. this wine loves food and the feeling is mutual.
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1/17/2010 - Dale M wrote: 94 Points
Decanted 2 hrs and served in a Reidel Bordeaux stem. Although a primary shock wave of dark berried scents came through when poured in the decanter, this was primarily sporting a floral nose that gave very little indication of the power that was lurking in the glass below. My past experience with the 04 05 and 06 vintages did little to prepare me for the absolute assault of dark fruit (all black) that assimilated the entire palate and gums. Maybe even a touch of fig as well. Most importantly though, is how natural the ripeness comes across, nothing forced or tinkered with, simply a world class producer with a world class vineyard maximizing the hand nature dealt in 2007. Brilliant acidity on the back half provides more than ample structure, and the finish is loaded. Scary potential with a few years of cellar sleep, indeed one of the better sub $40 red out there? It makes a very strong case.....
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1/2/2010 - jmull wrote: 93 Points
Decanted about three hours. This pours a very dark ruby, almost inky. The nose is reticent and floral, hinting at the big fruit on the palate but just barely. In the mouth, all the varietally correct notes --cherries, mushrooms, lemon juice-- but somewhat on steroids. As concentrated and powerful as this is, it is not really heavy, thanks to terrific acidity. Lively and long. And balanced, as the 15% alcohol is rarely noticeable, except in a few sips where a menthol note is more prominent. Man, I love this. This benchmark Barbera, one I'll measure all future bottles of this grape against. Just awesome, and likely even better with more time in the bottle. This has to be one of the great sub-$40 wines in the world. 93+.
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12/24/2009 - NicolaiS wrote: 94 Points
What can I say? This wine is amazing. It is so powerfull yet so well balanced. Loads of dark fruit with a touch of menthol. Good structure and acidity and a very long finish.
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11/1/2009 - il_diavolo wrote: 92 Points
very nice dark colour, takes some time to come together in the glass but when it does it starts to show some complexity and the mushroom and truffle that at the moment is more obvious in the 2006. However tasted together with the 2006, it seems that 2007 is going to be the better wine in the end.
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10/23/2009 - NicolaiS wrote: 94 Points
Simply put this wine was superb. Color was purple. Very fruit dominated, but with good underlying structure. At the moment the fruit dominates the acidity, however, I could feel the acidity, and I'm sure this wine will be long lived. Balance was superb - a true barbera masterpiece.
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