2006 Elio Perrone Barbera d'Asti Tasmorcan

Garagiste

• By Jon Rimmerman
  10/20/2008, (See more on Garagiste...)

  (TASMORCAN Perrone Barbera) Tasmorcan Dear Friends, Let's talk about Barbera... ...from a Moscato specialist that is. Stefano Perrone's career has been one of a Renaissance man - motocross champion and now champion of the land, his sights have been focussed on a finish line of another sort - the finest red wine in Piedmont. After taking over his father's estate, it took Perrone all of two years to elevate his Moscato to the highest level (a feat other producers still cannot figure out) and his Moscato is now considered among the very best in all of Piedmont (maybe the best). Moscato aside, his personal challenge has moved on to another varietal: Barbera, specifically Barbera d'Asti - a wine he is intent on bringing to the collector's table around the world (in a similar vein to Barbaresco or even Barolo). Braida may have come up with this concept first but at $40-100/bottle for Bricco del Uccellone or Aia Suma most consumers will never try the wines. Enter this little marvel that could. From a top year in Perrone's Mongovone holding (one of the finest parcels in the entire Asti zone) comes this sultry, smoky example that shouts its regal character to all that care to listen. Named for the badgers that couldn't stop eating the grapes in the vineyard (the story of how they finally made friends with them is heartwarming, thus the playful allegory to "amore" spelled on the front label as "amora") this wine is deeply pitched and high-toned with an almost Bordelaise meets fruit-forward style, the Tasmorcan balances the normally acidic Barbera grape with deep red fruit extractives on a medium weight frame...and does so with style. Barbera in the hands of Perrone distances itself from the raw quality found in many examples from this region and transfers the thrust of the wine to a low-alcohol (12.5-13.0%) contemplative and enjoyable experience rather than a fight with the acid (although there is still excellent acidity) - traditionalists will not be but off by this style, rather they will be intrigued. There is much to admire for everyone here (including a lovely label with clean, modern graphics) and the wine will pair with a wide variety of food types (carnivorous or vegan): To give you an idea of the style, here are two reviews - one of the 2005 (Tanzer) and the just bottled 2007 (Antonio Galloni). For some reason, the 2006 was not reviewed but it is certainly the equal of the 2007 and better than the 2005. I think many of you will be amazed by this little wonder: 2006 Elio Perrone Barbera d'Asti "Tasmorcan" Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA Italy6720

Wine Library TV

• By Gary Vaynerchuk
  Date Night Wines, Episode #451, 4/24/2008, (See more on Wine Library TV...) 87+ points

  (Elio Perrone Barbera d'Asti) #3; COLOR-dark; NOSE-potpourri; hint of Oak; cherry w/ a little mint on the back-end; TASTE-interesting pomegranate; I like this wine; very floral; it's light; it's clean; I really enjoy the simplistic strawberry & cherry flavors on the back-end; GV-87+