February 3, 2024 - Served blind. On the nose, menthol and sweet tobacco fly out of the glass, and point towards the signs of high-end cooperage. Shows a bright acid structure typical of a Barbera with a light but sturdy line of minerality running through the back. Light yet dense dark/red fruits channel energy into the acidity.
I was honestly not used to drinking Barbera with this level of cooperage, and am pleasantly surprised how well it turned out.
July 23, 2023 - Night 1: Opened but not decanted 3 hours earlier. Deep, almost opaque center with lightening only at extreme edge. Blackberry, smoke, and mint. Medium to full body, densely packed, some perceptible oak. Mostly blackberry with some blue fruit as well. Not terribly complex but powerful. Round tannins and some tart acidity turn up toward the end. This really does need to be retasted after having more time overnight.
After being recorked for 24 hours, the green aromas are more forward and lean toward fennel with some anise as well. The fruit has calmed on the palate, revealing both bitter chocolate and more acidity, and now there is a pleasing bit of bitterness on the finish. This took a while to find its “inner Barbera”, but it was worth the wait. Extra dimension compared to last night.
September 26, 2022 - A taste of Giacomo Conterno magic at an affordable price. Can be drunk young or after a few years. What is not to like ?
March 29, 2022 - Non-blind (the guests drank it blind and were not impressed).
Violets, cranberries, rhubarb, cherries, tobacco, anis, mint, vanilla, peber, dairy. Tight and concentrated with fine acidity and tannins.
I thought it was a rather big Barbera but the other drinkers thought otherwise.
March 19, 2022 - Dark red. Sweet red fruit, pepper, vanilla and liquorice. Not much acidity to be found but a firm tannic grip. Dark fruit profile w. some sweet and smoky elements yet it's the structure that dominates and takes it out. Tasted blind and I actually thought it could be anything.
Drink or keep
December 17, 2021 - Friday Night Double Blind Tasting $50+ (Bin 75 Alpharetta, GA): Very dark core; dark fruit, blackberry, saline, larger scaled, briny, black olive, black plum, mineral, backed black fruit, some bitter mineral- schist?, perfumed blue fruit quality on the finish; juicy Cornas?
April 12, 2021 - Drinking fine. A lot more fruit than I anticipated, but overall a fine wine, albeit not a terribly memorable one.
October 9, 2020 - What is immediately obvious is that this is meant to be "Impressive Wine". Dark and chewy with deep berry fruit and some savory notes. It just lacks a bit of nuance and soul. I think that my palate has become a bit jaded where I really want to see some personality in most wines. I think an earlier me or other folks would rate this wine higher but it leaves me a bit cold.
August 1, 2020 - Expressive intense nose displaying ripe black and red fruit, blackberry liqueur, licorice, ink, smoke meat, tar, a hint of fruitcake, dark spices and earth. Excellent concentration, layers upon layers of ripe black fruit, unctuous, medium acidity and tannins and a long sweet black fruit driven finish. This is a very meaty and big scale Barbera, some similarities to Braida Barberas.
May 23, 2020 - Slightly purple in color. Cranberry and blueberry, very fruity, lifted and bright, slightly tart with a hint of earthy tone underlying. Not super complex but really enjoyable! Ready now but of course this can hold quite a few years.
at Lingo's t Y.