My last bottle from a case bought on release. While I was not a fan of this wine on release, after about 10 years it started to settle in and provide pleasurable, balanced drinking. This has never been an elegant wine, but if you like copious fruit in your wine, this will fill the bill. Red & black fruit on the nose, expansive on the palate, and while I don't see a lot of upside here, no reason why the wine can't continue to maintain itself on this plateau for another 3-7 years.
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Tasted along with the 2016. This one showed more reserved fruit compared to the 16. A mix of red and darker tones. Not really showing a lot of aged character. Unfortunately, this wasn’t paired well with the food, so maybe I would have liked it more in the right situation. I think I am just not a big fan of Barbera.
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This bruiser of a Barbera has settled into a terrific place, on a high plateau of maturity with none of the tertiary notes I picked up in a recent bottle of the 05 stored in the same ideal conditions. Rich and complex without feeling over extracted and almost syrah like in its weight and palate feel. Absolutely delicious if you like Roberto's style (and what's not to like about it?) and really sang with a delicious pot roast that had a tomato/dried porcini sauce. I had held onto an 85 CF Barbera for many years and stuck it into a Barolo tasting in maybe 06 or 07, when it turned into a wine that had the nuance of a fine, delicate, well aged, Barolo normale, and this 06 seems to have a similar potential now that it has reached bar mitzvah age! Just a brilliant effort!
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This wine has settled into an interesting "middle-age" - when it was a young wine on release, I felt it was too over the top, but the last several times I've tried it, I find myself liking it more and more.
Balanced and nuanced on the palate, with a fruit-forward nose. And at 13 years of age, I don't get the felling that this is going to drop off a cliff any time soon. While I don't usually think about aging Barbera, this particular wine does benefit from the additional time in the bottle.
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Well aged now. Dark fruits a bit of smoke, a hint of sweetness in the fruit. Good length. I dont think this has improved the last 2-3 years and I think this is it in terms of complexity now, but it seems it could stay at this plateau a few more years before fading.
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A glass from a bottle opened last night at dinner - sweet/ripe blackberry and raspberry fruit soar from the glass. I didn't really notice the raspberry last night, but it's surprisingly pronounced with this glass.
Fully mature, and a large-scaled but balanced Barbera - very likable at this point, and given how well this is drinking, I will probably consume my remaining bottles in the near term.
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I wasn't a fan of this wine on release or in it's early years, but time in the bottle has served it well. Sweet/tart blackberry fruit, good liveliness and persistence. Drinking very well, and a wine that still has a few years for further potential development at this point.
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Dark purple color. this vintage ages better than I expected, quite some dark cherries and plum on the palate, good structure, acidity and spices on palate. World class level of barbera in my view.
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A darker translucent ruby in the glass; a ripe, "heady" nose with blackberry fruit.
On the palate, decent acidity, nice persistence - to be honest, when this vintage was released, I thought the wine came across like Barbera on steroids. That said, it seems to have settled in to middle age nicely, and is showing more balance than I ever thought possible when it was younger.
A dark translucent ruby in the glass; ripe, "heady" nose of black & red fruit.
Tart fruit on the palate, more red than black. Decent persistence and reasonably balanced - on release, this wine struck me as Barbera on steroids, but time has enabled the wine to become more balanced and appealing, at least IMO.
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Double decanted, deep ruby, dark cherry with a touch of olive, soft tannins, med/long finish; delicious & a great treat (oldest Barbera that I've had), ready to drink
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Deep ruby. Complex nose-anise, wintergreen, black olive. Penetrating and mineral in the mouth. Medium weight but quite powerful and black fruited. Great acidity without being the least bit sharp. Not that tannic but pleasing bitterness at the end. High quality and incredibly youthful for 10 year old Barbera.
On the second night, some shoe polish on the nose and more bitter chocolate. That bitter edge ameliorates. No shortage of interest here, that's for sure.
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At first was a little hot, but after a couple of hours in the decanter the fruit & alcohol were balanced by some earth & mineral raciness. Probably in a good spot to drink over the next year or so as I'm not sure the struture is there to continue balancing the fruit much longer.
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I don't recall loving my first bottle of this but I was real happy with the second. Softish and mildly Italian but also retaining fruit and verve of more modern wines, this walks an old-school/modern tightrope deftly. Deeply purple with pepper, Berry and leather notes. The nose reminds of Cali-coast Grenache and the finish is moderate and spicy.
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Super dark, super rich cherries, spice, herbs and a beautifully fresh minerality. Medium bodied with high acid, light tannin, and a clean mouthwatering finish. The alcohol is high but under control. This is still young, primary, aggressive. Another 5 years?
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VERTICALE CONTERNO BARBERA CASCINA FRANCIA: Molto nebioleggiante, terroso e austero. Classico 2006 un pò sulle sue e poco espressivo. Forse l' unico in cui il tannino ha prevalso sul frutto.
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The nose showed crushed berries, cinnamon sugar, stems and undergrowth. On the palate, this was broodingly dark yet vibrant with black cherry, tar, Christmas spice and gorgeous dark chocolate on the finish. It’s a beautiful expression of Barbera, yet smaller-scaled than the ’07, which shows the elegance this varietal is truly capable of.
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From memory. The darker and more concentrated side of barbera, I think this is very well-made wine, but I prefer this grape rather lighter and livelier. Still enjoyed with sausage ragu pasta, and then oriental beef stirfry.
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Unfortunately, flawed. Good material with lots of morello cherry and herb but there was a rancid butter note that kept building until nothing else was noticeable.
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Showing yet again the brilliance of the Cascina Francia Vineyard! This wine is on the young side at 8 years old, but very enjoyable in its juicy, rich black fruit and sophisticated minerality. While we did have this over pizza, it is a more significant wine than that. Need to find this! (Pizza Fresca)
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Great barbera that still needs time, believe it or not. Intense colour, nose of black fruits. Black cherry and violet on palate with some mushroom and earth. Very nice but maybe the 07 is better?
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Private Dinner (New York, NY): Wow! It's easy to say that this was the most delicious and well-made Barbera I've ever had. Decanted a few hours in advance, this was full of purple and black fruits, graphite, smoke, and tar. The structure was fantastic, with the tannins and acid in near-perfect balance. This is not your typical "pizza wine" Barbera; we enjoyed it with agnolotti del plin. For those of you holding onto this, I'd suggest that it isn't likely to get better than this. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Really good stuff. For Conterno´s basis wine I wouldn´t have expected that immense complexity. After 2 hrs it opened perfectly with dark fruits. Very nice.
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Best bottle of this I've had to date. This always tasted a bit monolithic in the past, but now it has resolved a bit and added a layer of complexity without sacrificing the bright fruit that makes it so appealing. I would say this is at peak right now.
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The wine is fully mature and it has bracing acidity, but not unusually so for an Italian wine. Notes of dark, dusty cherries, sour cherries, saddle leather and a nice finish.
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Popped and Vinturied into a decanter, then to glasses. Mouth-puckering acidity on first sip, but elegant structure and good strong fruit in evidence. Throughout the next two hours of the meal, the wine evolved very nicely to suck-down-the-last-possible-drop status for all three of us diners. Recommended, but not as a pop 'n' pour: give it the time it deserves to uncoil, and you will be rewarded with a wonderful food wine.
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As I am a huge fan of g.conterno's barolo cascina francia my expectations for this Barbera was quite high. Medium bodied. Sour cherry, bitter cranberry, very mineral. Acidic and balanced. Fruit needed 1,5h to open up. Very nice, but the Barolo is in another league....and price class.
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Nose of saddle with plum and a hint of Brettanomyces which was intriguing; milk chocolate and mocha after breathing for 45 minutes; short palate with medium finish with good acid and structure; drink sooner than later
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2 hour decant. Ive added one point to my tastings of 2010 as this is a beautiful barbera. Dark violet colour - nose of tar, smoke and black fruit. Dark fruit on palate which has weight and complexity and finishes with minerality. Really great wine that feels true to the grape/origin (i may not have correctly picked it out as barbera but its clear the winemaking is not intrusive). Based on last 2 years development, there is no doubt in my mind that this will last 5+ more years. The acidity means it will always be a tad better with food.
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App: deep purple red Aroma: cherries, blueberries, plums, meat, cofe, dark chocolate and leather Full-bodied with excellent acidity and subtle, but supporting tannins. Excellent balance. Cherries, blueberries and chocolate on the palate. Excellent balance.
Wow!
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Beautiful darker fruited nose with spice and some licorice. Medium full and while quite dark and deep, there is enough acidity to keep it fresh and interesting. Stony, tarry and black fruited with excellent balance. This is quite long, layered, and flat out lovely stuff. Well done! 92 pts
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I am a believer. I like the style and weight of the wine. However, in my view this wine is not ready yet. Soft reductive notes on day one indicate that this wine needs another two to three years to fully blossom. On day two the balance is a lot better. Perhaps the drinking window will be rather short 2014-2017. Oh well, what do I know... I really enjoyed this bottle. Serious and sexy. Dangerous combination.
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Very sweet fruit, to the point of gloopy especially for an italian wine. Based on this bottle hard to imagine the remaining moving in an interesting direction...
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14.5% ABV. Tasted over several days. Somewhat translucent dark garnet in the glass. Sappy nose of old wood and a higher toned anise-like note. Medium full bodied with some chewy tannin on the palate. Seems to need some time to soften up. A very serious barbera.
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First time tasting this wine and I'm a bit ambivalent; big and rich for a barbera, the wine was initially monolithic and not showing much; dark black cherry and earthy cocoa notes eventually came through after some air time. Could have used more acidity to carry the weight. Well made but pricey and not really what I look for in a barbera (bright crunchy fruit). Was outclassed (imho) by a Bera Ronco Malo tasted at the same time.
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An odd one - showing earth and acidity, but a bit too much fruit and fire - seems like it's been tilted toward the international style, and not to its advantage. 14.5% alcohol felt high here. A bit out of balance. Nonetheless, a decent bottle, but not one I'd buy more of.
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Did not do it for me nearly as much as it did last time. Good fruit, certainly enjoyable and easy to drink, but lacked the wow factor it provided last time. Still with good minerality, but lacking the structure and freshness of fruit that bowled me over last year.
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Decanted for two hours. Clear, full garnet with a violet rim, high viscosity, no sediment. On the nose it's in part reminiscent of Burgundy with dark berries, mineral notes and lively acidity combined with cherries, smoke, flowers and earthy notes. Medium-full on the palate and structurally flawless, great depth and length for a Barbera. Still quite youthful but already open and a pleasure to drink. Should improve further or at least hold up nicely for several years. 92+
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Wow, next person that poo-poo's Barbera I want to send a bottle of this. So wonderfully composed bottle of wine, with juicy dark fruit coated with a patina of brushed on smoky tar, violets, forest floor and truffles. Wonderful cocoa-ed tannins give this a great presentation frame. Refined, deep, delicious. Honestly, I think it was better tonight than the three '98 Barolos.
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smoke, rich fruit on the nose. bright acid on the palate. realyl fresh with lots of darker fruits than some of the other barberas in the tasting. some cellar dust mixed in there as well, with a hint of green pepper. cranberries on the finish. not as good as the 08 in my opinion, but still a great barbera.
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Northern Italy, mostly Piedmont; 3/5/2011-3/7/2011 (Waterford Wine Co., Milwaukee): chunky mineral aromas, hot brick in a glass!! depth on the palate. black liquorice, by far the most mid-palate of the Piedmontese wines tasted tonight. Palate really makes me think of Niepoort Carnuntum Blaufrankisch. 'Kerosene and nut oils' called out. this wine is the mind bender of the flight, trying to place this wine in a barbera context.
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Nose is very floral, along with dark berries, and hints of nutmeg and vanilla. Cassis and cranberry flavors are intertwined effortlessly, along with sweet baking spices, black tea, and even a little orange peel. Medium bodied and equisitely balanced with a long, long finish. Highly recommend.
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Seemed more influenced by oak than I remembered. Rather flabby at the moment, or this bottle was. Less interesting than previous bottles, I'm hoping this was merely in an awkward place...
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Wow. A fabulous Barbera; this is a proper fine wine. Very dark garnet with a lovely complex nose: dense and tarry with candied black fruits, mint and a lift from the aroma of rose petals. Medium bodied with great depth and intensity of flavour. The palate is rich with more tarry fruit, liquorice and lovely full toasty tannins. Huge length, this has years ahead of it.
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Monday Night "Non-Baller" Grab Bag (Weygandt Wines - Washington, D.C.): bright purple colored. nose shows smoke, dried flowers and sweet berries. it has great acid and fine tannins along with juicy fruit. i get a distinct cranberry sauce flavor. darker and more intense than most barberas. this just tastes really well made. long, spicy finish.
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This bottle didn't show the aromatic intensity of prior bottles. Perhaps I decanted it to long? In any event, great palate flavors, plum, tar, dark berries, hints of licorice. Paired quite well with a raviolio and shaved white truffles.
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Wonderful earthy, tarry spicy notes. Great silky and balanced food wine. Some rusticity, with a hint of pineapple among the deep brooding fruit and earth.
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This wine is a struggle for me.....Barbera does not come easy to me...not sure why...that said....I gradually warmed to this wine as it opened and expanded....should have decanted...notes below are better and more descriptive.
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Could not agree more that the aromatics are outstanding. What an enticing nose with a myriad of scents...blue fruits, flowers. earth and spice. Beguiling. Dark purple. Med/light bodied. Tart red fruits, iron and herbs (strangely but nice, some yeast like component also). Lots of minerality, good acidity and some sweet tannins. This is a fantastic wine at a great price point. Highly enjoyable.
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Colour is dark and reminds me of a Shiraz. Lovely density and very beautiful. Nose has Raspberries, a touch of strawberries, plumbs, and has a nice "irony" smell to it. Taste likewise with a nice acidity not too harsh and well balanced. Still young, but revelas nice complexity and opens op after 20 minutes in the glass. Do not hesitate to let it breathe about an hour. I still have 2 bottles left and I am looking forward to tasting them later. Opened an Amarone by Brigaldara (Case Vecie '04) afterwards. Tasted close to Recioto after having tasted a dry wine like the Barbera. Good drinking out there.
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Red violet. Incredible nose of black cherries, tar, earth, spice, and more. Beguiling. Palate is just s skoosh to the full side of mid weight, but lobely fruit, tannin, acid balance....still comes across as packed with fruit and intensity. Decanted this for several hours, so it smoothed out and opened nicely, really a treat with the tomato and cauliflower dish, and rotisserie chicken. Okay, so I can like Italian wine!
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Didn't blow me away but may have been slightly warm for my liking as it sat for a while before opening. Tanins seemed a little edgy and drying. I like the 04s al ot more so far.
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Some Barbera from 2006; 3/18/2010-6/15/2010: Ruby-red color with some hints of purple. Lucious aromas of cherry strawberry and roses evolving with hints of meat, figs and cedar. Following trough full bodied with concentrated fruit and mouth searing acidity against a silky-soft layer of tannins. A long and fresh finish.
This is the best Barbera I've had to date. Concentrated fruit and complex aroma's with the typical backbone of acidity. Needs food (anything that is thin and crusty with some fresh tomato sauce and pecorino cheese on top of it will do:-) Popped and poured, and very open and balanced from the first sip. But also lots of structure to develop further. Drink now - 2016. Great stuff!
After 6n months I re-visit this wine with a better feeling, in fact I would say this wine is staring to integrate its fat better. A very mouth coating wine that has a long finish. Not as good as the 2007 , but good.
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consistent experience with prior. dark colour and intoxicating nose of dark fruits. high acidity. with time (30 mins+) the fruit shares centre stage with earthy, mushroom and smokey undertones. this really should be left alone for a couple of years and will then last a good few years - sadly I very much doubt my inventory will last as long. suggest opening at least 1 hr prior.
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Deep purple, heavy tones. Fruit, fruit and more fruit. I would put this new world if I didn't know what it was. It is a stunning example of how acid can run high, but be balanced out by this wonderful tart red cherry and dare I say strawberry.... Yummy, truly yummy....
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I've opened four bottles of this rather casually before realizing how special of a wine this is. The balance is simply outstanding. It's just so nice to drink! Perhaps that's why I haven't put them through the usual rigors of analysis. The remaining bottles certainly deserve more attention and a conscientious pairing.
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Observed this closely overy three days. Day 1, grapey, primary. Days 2 and 3, really opened up gained weight and depth but overgirded by terroir-driven, fine winemaking by Roberto. I'm a believer!!!!
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Aroma av kirsebær og jord. Fyldig og konsentrert Barbera med flott syre, diskrete tanniner og svært god lengde. En monumental og kraftig Barbera i tradisjonell stil, og med en svært god balanse. Gir ikke så mye på nesen, men er desto mer imponerende i munnen. Burde nok vært dekantert og vil ha godt av noen år i kjelleren. Fremstår for øyeblikket som litt lukket, men med en svært presis balanse. Vil nok utvikle større kompleksitet med årene.
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29th Birthday Celebration; 2/5/2010-2/7/2010 (my apartment): Nice nose of dusty plums, tart cherry and strawberry. Very elegant wine, with lots of cedar, sour and/or tight cherries and smoke. After a while the wine softened up some and turned into a really enjoyable wine. I feel like this wine would go really well pork tenderloin or wild boar ragu.
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Takes time to show its stuff. Initially a bit hot, but with an hour it comes together into a full-throttle Conterno Barbera. Really packed, with the characteristic acid backbone of a good Barbera, with plenty of crushed red berry and sour cherry fruit.
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Oh wow, this thing drinks like a burgundy. Strawberries, red berries, Nicely structure and slightly lithe, but great presence in the wine. Ethereal nose and light mouthfeel. What is this thing!
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The first sip was interesting I thought I had a moth full of sediment but it was just the thickness in thew wine, its almost grainy. Very deep color licorice, coffee and dark mocha aroma, I don't think I would give it 94 pts, but I might enjoy it more with a steak..
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Great wine, decanted for about two hours and had with a nice, thick top sirloin and some onions/mushrooms. Opened up beautifully during the decanting. good fruit/berry flavors and a beautiful finish.
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Slow O’d for 4 hours. After the biting grip of a preceding glass of Cava, it took me a little while to get proper traction for this wine. Interestingly, this was more of a ‘classic’ Barbera at first, emphasizing bright red fruits and firm acidity which was more than enjoyable in it own right. However after an hour or so in the glass, the richness and depth of fruit I had experienced with previous bottles emerged, traces of chocolate powder all the while maintaining terrific acidity and thrust. I’m very much looking forward to the 07 version.
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Brief impressions - Deeply colored in the glass. Aromas of dark cherry fruit and a touch of tar. Medium full bodied with concentrated dark fruit on the palate. Impressive Barbera. A little chewy in the finish.
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superb barbera. quite dark colour. dark fruits (dark cherry) dominate the nose but with 30 minutes of air,flavours of smoke, mushroom and spices emerge and its all so very well balanced. hope to have some left in 2-3 years....
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nose: well balanced nose of tar, dark red cherries, herbs, spices, and some bits of red florals. Very pungent, and gets going about 20 minutes in the glass
taste: delicious tones of red cherries, herbs, tar, roses, and some bits of mixed berries. Excellent medium+ acidity with a real balance about it and a delicious medium/fullish feel to it
overall: a wonderful barbera. Great body and nose, this is really good and very enjoyable. Great acidity compliments this to make it a great food wine, but is extremely drinkable on its own
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Very big, dark and extracted compared to the usual barbera. This wine costs a lot more than a typical barbera and I think it delivers. Big, bright red fruit, strong acidity, big body, long, spicy finish.
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A great performance from this beauty tonight. Medium red color in the glass. The nose is almost smoky with plum, savory broth, mushrooms and moist earth. On the palate a full body with raspberry, fig, more mushroom and a sweet mid-palate of red fruit that carries this wines brisk acidity to the end. The finish is long and fresh with cherry and cedar.
Food Note: Paired against a Risotto ai tre pomodori. I can't think of a better pairing where the food and wine drew from each other's strengths. Amazing.
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Very good food wine. Good purple body with plenty of acid to stand up to tomato sauce. Had with sausage and peppers, and it got even better. This is a wine that is great on it's own, but just comes into it's own with food.
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Piedmont (Waterford): first bottle was flawed with a roast coffee expression in the nose. anyway...singing black cherry nose. nice low extraction. nice fruit on the palate with a hint of richness for Barbera. medium+ level of acid. lite granite notes in the nose.
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Dark red. Very delicious nose of forrest floor, sweet tobacco, cherries and figs. Round and charming mouthfeel, nice intensity and quite complex. Easy, yet enticing drinking. Won't be my last bottle.
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Great pairing with Lainy's pizza. An explosive mouthful of dark blue and purple fruits with a zing of acidity riding way, way above, but doesn't feel out of place. Kind of like the piccolo long note accompanying the basses and celli in the third movement of Mahler's second symphony. Anyway, the flavor profile wrapped itself perfectly around the pizza's tomato-cheese goodness. The nose was just fantastic. Really hard to describe, but generous and intoxicating.
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I don't know what could have changed here, but this is no longer the benchmark Barbera it was in the vintages of the '90s. Fruit is slightly more penetrating and inky than most, but otherwise it doesn't stand out.
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Terrifically ripe and forward, but massive amounts of counter balancing acidity and structure. Needs a couple of years, which I'm happy to give it. Probably going back for more.
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Very rich, thick nose of briar, black raspberries, strawberries, graphite, granite, spice, cocoa, and cherry cola. Medium bodied, red licorice on the palate along with the cherry cola. Spice follows through on the initial finish, transitioning very smoothly to a variety of spiced fruit flavors, then coffee cake, and winding up with plastic melted with glue. The alcohol is definitely present on the back end, though, which gets in the way for my enjoyment. The nose is killer here, but the finish dings the overall enjoyment.
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Rich, ripe, succulent Barbera, with ultra-smooth tannins, it offers layers of fabulous dark cherry, floral, violet, smoky toasted oak and plum flavors. Full-bodied, very dark in color and long. This is a world-class Barbera! (Best after 2009) - JD92
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I vigorously decanted this (more than once) about 5 hours before dinner and I believe that really helped to unlock a lot of the outstanding elements this began showing by the time the group tasted it. The youthful bouquet is pure and cashmere-smooth—with ripe plums, sweet dark cherries, road tar, limestone and truffle aromas in abundance. It has a wonderful overall mouthfeel—at once rich but also airy and effortless. It is lush--with spicy but refined cherry and mixed berry fruit leading the way, accented by notes of spice box, tar and truffle oil sneaking in here and there. There are no hard edges anywhere (much different from the first hour or two after opening). The acidity is soft and rounded and supports a lifted, lasting sensibility. It dissipates on the back of the tongue and leaves a very pleasing airy perfume in the mouth—with a sort of butterscotch note providing the cherry on the top of the sundae. Yes, this is young, but with enough time in decanter, it can drink beautifully right now. I’m sure holding it is a safe bet, too.
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Drank over three nights. Wonderful aromas of red fruits and hints of camphor on the nose. Bright red fruit is the initial impression buoyed by ever-present acidity. Fruits get an interesting sour note on the midpalate - and this seemingly lithe drink fills your throat with fruit, tar and earth. Persistent finish defined by tannins and acidity. Mellowed over the three days a tad - this certainly can rest for a while.
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As part of a £10 M&S meal deal, I did not have high hopes for this wine. Whilst drinkable, it wasn't anything special. Juicy dark berry fruits on the nose. The palate showed sour cherry, tobacco and smoke characters.
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Amazing bottle of wine, especially for the money. This might be the most exciting nose I've ever smelled on a bottle of wine; rich, complex, simply amazing. It didn't quite bring the same thunder on the pallete, I'm hoping it's in a tight spot right now, and will open with some more time in the cellar. I'd highly recommend this bottle of wine.
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The nose hit me like a Cotes du Rhone. Really earthy and funky. It had the great clean cherry notes that you get from Barbera, but the earthiness threw me. The mouth is all Barbera d'Alba though. Nice, bright black cherry. Great acidic backbone. Really quite complex. I really enjoyed this wine, although it definitely breaks the mold on Barbera d'Alba, and not in a bad way.
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Deep dark inky purple in colour. Gorgeous nose with layers of flavour and great texture, red and black cherries, redcurrants and plums to the fore. Youthfully austere in the mouth, with prominent acidity, great structure and notable density of fruit. Lovely now but will improve.
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Wow. This is the most supple, caressing Barbera that you will find. It is not cheap but worthy of putting 6 bottles in your cellar to drink over the next few yrs. The texture reminded me of Pinot Noir not Barbera. The nose is wonderfully floral with underlying fruit.
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A stunning nose and a remakable long finish. This Conterno is the absolute top with regards to balance and drinkability - and it has hardly been in the bottle for less than a year.
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Tasted at the winery. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of black cherries, black berries, potpourri and a dash of tar. Flavors of black cherries, black berries and a hint of bitters over the medium to long finish. Bright acidity, firm tannins, medium to full body. Drink now with a decant or continue to hold. 14.5% alcohol.
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(Vinoteco Centro Storico, Serralunga d'Alba, € 35) Duft: Kirsebær, plomme. Smak: Saftig, rik, søtlig, strammer så opp med mye syre i slutten av smakskurven. Rik, nydelig barbera.
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10/10/2023 - Bob H wrote:
My last bottle from a case bought on release. While I was not a fan of this wine on release, after about 10 years it started to settle in and provide pleasurable, balanced drinking. This has never been an elegant wine, but if you like copious fruit in your wine, this will fill the bill. Red & black fruit on the nose, expansive on the palate, and while I don't see a lot of upside here, no reason why the wine can't continue to maintain itself on this plateau for another 3-7 years.
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5/10/2023 - prism wrote: 94 Points
Opened for 45 minutes. Lovely. Rich and light at the same time; dry, with subtle fruit, and excellent with food.
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9/18/2022 - SparkDogg Likes this wine: 90 Points
Wonderful - let breathe for 30 minutes
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6/20/2021 - SteveHyde wrote: 91 Points
Aging beautifully, but still quite vibrant, with fresh sour cherry fruit and terrific balance.
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9/19/2020 - Outplaying wrote:
Tasted along with the 2016. This one showed more reserved fruit compared to the 16. A mix of red and darker tones. Not really showing a lot of aged character. Unfortunately, this wasn’t paired well with the food, so maybe I would have liked it more in the right situation. I think I am just not a big fan of Barbera.
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8/23/2020 - hargy Likes this wine: 92 Points
the last of what has been a fabulous case of wine - lovely balance with ample fruit and great complexity - highly recommended
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2/29/2020 - baroloboy55-2.0 Likes this wine: 93 Points
This bruiser of a Barbera has settled into a terrific place, on a high plateau of maturity with none of the tertiary notes I picked up in a recent bottle of the 05 stored in the same ideal conditions. Rich and complex without feeling over extracted and almost syrah like in its weight and palate feel. Absolutely delicious if you like Roberto's style (and what's not to like about it?) and really sang with a delicious pot roast that had a tomato/dried porcini sauce. I had held onto an 85 CF Barbera for many years and stuck it into a Barolo tasting in maybe 06 or 07, when it turned into a wine that had the nuance of a fine, delicate, well aged, Barolo normale, and this 06 seems to have a similar potential now that it has reached bar mitzvah age! Just a brilliant effort!
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12/9/2019 - sbfoote wrote: 89 Points
This was good and food friendly, soft cherry, well balanced, not particularly long or complex.
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11/29/2019 - Bob H wrote:
This wine has settled into an interesting "middle-age" - when it was a young wine on release, I felt it was too over the top, but the last several times I've tried it, I find myself liking it more and more.
Balanced and nuanced on the palate, with a fruit-forward nose. And at 13 years of age, I don't get the felling that this is going to drop off a cliff any time soon. While I don't usually think about aging Barbera, this particular wine does benefit from the additional time in the bottle.
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8/1/2019 - il_diavolo wrote: 91 Points
Well aged now. Dark fruits a bit of smoke, a hint of sweetness in the fruit. Good length. I dont think this has improved the last 2-3 years and I think this is it in terms of complexity now, but it seems it could stay at this plateau a few more years before fading.
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7/31/2019 - Bob H wrote:
A glass from a bottle opened last night at dinner - sweet/ripe blackberry and raspberry fruit soar from the glass. I didn't really notice the raspberry last night, but it's surprisingly pronounced with this glass.
Fully mature, and a large-scaled but balanced Barbera - very likable at this point, and given how well this is drinking, I will probably consume my remaining bottles in the near term.
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11/2/2018 - Bob H wrote:
I wasn't a fan of this wine on release or in it's early years, but time in the bottle has served it well. Sweet/tart blackberry fruit, good liveliness and persistence. Drinking very well, and a wine that still has a few years for further potential development at this point.
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7/8/2018 - Ms. Bubblehead Likes this wine:
Dark purple color. this vintage ages better than I expected, quite some dark cherries and plum on the palate, good structure, acidity and spices on palate. World class level of barbera in my view.
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10/7/2017 - Jeppe1963 wrote: 88 Points
Cherries, minerals, dark bitter chokolate, and too much acidity in my opinion. NOT worth the money - you really pay for the name here
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9/29/2017 - Bob H wrote:
A darker translucent ruby in the glass; a ripe, "heady" nose with blackberry fruit.
On the palate, decent acidity, nice persistence - to be honest, when this vintage was released, I thought the wine came across like Barbera on steroids. That said, it seems to have settled in to middle age nicely, and is showing more balance than I ever thought possible when it was younger.
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3/18/2017 - Bob H Likes this wine:
A dark translucent ruby in the glass; ripe, "heady" nose of black & red fruit.
Tart fruit on the palate, more red than black. Decent persistence and reasonably balanced - on release, this wine struck me as Barbera on steroids, but time has enabled the wine to become more balanced and appealing, at least IMO.
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2/4/2017 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Double decanted, deep ruby, dark cherry with a touch of olive, soft tannins, med/long finish; delicious & a great treat (oldest Barbera that I've had), ready to drink
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12/1/2016 - drwine2001 wrote:
Deep ruby. Complex nose-anise, wintergreen, black olive. Penetrating and mineral in the mouth. Medium weight but quite powerful and black fruited. Great acidity without being the least bit sharp. Not that tannic but pleasing bitterness at the end. High quality and incredibly youthful for 10 year old Barbera.
On the second night, some shoe polish on the nose and more bitter chocolate. That bitter edge ameliorates. No shortage of interest here, that's for sure.
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8/9/2016 - cobbpa Likes this wine: 90 Points
At first was a little hot, but after a couple of hours in the decanter the fruit & alcohol were balanced by some earth & mineral raciness. Probably in a good spot to drink over the next year or so as I'm not sure the struture is there to continue balancing the fruit much longer.
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8/4/2016 - guitarguy Likes this wine: 90 Points
I don't recall loving my first bottle of this but I was real happy with the second. Softish and mildly Italian but also retaining fruit and verve of more modern wines, this walks an old-school/modern tightrope deftly. Deeply purple with pepper, Berry and leather notes. The nose reminds of Cali-coast Grenache and the finish is moderate and spicy.
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6/25/2016 - mmcdds wrote: 90 Points
This was drinking very well tonight with a couple of hours of air.
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5/20/2016 - kdsipe wrote: 91 Points
Super dark, super rich cherries, spice, herbs and a beautifully fresh minerality. Medium bodied with high acid, light tannin, and a clean mouthwatering finish. The alcohol is high but under control. This is still young, primary, aggressive. Another 5 years?
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2/26/2016 - galenico wrote: 88 Points
VERTICALE CONTERNO BARBERA CASCINA FRANCIA: Molto nebioleggiante, terroso e austero. Classico 2006 un pò sulle sue e poco espressivo. Forse l' unico in cui il tannino ha prevalso sul frutto.
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11/25/2015 - SteveHyde Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still improving. A stunning Barbera.
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9/20/2015 - AudunG wrote: 90 Points
Sweet and sour on the nose, with mushroom, chocolate etc. A nicely developed Barbera, made in an old fashioned style. Very concentrated.
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8/22/2015 - jwsmith wrote: 93 Points
I was blown away by how much this wine softened and became really nice..
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1/16/2015 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 93 Points
The nose showed crushed berries, cinnamon sugar, stems and undergrowth. On the palate, this was broodingly dark yet vibrant with black cherry, tar, Christmas spice and gorgeous dark chocolate on the finish. It’s a beautiful expression of Barbera, yet smaller-scaled than the ’07, which shows the elegance this varietal is truly capable of.
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1/15/2015 - SteveG wrote: 89 Points
From memory. The darker and more concentrated side of barbera, I think this is very well-made wine, but I prefer this grape rather lighter and livelier. Still enjoyed with sausage ragu pasta, and then oriental beef stirfry.
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11/27/2014 - SteveHyde Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still amazingly primary. Bright cherry-plum color, takes an hour of decanting to open up. Acid backbone amply layered with red berry fruit.
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8/28/2014 - kdsipe wrote: flawed
Unfortunately, flawed. Good material with lots of morello cherry and herb but there was a rancid butter note that kept building until nothing else was noticeable.
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5/19/2014 - lepetitchateau wrote: 92 Points
Showing yet again the brilliance of the Cascina Francia Vineyard! This wine is on the young side at 8 years old, but very enjoyable in its juicy, rich black fruit and sophisticated minerality. While we did have this over pizza, it is a more significant wine than that. Need to find this! (Pizza Fresca)
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5/2/2014 - il_diavolo wrote: 91 Points
Great barbera that still needs time, believe it or not. Intense colour, nose of black fruits. Black cherry and violet on palate with some mushroom and earth. Very nice but maybe the 07 is better?
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3/2/2014 - Hansen73 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Deep red fruits mellowing out. balanced acidity that was terrific with smoked ribs
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2/1/2014 - JM_MadTown Likes this wine: 90 Points
This Barbera is one of the better ones. Notes of dusty cherries, smoke and leather. the tannins are soft, but of course the acidity is right there.
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12/16/2013 - kevinacohn wrote:
Private Dinner (New York, NY): Wow! It's easy to say that this was the most delicious and well-made Barbera I've ever had. Decanted a few hours in advance, this was full of purple and black fruits, graphite, smoke, and tar. The structure was fantastic, with the tannins and acid in near-perfect balance. This is not your typical "pizza wine" Barbera; we enjoyed it with agnolotti del plin. For those of you holding onto this, I'd suggest that it isn't likely to get better than this. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
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12/3/2013 - Bradetti Likes this wine: 94 Points
Really good stuff.
For Conterno´s basis wine I wouldn´t have expected that immense complexity. After 2 hrs it opened perfectly with dark fruits. Very nice.
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12/1/2013 - Spencer wrote:
Best bottle of this I've had to date. This always tasted a bit monolithic in the past, but now it has resolved a bit and added a layer of complexity without sacrificing the bright fruit that makes it so appealing. I would say this is at peak right now.
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9/20/2013 - JM_MadTown Likes this wine: 90 Points
The wine is fully mature and it has bracing acidity, but not unusually so for an Italian wine. Notes of dark, dusty cherries, sour cherries, saddle leather and a nice finish.
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5/26/2013 - BYOB wrote: 91 Points
This wine has aged well. Dark fruits and earthy notes. Bravo
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1/19/2013 - Roughl wrote:
Doing great. Finishes could be longer, but overall this is a great barbera. First time using my new denk art stems and they are worth every penny.
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1/14/2013 - Traxx wrote: 88 Points
Going downhill for my tastes at least. Ripe, hot, not very interesting. Maybe a dumb phase or something?
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12/9/2012 - Federsin Likes this wine:
Better than the 2005 with better balance, fresh with good acidity, very nice with food, could continue to age, but drinking well now
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12/6/2012 - danstrings Likes this wine: 90 Points
Showing great, juicy inky earthy beauty. Great balance and food frendliness
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11/7/2012 - dekay Does not like this wine: 87 Points
Light red fruit nose; palate dominated by tart acidity backed with some red fruit - sour cherry; finish has a bit of earthiness.
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11/1/2012 - prism wrote: 92 Points
Popped and Vinturied into a decanter, then to glasses. Mouth-puckering acidity on first sip, but elegant structure and good strong fruit in evidence. Throughout the next two hours of the meal, the wine evolved very nicely to suck-down-the-last-possible-drop status for all three of us diners. Recommended, but not as a pop 'n' pour: give it the time it deserves to uncoil, and you will be rewarded with a wonderful food wine.
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10/31/2012 - jwsmith wrote: 88 Points
I big bottle of briar and dirt, too big for my taste.
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6/13/2012 - Burre wrote: 91 Points
As I am a huge fan of g.conterno's barolo cascina francia my expectations for this Barbera was quite high.
Medium bodied. Sour cherry, bitter cranberry, very mineral. Acidic and balanced. Fruit needed 1,5h to open up. Very nice, but the Barolo is in another league....and price class.
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6/7/2012 - WineDoctors wrote: 89 Points
Nose of saddle with plum and a hint of Brettanomyces which was intriguing; milk chocolate and mocha after breathing for 45 minutes; short palate with medium finish with good acid and structure; drink sooner than later
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5/11/2012 - il_diavolo wrote: 92 Points
2 hour decant. Ive added one point to my tastings of 2010 as this is a beautiful barbera. Dark violet colour - nose of tar, smoke and black fruit. Dark fruit on palate which has weight and complexity and finishes with minerality. Really great wine that feels true to the grape/origin (i may not have correctly picked it out as barbera but its clear the winemaking is not intrusive). Based on last 2 years development, there is no doubt in my mind that this will last 5+ more years. The acidity means it will always be a tad better with food.
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4/21/2012 - guitarkim wrote: 93 Points
App: deep purple red
Aroma: cherries, blueberries, plums, meat, cofe, dark chocolate and leather
Full-bodied with excellent acidity and subtle, but supporting tannins. Excellent balance. Cherries, blueberries and chocolate on the palate.
Excellent balance.
Wow!
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3/4/2012 - cct wrote: 92 Points
Beautiful darker fruited nose with spice and some licorice. Medium full and while quite dark and deep, there is enough acidity to keep it fresh and interesting. Stony, tarry and black fruited with excellent balance. This is quite long, layered, and flat out lovely stuff. Well done! 92 pts
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3/2/2012 - bamawine wrote: 93 Points
violet nose, very smooth leather dark chocolate,dark fruit palate- finishing with some sweetness-will try the rest in the next year or two
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2/11/2012 - Roughl wrote:
I am a believer. I like the style and weight of the wine. However, in my view this wine is not ready yet. Soft reductive notes on day one indicate that this wine needs another two to three years to fully blossom. On day two the balance is a lot better. Perhaps the drinking window will be rather short 2014-2017. Oh well, what do I know... I really enjoyed this bottle. Serious and sexy. Dangerous combination.
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2/10/2012 - Philippe_C wrote: 91 Points
Nose of bacon, licorice, black fruit... little tannins, hint of red fruit
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12/26/2011 - Traxx wrote:
Very sweet fruit, to the point of gloopy especially for an italian wine. Based on this bottle hard to imagine the remaining moving in an interesting direction...
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11/22/2011 - OneLastSyrah wrote: 89 Points
14.5% ABV. Tasted over several days. Somewhat translucent dark garnet in the glass. Sappy nose of old wood and a higher toned anise-like note. Medium full bodied with some chewy tannin on the palate. Seems to need some time to soften up. A very serious barbera.
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8/24/2011 - DHJ1968 wrote:
First time tasting this wine and I'm a bit ambivalent; big and rich for a barbera, the wine was initially monolithic and not showing much; dark black cherry and earthy cocoa notes eventually came through after some air time. Could have used more acidity to carry the weight. Well made but pricey and not really what I look for in a barbera (bright crunchy fruit). Was outclassed (imho) by a Bera Ronco Malo tasted at the same time.
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6/27/2011 - FLI Likes this wine: 86 Points
An odd one - showing earth and acidity, but a bit too much fruit and fire - seems like it's been tilted toward the international style, and not to its advantage. 14.5% alcohol felt high here. A bit out of balance. Nonetheless, a decent bottle, but not one I'd buy more of.
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5/20/2011 - cadamson wrote: 88 Points
Did not do it for me nearly as much as it did last time. Good fruit, certainly enjoyable and easy to drink, but lacked the wow factor it provided last time. Still with good minerality, but lacking the structure and freshness of fruit that bowled me over last year.
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5/7/2011 - Rubicante wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for two hours. Clear, full garnet with a violet rim, high viscosity, no sediment. On the nose it's in part reminiscent of Burgundy with dark berries, mineral notes and lively acidity combined with cherries, smoke, flowers and earthy notes. Medium-full on the palate and structurally flawless, great depth and length for a Barbera. Still quite youthful but already open and a pleasure to drink. Should improve further or at least hold up nicely for several years. 92+
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5/3/2011 - MindMuse wrote: 93 Points
Wow, next person that poo-poo's Barbera I want to send a bottle of this. So wonderfully composed bottle of wine, with juicy dark fruit coated with a patina of brushed on smoky tar, violets, forest floor and truffles. Wonderful cocoa-ed tannins give this a great presentation frame. Refined, deep, delicious. Honestly, I think it was better tonight than the three '98 Barolos.
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3/18/2011 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 89 Points
smoke, rich fruit on the nose. bright acid on the palate. realyl fresh with lots of darker fruits than some of the other barberas in the tasting. some cellar dust mixed in there as well, with a hint of green pepper. cranberries on the finish. not as good as the 08 in my opinion, but still a great barbera.
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3/17/2011 - tooch wrote: 90 Points
St. Patty's Day Barbera & Birthday Celebration (Weygandt Wines, Cleveland Park, Washington D.C.): Very classy nose of leather, red florals, subtle pipe tobacco and wonderfully pure cherry fruit. Very classic old world palate driven by aged leather, dried florals, violets, red cherry and cassis. Thought the finish had nice depth and length. Very enjoyable.
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3/17/2011 - manonthemoon wrote: 87 Points
Nose of plum, olive, spice.
Palate of black fruit, with a little dried fruit sneaking in, also the Alc was showing on this wine IMO.
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3/7/2011 - nzinkgraf wrote:
Northern Italy, mostly Piedmont; 3/5/2011-3/7/2011 (Waterford Wine Co., Milwaukee): chunky mineral aromas, hot brick in a glass!! depth on the palate. black liquorice, by far the most mid-palate of the Piedmontese wines tasted tonight. Palate really makes me think of Niepoort Carnuntum Blaufrankisch. 'Kerosene and nut oils' called out. this wine is the mind bender of the flight, trying to place this wine in a barbera context.
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2/13/2011 - BSpdx Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nose is very floral, along with dark berries, and hints of nutmeg and vanilla. Cassis and cranberry flavors are intertwined effortlessly, along with sweet baking spices, black tea, and even a little orange peel. Medium bodied and equisitely balanced with a long, long finish. Highly recommend.
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2/9/2011 - Traxx Likes this wine:
Seemed more influenced by oak than I remembered. Rather flabby at the moment, or this bottle was. Less interesting than previous bottles, I'm hoping this was merely in an awkward place...
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1/3/2011 - Biggsy wrote: 92 Points
Wow. A fabulous Barbera; this is a proper fine wine. Very dark garnet with a lovely complex nose: dense and tarry with candied black fruits, mint and a lift from the aroma of rose petals. Medium bodied with great depth and intensity of flavour. The palate is rich with more tarry fruit, liquorice and lovely full toasty tannins. Huge length, this has years ahead of it.
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12/13/2010 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 89 Points
Monday Night "Non-Baller" Grab Bag (Weygandt Wines - Washington, D.C.): bright purple colored. nose shows smoke, dried flowers and sweet berries. it has great acid and fine tannins along with juicy fruit. i get a distinct cranberry sauce flavor. darker and more intense than most barberas. this just tastes really well made. long, spicy finish.
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11/25/2010 - danstrings wrote: 90 Points
Very earthy and brambly, with big fruit and earth notes.
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11/21/2010 - cfe wrote:
This bottle didn't show the aromatic intensity of prior bottles. Perhaps I decanted it to long? In any event, great palate flavors, plum, tar, dark berries, hints of licorice. Paired quite well with a raviolio and shaved white truffles.
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10/24/2010 - danstrings wrote: 91 Points
Wonderful earthy, tarry spicy notes. Great silky and balanced food wine. Some rusticity, with a hint of pineapple among the deep brooding fruit and earth.
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10/20/2010 - Mr T wrote:
This wine is a struggle for me.....Barbera does not come easy to me...not sure why...that said....I gradually warmed to this wine as it opened and expanded....should have decanted...notes below are better and more descriptive.
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8/23/2010 - Ssutcher wrote: 92 Points
Good Black and brown fruit. Smooth and good mouthfeel. Quite aromatic
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8/4/2010 - cadamson wrote: 94 Points
Could not agree more that the aromatics are outstanding. What an enticing nose with a myriad of scents...blue fruits, flowers. earth and spice. Beguiling. Dark purple. Med/light bodied. Tart red fruits, iron and herbs (strangely but nice, some yeast like component also). Lots of minerality, good acidity and some sweet tannins. This is a fantastic wine at a great price point. Highly enjoyable.
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7/16/2010 - TAE wrote: 92 Points
Colour is dark and reminds me of a Shiraz. Lovely density and very beautiful. Nose has Raspberries, a touch of strawberries, plumbs, and has a nice "irony" smell to it. Taste likewise with a nice acidity not too harsh and well balanced. Still young, but revelas nice complexity and opens op after 20 minutes in the glass. Do not hesitate to let it breathe about an hour. I still have 2 bottles left and I am looking forward to tasting them later. Opened an Amarone by Brigaldara (Case Vecie '04) afterwards. Tasted close to Recioto after having tasted a dry wine like the Barbera. Good drinking out there.
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6/27/2010 - cfe wrote: 93 Points
Red violet. Incredible nose of black cherries, tar, earth, spice, and more. Beguiling. Palate is just s skoosh to the full side of mid weight, but lobely fruit, tannin, acid balance....still comes across as packed with fruit and intensity. Decanted this for several hours, so it smoothed out and opened nicely, really a treat with the tomato and cauliflower dish, and rotisserie chicken. Okay, so I can like Italian wine!
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6/20/2010 - chablis28 wrote: 87 Points
Didn't blow me away but may have been slightly warm for my liking as it sat for a while before opening. Tanins seemed a little edgy and drying. I like the 04s al ot more so far.
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6/17/2010 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
As my mom put it "this is just good wine." And that it was. Rather spectacular actually. Wish I had more than just one bottle left.
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5/29/2010 - Jochems Likes this wine: 92 Points
Some Barbera from 2006; 3/18/2010-6/15/2010: Ruby-red color with some hints of purple. Lucious aromas of cherry strawberry and roses evolving with hints of meat, figs and cedar. Following trough full bodied with concentrated fruit and mouth searing acidity against a silky-soft layer of tannins. A long and fresh finish.
This is the best Barbera I've had to date. Concentrated fruit and complex aroma's with the typical backbone of acidity. Needs food (anything that is thin and crusty with some fresh tomato sauce and pecorino cheese on top of it will do:-)
Popped and poured, and very open and balanced from the first sip. But also lots of structure to develop further. Drink now - 2016.
Great stuff!
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5/21/2010 - jwsmith wrote: 92 Points
After 6n months I re-visit this wine with a better feeling, in fact I would say this wine is staring to integrate its fat better. A very mouth coating wine that has a long finish. Not as good as the 2007 , but good.
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5/9/2010 - il_diavolo wrote: 91 Points
consistent experience with prior. dark colour and intoxicating nose of dark fruits. high acidity. with time (30 mins+) the fruit shares centre stage with earthy, mushroom and smokey undertones. this really should be left alone for a couple of years and will then last a good few years - sadly I very much doubt my inventory will last as long. suggest opening at least 1 hr prior.
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5/8/2010 - StreetWalkerD wrote: 90 Points
Deep purple, heavy tones. Fruit, fruit and more fruit. I would put this new world if I didn't know what it was. It is a stunning example of how acid can run high, but be balanced out by this wonderful tart red cherry and dare I say strawberry.... Yummy, truly yummy....
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5/5/2010 - Kevin_C wrote: 93 Points
I've opened four bottles of this rather casually before realizing how special of a wine this is. The balance is simply outstanding. It's just so nice to drink! Perhaps that's why I haven't put them through the usual rigors of analysis. The remaining bottles certainly deserve more attention and a conscientious pairing.
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4/27/2010 - chablis28 wrote: 91 Points
Great Barbera! Balanced, clean, with beautiful fruit and minerality.
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3/28/2010 - elfez wrote:
Taut, lean and mineral-driven. Huge red fruit, lots of length. Truly outstanding. Good for many years.
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3/1/2010 - baroloboy55 wrote: 93 Points
Observed this closely overy three days. Day 1, grapey, primary. Days 2 and 3, really opened up gained weight and depth but overgirded by terroir-driven, fine winemaking by Roberto. I'm a believer!!!!
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2/26/2010 - guitarkim Likes this wine: 91 Points
Aroma av kirsebær og jord. Fyldig og konsentrert Barbera med flott syre, diskrete tanniner og svært god lengde. En monumental og kraftig Barbera i tradisjonell stil, og med en svært god balanse. Gir ikke så mye på nesen, men er desto mer imponerende i munnen. Burde nok vært dekantert og vil ha godt av noen år i kjelleren. Fremstår for øyeblikket som litt lukket, men med en svært presis balanse. Vil nok utvikle større kompleksitet med årene.
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2/5/2010 - tooch wrote: 89 Points
29th Birthday Celebration; 2/5/2010-2/7/2010 (my apartment): Nice nose of dusty plums, tart cherry and strawberry. Very elegant wine, with lots of cedar, sour and/or tight cherries and smoke. After a while the wine softened up some and turned into a really enjoyable wine. I feel like this wine would go really well pork tenderloin or wild boar ragu.
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2/5/2010 - SteveHyde wrote:
Takes time to show its stuff. Initially a bit hot, but with an hour it comes together into a full-throttle Conterno Barbera. Really packed, with the characteristic acid backbone of a good Barbera, with plenty of crushed red berry and sour cherry fruit.
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1/12/2010 - TheEngineer wrote: 89 Points
Oh wow, this thing drinks like a burgundy. Strawberries, red berries, Nicely structure and slightly lithe, but great presence in the wine. Ethereal nose and light mouthfeel. What is this thing!
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1/6/2010 - jwsmith wrote: 90 Points
The first sip was interesting I thought I had a moth full of sediment but it was just the thickness in thew wine, its almost grainy. Very deep color licorice, coffee and dark mocha aroma, I don't think I would give it 94 pts, but I might enjoy it more with a steak..
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1/6/2010 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Much more flush and full than I remembered.
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12/31/2009 - vegaswino wrote: 91 Points
Great wine, decanted for about two hours and had with a nice, thick top sirloin and some onions/mushrooms. Opened up beautifully during the decanting. good fruit/berry flavors and a beautiful finish.
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12/28/2009 - Dale M wrote: 93 Points
Slow O’d for 4 hours. After the biting grip of a preceding glass of Cava, it took me a little while to get proper traction for this wine. Interestingly, this was more of a ‘classic’ Barbera at first, emphasizing bright red fruits and firm acidity which was more than enjoyable in it own right. However after an hour or so in the glass, the richness and depth of fruit I had experienced with previous bottles emerged, traces of chocolate powder all the while maintaining terrific acidity and thrust. I’m very much looking forward to the 07 version.
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12/24/2009 - OneLastSyrah wrote:
Brief impressions - Deeply colored in the glass. Aromas of dark cherry fruit and a touch of tar. Medium full bodied with concentrated dark fruit on the palate. Impressive Barbera. A little chewy in the finish.
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12/13/2009 - il_diavolo wrote: 91 Points
superb barbera. quite dark colour. dark fruits (dark cherry) dominate the nose but with 30 minutes of air,flavours of smoke, mushroom and spices emerge and its all so very well balanced. hope to have some left in 2-3 years....
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11/29/2009 - KeithAkers wrote: 92 Points
nose: well balanced nose of tar, dark red cherries, herbs, spices, and some bits of red florals. Very pungent, and gets going about 20 minutes in the glass
taste: delicious tones of red cherries, herbs, tar, roses, and some bits of mixed berries. Excellent medium+ acidity with a real balance about it and a delicious medium/fullish feel to it
overall: a wonderful barbera. Great body and nose, this is really good and very enjoyable. Great acidity compliments this to make it a great food wine, but is extremely drinkable on its own
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11/29/2009 - Zinny wrote: 90 Points
Very big, dark and extracted compared to the usual barbera. This wine costs a lot more than a typical barbera and I think it delivers. Big, bright red fruit, strong acidity, big body, long, spicy finish.
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11/26/2009 - LeechDogg wrote: 92 Points
Good wine, nice body, maybe needs another year.
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9/26/2009 - BYOB wrote: 88 Points
Jwobbk raided the cellar and popped open this dark, ruby red wine, with juicy dark fruit. Needs a little time in the bottle/
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9/26/2009 - JOsgood wrote: 88 Points
Pretty tight right now. A big and concentrated Barbera. Dark fruits and spice. Given the price point I prefer Vietti.
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9/25/2009 - Traxx wrote:
Notes from memory from 2 weeks ago. Really very thin and acidic at the moment, my assumption is shut down.
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9/17/2009 - gorm wrote: 92 Points
Consistent note, just a tad tighter
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8/30/2009 - Eric Guido wrote: 93 Points
A great performance from this beauty tonight. Medium red color in the glass. The nose is almost smoky with plum, savory broth, mushrooms and moist earth. On the palate a full body with raspberry, fig, more mushroom and a sweet mid-palate of red fruit that carries this wines brisk acidity to the end. The finish is long and fresh with cherry and cedar.
Food Note: Paired against a Risotto ai tre pomodori. I can't think of a better pairing where the food and wine drew from each other's strengths. Amazing.
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8/22/2009 - EricB wrote: 90 Points
Very good food wine. Good purple body with plenty of acid to stand up to tomato sauce. Had with sausage and peppers, and it got even better. This is a wine that is great on it's own, but just comes into it's own with food.
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6/24/2009 - nzinkgraf wrote:
Piedmont (Waterford): first bottle was flawed with a roast coffee expression in the nose.
anyway...singing black cherry nose. nice low extraction. nice fruit on the palate with a hint of richness for Barbera. medium+ level of acid. lite granite notes in the nose.
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5/23/2009 - gorm wrote: 93 Points
Dark red. Very delicious nose of forrest floor, sweet tobacco, cherries and figs. Round and charming mouthfeel, nice intensity and quite complex. Easy, yet enticing drinking. Won't be my last bottle.
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5/12/2009 - il_diavolo wrote: 91 Points
truffle and tar, wonderful expression of barbera
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4/22/2009 - AdamWallstein wrote: 93 Points
Great pairing with Lainy's pizza. An explosive mouthful of dark blue and purple fruits with a zing of acidity riding way, way above, but doesn't feel out of place. Kind of like the piccolo long note accompanying the basses and celli in the third movement of Mahler's second symphony. Anyway, the flavor profile wrapped itself perfectly around the pizza's tomato-cheese goodness. The nose was just fantastic. Really hard to describe, but generous and intoxicating.
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4/7/2009 - Keith Levenberg wrote: 87 Points
I don't know what could have changed here, but this is no longer the benchmark Barbera it was in the vintages of the '90s. Fruit is slightly more penetrating and inky than most, but otherwise it doesn't stand out.
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3/13/2009 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Bright red fruits underlying a truffley, foreset floor kinda thing underneath. Just opened. We will see how it develops.
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3/8/2009 - Dale M wrote: 93 Points
Terrifically ripe and forward, but massive amounts of counter balancing acidity and structure. Needs a couple of years, which I'm happy to give it. Probably going back for more.
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3/6/2009 - Diane (LI) wrote:
Big wine. Lots of fruit, some ash. If it wasn't for the acidity, I could have mistaken it for an Aussie. The rest of my bottles will sleep.
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3/5/2009 - David Paris (dbp) wrote: 91 Points
Very rich, thick nose of briar, black raspberries, strawberries, graphite, granite, spice, cocoa, and cherry cola. Medium bodied, red licorice on the palate along with the cherry cola. Spice follows through on the initial finish, transitioning very smoothly to a variety of spiced fruit flavors, then coffee cake, and winding up with plastic melted with glue. The alcohol is definitely present on the back end, though, which gets in the way for my enjoyment. The nose is killer here, but the finish dings the overall enjoyment.
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3/3/2009 - InternationalWineReport wrote: 92 Points
Rich, ripe, succulent Barbera, with ultra-smooth tannins, it offers layers of fabulous dark cherry, floral, violet, smoky toasted oak and plum flavors. Full-bodied, very dark in color and long. This is a world-class Barbera! (Best after 2009) - JD92
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2/21/2009 - br wrote:
dark plum, leafy tobacco and good weight and texture. good acidity and with air aromas really strut their stuff. good now and later.
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2/19/2009 - mjmal wrote:
I vigorously decanted this (more than once) about 5 hours before dinner and I believe that really helped to unlock a lot of the outstanding elements this began showing by the time the group tasted it. The youthful bouquet is pure and cashmere-smooth—with ripe plums, sweet dark cherries, road tar, limestone and truffle aromas in abundance. It has a wonderful overall mouthfeel—at once rich but also airy and effortless. It is lush--with spicy but refined cherry and mixed berry fruit leading the way, accented by notes of spice box, tar and truffle oil sneaking in here and there. There are no hard edges anywhere (much different from the first hour or two after opening). The acidity is soft and rounded and supports a lifted, lasting sensibility. It dissipates on the back of the tongue and leaves a very pleasing airy perfume in the mouth—with a sort of butterscotch note providing the cherry on the top of the sundae. Yes, this is young, but with enough time in decanter, it can drink beautifully right now. I’m sure holding it is a safe bet, too.
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2/16/2009 - dwmcubed wrote:
Drank over three nights. Wonderful aromas of red fruits and hints of camphor on the nose. Bright red fruit is the initial impression buoyed by ever-present acidity. Fruits get an interesting sour note on the midpalate - and this seemingly lithe drink fills your throat with fruit, tar and earth. Persistent finish defined by tannins and acidity. Mellowed over the three days a tad - this certainly can rest for a while.
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2/8/2009 - jamieirving wrote: 75 Points
As part of a £10 M&S meal deal, I did not have high hopes for this wine. Whilst drinkable, it wasn't anything special. Juicy dark berry fruits on the nose. The palate showed sour cherry, tobacco and smoke characters.
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1/21/2009 - Traxx wrote: 94 Points
Amazing bottle of wine, especially for the money. This might be the most exciting nose I've ever smelled on a bottle of wine; rich, complex, simply amazing. It didn't quite bring the same thunder on the pallete, I'm hoping it's in a tight spot right now, and will open with some more time in the cellar. I'd highly recommend this bottle of wine.
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1/16/2009 - Beavis77 wrote:
The nose hit me like a Cotes du Rhone. Really earthy and funky. It had the great clean cherry notes that you get from Barbera, but the earthiness threw me.
The mouth is all Barbera d'Alba though. Nice, bright black cherry. Great acidic backbone. Really quite complex.
I really enjoyed this wine, although it definitely breaks the mold on Barbera d'Alba, and not in a bad way.
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1/16/2009 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
This is absolutely smoking to me. True, its $44 on shelf (expensive) but the aromatics are explosive.
The second day on this has become truffles, a sweet red cherry palate and notes of forest floor. Veyr young (and tight now) it is a beauty.
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1/7/2009 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Stunning, yes stunning red fruit. Lovely, worth every $37 penny.
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1/6/2009 - wineamateur wrote: 91 Points
Deep dark inky purple in colour. Gorgeous nose with layers of flavour and great texture, red and black cherries, redcurrants and plums to the fore. Youthfully austere in the mouth, with prominent acidity, great structure and notable density of fruit. Lovely now but will improve.
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11/19/2008 - davidzeb03 wrote: 93 Points
Wow. This is the most supple, caressing Barbera that you will find. It is not cheap but worthy of putting 6 bottles in your cellar to drink over the next few yrs. The texture reminded me of Pinot Noir not Barbera. The nose is wonderfully floral with underlying fruit.
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10/30/2008 - RMC wrote: 91 Points
A stunning nose and a remakable long finish. This Conterno is the absolute top with regards to balance and drinkability - and it has hardly been in the bottle for less than a year.
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10/21/2008 - wineismylife wrote: 91 Points
Italy 2008 (Italy): WIML91-92
Tasted at the winery. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of black cherries, black berries, potpourri and a dash of tar. Flavors of black cherries, black berries and a hint of bitters over the medium to long finish. Bright acidity, firm tannins, medium to full body. Drink now with a decant or continue to hold. 14.5% alcohol.
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10/18/2008 - SAND wrote:
(Vinoteco Centro Storico, Serralunga d'Alba, € 35)
Duft: Kirsebær, plomme.
Smak: Saftig, rik, søtlig, strammer så opp med mye syre i slutten av smakskurven. Rik, nydelig barbera.
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