NV Antonio Vallana e Figlio Barbera Cantina di Bacco

Community Tasting Notes (3) Avg Score: 88 points

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  11/22/2018 - forceberry wrote: 88 Points

  Another one of those Vallana Barbera Vino da Tavolas without vintage. Probably from the early 1970's or 1960's. 12% alcohol.
  
  Quite deep reddish mahogany red color with almost clear, watery brick orange rim. Very aged and tertiary nose with developed aromas of raisins, some soy sauce, a little bit of wizened dark fruits and a hint of iron. Overall the nose feels rather one-dimensional, but also pleasantly fragrant. The wine feels moderately full-bodied, silky and quite tertiary on the palate with flavors of raisins, dried sour cherries, some wizened raspberries, light notes of tobacco, a hint of tart redcurrant and a touch of marmaladey sweetness. The moderately high acidity lends good balance to the mouthfeel. No discernible tannins. The finish is quite long and very developed with tertiary flavors of wizened red cherries, some peppery spice, a little bit of tobacco, light salty notes of soy sauce, a hint of sour cherry bitterness and a touch of earth.
  
  A really developed and quite tertiary but still very pleasant and enjoyable Barbera that performs a lot better than most of the Vallana wines this old that are not only tertiary but also quite steadily going downhill. This wine might have hit its peak, but it is still very enjoyable and arguably still at its plateau of maturity. Not the most transcendental Barbera I've tasted, but nevertheless a great example of how well even this relatively lowly grape variety can age. Nice.

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  6/13/2017 - forceberry wrote: flawed

  No vintage in the label. Wines with this size (0,72 liters) were outlawed in 1974, so the wine must be at least from 1973, but it can be older. 12% alcohol. Served blind.
  
  Quite deep, almost opaque maroon red color with almost clear, watery brick orange rim. Horribly musty, mouldy aroma. The same thing on the palate. A real TCA bomb.
  
  You can imagine the disappointment when the wine was revealed afterwards.

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  9/7/2013 - avp wrote:

  Volatile red fruit nose with apples and cherries. Some liquorice, herbs and moldy cellar aspects.
  Medium bodied and almost supple palate with thin layers of fruit. Red apple dominating, some sour cherry and pomegranate. Juicy acidity making one salivate. Leather and exotic wood notes. Good length. Some dusty/moldy cellar aspects here as well.
  An enjoyable aged wine. Needed time to open up, but showed also strengthening volatility. So, best not to keep breathing for too long.

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