Cantina del Pino Barbera d’Asti 2016, DOCG Piedmont, Italy 🇮🇹

🍇 Barbera 100%

🧐 Alcohol 14%

🍁 My Score 91 Points

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Gorgeous bouquet with aromas of cherries, plums, pomegranates, violets, soft leather and wood spices. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, beautiful, elegant texture, lively acidity and soft tannins. The finish is long with a red berry fruit explosion and peppery notes lingering.

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Purchased this gorgeous Barbera @vesselliquor  felt so lucky. The only bottle remaining, definitely calling my name. I am not sure why it’s so difficult to find Barbera d’Asti in British Columbia. There seems to be one bottle of Barbera from Asti compared to five from Alba. I prefer the style of Barbera from Asti, they are lighter, more elegant, with less oak and extraction, and still have that classic Italian acidity. This Barbera from a cooler vintage suits my palate just right, with wonderful freshness and bright fruit flavours. Strongly recommended. Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Marchesi Di Barolo Maràia Barbera Monferrato 2011, DOC Piedmont, Italy

This wine is 100% Barbera fruit and opened up with aromas of sour cherries, plums, toasty oak, spices and violet notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied (with alcohol coming in at 13.5%) with flavours of spicy dark berry fruit, zesty acidity, fine grained tannins with a juicy medium length finish. All things taken into account, this wine has a strong varietal character, not overly complex but easy drinking and tailor made to be enjoyed at the table, serve slightly chilled. Enjoyable, score 89 points.

Purchased July 6, 2013 LCBO Vintages New Release (748277) at $16.95



Gemma Gibblin Riserva Barolo 2005, DOCG, Piedmont, Italy

 

This wine is made using 100% Nebbiolo grapes as per the DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) rules with maturation in French oak and alcohol coming in at 14%. Bright pale ruby in color, this Barolo opened up with lively aromas of sour cherry, wild strawberry, dried roses, white pepper and soft leather notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, with great energy and texture, lively acidity and mouth drying tannins. This wine finish is long, intensely flavourful with mild tannins lingering. This is a very elegant, spicy, floral and pretty Barolo which is drinking well right now or cellar no more than 2-3 years. It is interesting that such a pale color wine can pack such a punch? Strongly recommended, score 92 points

Purchased June 23, 2012 LCBO Vintages New Release (185025) at $36.95

Giacomo Borgogno Barbera D’Alba Superiore 2010, Doc, Piedmont, Italy

This is the style of Barbera which strongly appeals to my palette. This wine opened up with aromas of sour cherry, plum, pomegranate, dried violet and spicy notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, dry, smooth texture, firm acidity and fine dusty tannins. Good length and very pleasant on the finish with flavours of sweet and sour fruit and savoury spices. This wine is 100% Barbara, maturation for 12 months in oak barrels and alcohol coming in at 13.5%. This 2010 vintage is a much stronger effort, better balance than the 2009 vintage. The 1% reduction in alcohol makes for a much fresher and more enjoyable, prettier Barbera. Great value and strongly recommended, score 91 points.

Purchased November 10, 2012 LCBO New Release (285486) at $19.95

Paolo Conterno Bricco Barbera D’Alba 2010, Doc, Piedmont, Italy

This wine is 100% Barbera from vines averaging 25 years old, maturation between 8-12 months in large French oak casks with alcohol coming in at 13.5%.

Deep ruby red in color, this Barbera opens up with aromas of cherry, cranberry, leather, damp earth, clove and cinnamon spices. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, slightly rustic, smoky texture, zesty acidity and dusty tannins. Medium length on the finish with sour cherry, leathery and smoky character lingering. This Barbera has more smoky oak then I am use to, but that being said, a very enjoyable wine and given the price ($16.95), a very good value. Score 88 points.

Purchased July 21, 2012 LCBO New Release (744714) at $16.95

Silvio Grasso Barbera D'Alba 2009, Piedmont, Italy

This is my first experience with the wines from this 1927 family owned winery. This wine is 100% Barbera grapes, with grapes that went through a brief maceration on the skins in steel for 4-5 days followed up by 7-8 months in steel tanks (no oak). This wine opens up with aromas of red fruit, black cherry, spices and cedar notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied (alcohol at 13.5%), with flavours a black pepper and spices, lively acidity and soft tannins. This Barbera's finish is long, fruity, spicy and refreshing. This wine is so good, so refreshing, so interesting, well made and very a good value. Need I say, strongly recommended. Score 92 points

Purchased April 28, 2012 at the SAQ (11580080) at $20.20

Giacomo Borgogno Barbera d'Alba 2009, Piedmont, Italy

This deep ruby colour Barbara is a product of the warm 2009 vintage. The nose reveals very ripe berry fruit, plums, cedar, sweet spices. Medium to full body, with a huge 14.5% alcohol content, especially for a Barbera, with fresh acidity, smooth tannins and rich mouthfeel.The finish is long, with white pepper, sweet and sour fruit. A more robust body than is characteristic of a Barbera, however it has enough acidity and tannins to balance all that fruit. All and all, very enjoyable. Recommended.

This wine was purchased at the SAQ on June 11, 2011 at $18.40.

Castello Di Ama 2007 Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy

Before embarking on the Celebrity Silhouette, I purchased three bottles of wines in Rome (all Italian wines) to enjoy while cruising and dining on the ship, they we're;

-Casanova Di Neri 2003 Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuave
-Castello Di Ama 2007 Chianti Classico
-Prunetto 2008 Barbera D’Alba 

Many people believe that you are not allowed to bring wines on a cruise ship. I have found most ships  allow you to bring wine aboard (they don't encourage it) and then charge a corkage fee when you present it at one of their restaurants, fees vary depending on the cruise line.  If you enjoy the wine in your cabin, you are all good.

Castello Di Ama 2007 Chianti Classico
I have enjoyed the Chianti of this vineyard in the past, a very good producer. Beautiful deep ruby red, aromas of ripe wild berries, earthy and spicy. The mouthfeel is well balanced with generous fruit concentrations, fresh acidity, moderate alcohol at 13% and fine grain tannins. The Chianti finish is long, rich and powerful.

Casanova Di Neri 2003 Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuave  (No photo unfortunately)
This wine colour was much lighter than I expected for a Brunello. The nose is very complex and aromatic with cherry, plum, old wood, earthy and spicy. The mouthfeel is full on flavour, bright acidity, well integrated tannins with plums and spicy finish. This is not a blockbuster of a Brunello, but a wine with lots of finesse and complexity.

Prunetto 2008 Barbera D’Alba (No photo unfortunately)
I have enjoyed Prunetto Barbera when living in British Columbia, but I have never seen it the LCBO (Ontario). This medium bodied Barbara has varietal characteristic flavours of sweet and sour fruit, violet and spicy oak. The palate is fresh, light on its feet, with soft tannins. To enjoy with or without food.