CasaSmith Winery Jack’s Vineyard Barbara 2015, Walla Walla Valley, Washington State

This is a fascinating Single Vineyard Barbera from Washington State.

Dry and fruity on the palate with medium acidity.

Showing red cherries, raspberries, spices, light oak, earth, tobacco, chocolates and peppercorn.

Tangy finish with soft tannins and pomegranates.

Might have been better a couple of years ago, but I really don’t have any reference point for a Barbera from Washington State.

Needs an hour to open up properly.

Tart and a bit stinky. Spicy and entertaining, and better with food. Not my style, but interesting to try.

100% Barbera grapes were aged in (40% new) French Oak barrels for 16 months.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

88 points.

$40.

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La Spinetta Pin Monferrato Rosso 1998 Piedmont, Italy

Deep ruby in color with a reddish rim.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with red and black fruits, light oak, spices, chocolates, licorice, bitter vegetables, light forest floor, earth, light vinaigrette, tobacco and black pepper.

Huge grippy tannins on the finish, with tangy raspberries.

This is a very interesting blend of Nebbiolo, Barbera and Cabernet Sauvignon from Piedmont.

This 24 year old drinks very much like a young wine with huge tannins.

Very tasty now and needs an hour to open up. Showing great complexity at this point.

Good right out of the bottle, and better with food. After an hour of airtime this becomes a beast.

Feels like a 10 year old Super Tuscan. Feels very young and does not show its age at all. Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years.

Robert Parker 91 points.

A blend of 50% Nebbiolo, 30% Barbera, and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged for 20 months in all new French oak barrels.

13% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$55.

Shiloh Winery Shor Barbera 2011, Israel

A pretty color of ruby with a wide brick rim.

Fruity nose of blueberries, currants, plums, licorice, light earth, eucalyptus, herbs, light vegetables, black pepper, spices, tobacco leaf and dark coffee.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with plums, sweet cherries, oak, light vanilla, spices, dark chocolates, coffee and black pepper.

Tangy long finish with fine tannins and tangy cranberries.

This is a delicious and unique red wine from Israel. Tasty and elegant. Fruity, tangy and interesting with nice complexity.

Good right out of the bottle, and better with some airtime (1 hour).

Tasty and good by itself or with food. I paired it with a few meat dishes. Delicious with the lamb.

100% Barbera grapes were aged in French and American oak barrels for 16 months. Kosher.

14.3% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$38 (current vintage).

Montaribaldi Barbera D’alba DOC Dü Gir 2017, Italy

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Dark ruby in color with a red/purple rim.

Strong fruity nose of blueberries, sweet raspberries, cherries, licorice, light oak, vanilla, earth, herbs, spices, dark chocolates, tobacco and black pepper.

Full bodied with medium plus acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with black currants, black cherries, sweet raspberries, tobacco, light oak, vanilla, earth, licorice, spices, herbs, chocolates, peppercorn and light vegetables.

Short finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a nice Barbera from Italy. Much bigger than I expected it to be. Showing mild complexity with a nice mouthfeel.

Still young and would be better in a few years. Would be nice to revisit it in 3 years. A good quality wine.

Good right out of the bottle, and gets earthier as it opens up. After 90 minutes of airtime, tannins show up, and bring in more structure. After 3 hours, the tannins become grippy.

A good food wine that I paired with a Charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

100% Barbera grapes were aged in New oak barrels for 20 months.

15.5% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$25.

Fratelli Ponte Barbera D’Asti Superiore 2016, Italy

Ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

On the nose cherries, red currants, strawberries, bitter herbs, light wood, licorice, coffee, spices, barnyard, vegetables and peppercorn.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with tart cherries, strawberries, raspberries, espresso, peppercorn, black tea, vegetables, herbs and spices.

Tangy finish with soft tannins and tangy cranberries.

This Italian Barbera is a good food wine that will pair very nicely with pizza. Tangy with a light mouthfeel.

A good week day wine, and better after 30 minutes of airtime.

I paired it with cheeses and crackers. I wish I had a pizza.

100% Barbera grapes where aged in oak barrels for 1 year.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

86 points.

$25.

Lapis Luna Wines Red Blend 2017 North Coast, California

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Fruity nose of blueberries, black cherries, chocolates, coffee, smoke, spices, light wood and black pepper.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and nice legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with blueberries, cherries, plums, light wood, licorice, vanilla, tobacco, light vegetables and black pepper.

Medium finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a nice everyday red blend from California. Nicely balanced and fruit forward. Easy drinking, spicy and tangy.

Good by itself as a sipping wine by the porch. Way too easy to drink, so watch out.

I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

A blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 10% Sangiovese and 10% Barbera.

14.3% alcohol by volume.

88 points.

$15.

Anna Maria Abbona Langhe Rosso Cadò DOC 1999, Langhe, Italy

Dark ruby in color with a wide light brick rim.

Powerful nose of blueberries, raspberries, pomegranates, black currants, wood, licorice, earth, Indian spices, vinaigrette, forest floor, wet leaves and black pepper.

Medium bodied with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with cherries, raspberries, cranberries, strawberries, wood, licorice, earth, spices, leather, smoke, bell pepper, herbs, coffee, forest floor, tobacco leaf and peppercorn.

Tangy finish with fine grained tannins and tangy pomegranates.

This is an aged Barbera from Piedmont, Italy. At this point, it is showing great complexity both on the nose and on the palate.

This 21 year old is over the hill by now, but still drinkable, especially with food. Died after 2 hours of airtime. It is always enjoyable to try these old wines. I loved smelling on it for a long time.

Thank you Paul for sharing.

I paired it with cheeses and olives. Was especially nice with the Brie cheese.

Mostly Barbera grapes with a small portion of Dolcetto. Aged for 18 months in oak barrels.

14% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

Oak Farm Vineyards Lodi Barbera 2017, California

A pretty ruby in color.

Strong nose of blueberries, black cherries, strawberries, light oak, licorice, spices, tobacco, chocolates, maple, light vegetables and peppercorn.

Full bodied with medium plus acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with plums, pomegranates, cherries, blackberries, wood, spices, tobacco, chocolates and peppercorn.

Medium length on the finish with soft tannins and tangy strawberries.

This is probably my first time having Barbera from Lodi, California. Well balanced and interesting with a nice mouthfeel.

I could definitely smell and taste Lodi, but I won’t be able to get the Barbera at a blind tasting. Feels like a lighter Zinfandel from Lodi, with more acidity then expected. Definitely has nice acidity for a Lodi red.

Alcohol is high, but not too noticeable. Good by itself or with food. Good for parties too.

Needs an hour to open up properly.

Nice and engaging and easy drinking and a good everyday wine. I paired it with fatty cheeses, almonds and dry fruits.

Mainly Barbera grapes, with a touch of Petite Sirah, were handpicked and aged in French and American oak barrels for 20 months (24% new).

15% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$25.

Trifula Piemonte Rosso 2016 ,Italy

A pretty ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Fruity nose with blueberries, black plums, cherries, light oak, spices, dark chocolates, light alcohol, vegetables and peppercorn.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with black cherries, blueberries, light wood, earth, leaves, light licorice, spices, dark coffee, pencil lead and peppercorn.

Nice tangy finish with soft tannins.

This is a simple and easy drinking red wine from Northern Italy. Fruit forward and good by itself or with food.

Changed every 20 minutes, which was interesting. Really fruity right out of the bottle, and gets more acidic after an hour of airtime.

I paired it with cheeses and fresh berries.

A blend of Nebbiolo, Barbera and Dolcetto.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

86 points.

Ricossa Antica Casa Piemont Barbera Appassimento 2015, Italy

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Fruity nose with cherries, black plums, sweet blueberries, light earth, chocolates, river rocks, light vegetables and peppercorn.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and nice legs.

Dry on the palate with plums, cherries, blueberries, earth, spices, peppercorn, leather and tobacco.

Nice finish with spices and fine grained tannins.

This is a nice surprise. A very nice Italian Barbera. Easy drinking with a nice mouthfeel and mild complexity. Tastes like a nice Ripasso.

Good right out of the bottle and good by itself or with food. This is a fun wine. Fruit forward, engaging and good for parties.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

88 points.

$25.