Barbera from these two distinct regions pridefully give us the best the grape has to offer. I think these two Barberas define the difference of these two reps form the region.
Here’s how they stack up with my ANTE method of tasting wine.
Appearance-Asti has a bit lighter in color with a lighter hue than the Alba
Nose-Asti smelled like roses (there are rose bushes planted on this vineyard…so makes sense), earth, cinnamon baking spice while the Alba has more dark fruited qualities, but also had a minerality (on clay soils, so makes sense).
Taste—Alba certainly is fuller, darker and a bit more black fruit while the Asti was a bit more acidic and more fresh red fruited.
Enjoy-Both of them can be enjoyed especially with tomato based foods like pasta with marinara or a pizza.
Kermit Lynch Wines may sound like a misplaced drunk muppet, but in the wine world that name is synonymous with quality.
While his distribution has a truly spectacular French portfolio, it’s Italian selections aren’t too shabby either. It shows the respect that Kermit gets in Italy when he can make his own Italian blend and put his name on the label… the winemaker Alessandra Bodda must’ve trusted him implicitly to make a quality wine that is representative of this region.
Delightfully easy, simple but still with that hint of dust, cranberry and cinnamon I often get in Italian reds. It’s a blend that includes mostly Barbera…so it’s medium bodied which is a terrify pair with a variety of foods. Try somehting tomato based, whcih will enhance both this wine and food.
Q: What’s under $15, from Italy that tastes great with foods like spaghetti or pizza?
A: These wines!
1st up is the Mocali Fossetti Rosso Toscano from Montalcino. Mostly made of Sangiovese, with that touch of cinnamon on the nose that I often get from this region. This tastes like more expensive juice, but is affordable enough to have with Monday night meatballs or Friday night date night.
2nd is the Roberto Ferrari’s Barbera D’Asti. Again, great value… taste like you drove home in a Ferrari, but at the cost of a Ford Fiesta. I adore Barberas because they go so wonderfully with so many foods, but it’s true pair is anything Italian…As they say, “What grows together, goes together.” Wines and food from the same place are always a win.
Check out www.wine-searcher.com to find these wines (or any wines) available in your area!
From Loazzolo, the tiniest DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) in Italy makes some BIG wines This small, family owned vineyard with a careful, natural approach to viticulture and vinification shows a real respect for the terroir and a great pride in their wines.
These wines have an earthy, spicy quality and depth that gives a sense of the place. Perfect with Italian fare, basically anything with tomato sauce. What grows together, goes together!
