Heitz Cellar Napa Valley Grignolino 2005
Truly one of the ‘lightest of the light’ red wines and an aromatic charmer as well. P&B in St. Helena 12.5% $15.50 at Traverso’s Heitz
Poderi Aldo Conterno Langhe Dolcetto DOC Masante 2006
Quite dense and loaded with black fruit and the characteristic tannic backbone of Dolcetto. There’s enough extract to keep [...]

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Yorba Amador County Barbera 2005
A touch rustic but the fruit comes out showing nicely after 15 minutes. One of the students suggested stewed rhubarb as a descriptor, which was right on, when you think of the tartness of rhubarb and the classic acidity of Barbera, showing through in a very ripe wine. V&B by Kraemer [...]

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Traditional appellation wine versus a modern blend from Piemonte.
Vietti Barolo DOCG Castiglione 2004
Brown spices and licorice on a very tannic frame that is balanced by acidity and extract. 100% Nebbiolo from the municipality of Castiglione Falletto. Estate Bottled in Castiglione 14% $38.99 at Bottle Barn Vietti
Braida Monferrato Rosso DOC Il Baciale 2005
Red and blackfruits, earthiness [...]

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Seghesio Alexander Valley Barbera 2006
Previous vintages with the broader Sonoma appellation showed the zip of Barbera with a richness to take Barbera beyond it’s workhorse role as a mere foil to fatty food. This latest offering repeats the style. The smell is exuding with oak, like a trip to the woodshed. There is a a [...]

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Montevina Amador County 2005
This has been a consistent good value in California Barbera, showing a light-bodied, fruit forward style. P&B in Plymouth 13.5% $7.49 at Bottle Barn Montevina
Michael & David 7 Deadly Zins Old Vine Zin 2006
This wine has been a consistent oak bomb on the soft and plush side. V&B in Graton. 14.5% $12.99 [...]

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D’Argenzio Sonoma Valley D’Alfonso Sangiovese 2005
I had an opportunity to taste this wine twice in the past 2 weeks, once at the sweeps round and again during the D’Arenzio Harvest Party at the winery on Cleveland Avenue. This wine sports fresh red fruits in a light-bodied package where the acidity is in balance and there [...]

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Michele Chiarlo Barbera d’Asti Superiore Le Orme DOC 2005
As we found with the 2003, the wine displays textbook acidity in a very light bodied package with a bit of earthiness and some tannin. This works as a budget Barbera though won’t delight very many people as it lacks concentration. 13% the 2003 was [...]

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Barbera can deliver berry flavor with the acidity to keep up with acidic dishes. This flight featured two examples from either side of the Atlantic. The first time the California offering was from Seghesio. Tonight we line-up a wine from Jeff Ruquist.
Andrea Oberto Barbera d’Alba DOC 2006
Recent bottles of this estate’s Dolcetto and [...]

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