Life is too short to drink bad wine

Conterno is well known family name in Piemonte. Franco Conterno, however, is a "manager" that is new to me but having tried this Barbera several times lately I know I need to try more of his wines. There are many Barbera on the market but this must surely be one of the best in the ordinary price range. Complex smell of red fruit, dark cherries, spices and hint of chocolate. The taste is very smooth and fruity with a beautiful balance. The acidity is perhaps on the low side for being Barbera. The grapes have been destemmded and spent some time in 225l oak before bottling. The wine will go with many different dishes. Barbera d'Alba Superiore 2015 Franco Conterno Ca 14€ or 200 NOK

There are many different Barberas around some from Alba and some from Asti. Asti claims the best Barbera come from their district as they use the best plots to grow the Barbera grape. Vietti produce from both areas and this one from Asti is certainly very good. Here is their description of the wine: Grapes:  100% Barbera Winemaking:  from La Crena region, located in the village of Agliano Terme with an average density per hectare of 4800 plants. The oldest part of the vineyard has been planted in 1932 in a loam-clay type of soil, with a southern exposure. The total surface is about 6 hectares. Fermentation lasts around couple of weeks in open-top stainless steel, with mechanical punching downs, délestage and many open-air pumping overs. After this, the wine macerates for another week, then it is racked and it is moved to oak for malolactic. Aging:  Barriques, big oak vats and steel tanks for approximately 18 months.  Description:  Rich ruby color wi...

There are many different Barbera on the market. These are normally easy drinking wines. The cheapest ones are quite basic while the more expensive ones are normally more complex. The two main areas are Barbera d'Alba and Barbera d'Asti. Normally the difference between the two are tricky to discover but I have been positively surprised by the wines from the Asti region lately. This single plot Barbera from Agliano Terma caught my eye at a tasting at Vietti. It must be one of the best Barberas I have ever tried. The oldest part of the La  Arena   vineyard was planted in 1932 in a loam-clay type of soil, with a southern exposure. The total surface is about 6 hectares. Fermentation lasts around couple of weeks in open-top stainless steel, with mechanical punching downs, délestage and many open-air pumping overs. After this, the wine macerates for another week, then it is racked and it is moved to oak for malolactic. The wine is aged in b arriques, big oak vats and steel t...

Barbera is a very user friendly grape variety. It can go with many dishes due to its low tannin level and pleasant acidity. Barbera has quite often a very dark purple red colour which is very pleasant to observe. The nose is filled with ripe red and dark fruit, cherries and some herbs. On the palate it is full bodied with lots of fruit and also delightfully refreshing acidity and some very soft tannins as well. Many producers from Asti claim that their Barbera is better than those from Alba as the Barbera in Asti are grown on the best plots while in Alba they grow Nebbiolo on the best plots. Food for thoughts at least and I must say that I have many times been very pleasantly surprised by the quality of the Barbera from Asti, this one being no exception. Barbera d'Asti 2014 La Vigna Vecchia Cossetti Clement&Figli Ca 15€ or 180 NOK

This is just a wonderful complex and drinkable Barbara d'Alba by Bruno Giacosa. Not the most reasonable one but certainly an example of how good a Barbara can be. Dark red purple colour. Wonderful and complex nose of dark fruit, chocolate, plum. Big juicy long and perfectly balanced taste with soft tannins and great finish. Just love it! Barbera d'Alba 2015 Bruno Giacosa Ca 20€ or 290NOK

There are many different Barbera d'Alba around. Many are easy drinking reds for lunch with some pizza or pasta and without too much complexity. But then there are some that have something extra both in terms of quality and also price admittedly. Sandrone is perfectionist and his Barbera delivers super quality every year. One of the features with Barbera is the deep dark red colour and the purple rim. The nose is dominated by dark cherries with hints of wood, chocolate and almonds. Perfectly balanced taste with plenty of body, fruit and acidity. Another feature with Barbera is the lack of tannins, if ever present, they are soft and well integrated into the long delicious aftertaste. Barbera d'Alba 2012 Sandrone Ca 25€ or 290NOK

There are some Barbera better than others and this one by Pelissero is one of the top class Barbera around. Barbera is recognized by it's deep red purple colour and the same goes for this Piani from 2012. The nose is quite intense with lots of dark fruit, plum and beet root . The taste is juicy with lots of fruit and a great acidity. Some tannins in the aftertaste which is of the smooth kind. Barbera d'Alba 2012 Piani Pelissero Ca 15€ or 220kr

This is just a super lovely wine based on 100% Barbera. There are a lot of various Barbera around which are mostly cheap and easy drinking wines, but which do not talk to you. This one talks to you and that is thanks to the winemaking of Sandrone. Dense dark colour with a lovely purple rim. Big and wonderful aromas of dark cherries, dark fruit, plums and chocolate. Great smooth solid taste with a big structure and mouthful. Lovely balance and acidity. This is good, very good indeed and probably one of the world's best Barbera's. Ca 300 NOK or 25€ Vinous (Galloni): 90 points! "Sandrone's 2012 Barbera d'Alba is all about polish and refinement. Dark red and black stone fruit, spices, leather and menthol meld together in a supple, silky Barbera built on pure texture. Over the last few years Sandrone has lowered the percentage of new oak and reduced toast levels considerably."!

Scarpa is one of the top producers in Piemonte and this Barbera that he makes is one of the most complex Barbera that exists.  Barbera is a juicy and not very complicated wine that is perfect for every day consumption as well as a lunch wine.  The wine has a dark cherry  like colour with a nose of plum, red fruit and hint of chocolate. The taste is full bodied with ripe tannins and a very nice balance.  It is perhaps a bit low in acidity but that can just be a vintage variation. Try with with pasta, cheese and tapas.

Wine # 1 Medium purple coloured wine with purple rim. Somewhat closed on the nose, but with some notes of red fruit and hints of spices and chocolate. Very juicy and fruity taste and virtually tannin free taste. The acidity is not overwhelming, but still very much present. A decent wine for every day drinking. Panel somewhat lost between Pinot Noir and Sangiovese with Barbera discarded due to lack of colour. Barbera d'Alba 2012 Bruno Giacosa Score 15.90 Ca 250 NOK Wine # 2 Medium red colour with a red rim. Massive and impressive nose of flowers, dark fruit, spices, tar and licorice. The taste is really demanding and the wine certainly require food to blossom. An enormous acidity and also firm tannins that play together quite well at this stage. Definitely a Nebbiolo. Oops wrong again as it is 100% Aglianico from Taurasi in south Italy. Massive wine. Radici Taurasi 2006 Score 17.60 Ca 330 NOK Wine # 3 Very similar to the wine number two which again le...

The first wine at Michele Chiarlo had a deep purple colour with violet reflections. An elegant pronounced smell of red berries, cherry and chocolate.  Very attractive indeed. A fruity and well balanced taste without too much acidity. Barbera d'Asti "Le Orme" 2011 M Chiarlo, 10€ A bargain Goes with meat and white fish