Friday, January 31, 2014

Vietti Tre Vigne Barbera d'Asti, 2010

As a top-notch Barbera d'Asti, this is a good wine to try beside the Franco Serra Barbaresco (below). Barbera has a similar profile to Nebbiolo--cherries, flowers and a hint of licorice. Both Barbera and Nebbiolo are high acid, but Barbera has very little tannin and the fruit is right up front from the beginning.

Even darker in color compared to the Barbaresco. And the smells and flavors are even more striking, although not as complex. Not a simple wine, though. Reminds me a lot of a Pinot Noir from the foggy North Coast of California. The dryness that became apparent with the Barbaresco late in the meal never appears with this Barbera. But the flavors never approach the complexity of that wine.

The Tre Vigne sells for $10 a glass at Zazio's, $14.99 a bottle at Bacchus. It too is an excellent value.

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