Jay Kline

9.4

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of several hours. “Austri” from San Fereolo is a remarkable example of Barbera from an area in Piemonte most famous for wine made from the Dolcetto grape. The 2004 vintage pours a deep, garnet color moving towards a slightly orange rim with moderate staining of the tears. Medium+ viscosity with some light signs of sediment and light staining of the tears. The nose is nothing short of extraordinary. The wine is vinous with notes of black cherry, blackberry, spiced meat, mushrooms, saffron, dried green herbs, anise, conditioned leather, red and purple flowers, and crushed gravel. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium(-?) tannins and medium(+?) acid. Confirming the notes on the nose. The finish is forever long; tart and multi-layered. A wine of impeccable texture. Pure class and should be considered a benchmark. Drink now but well-stored bottles should have the legs to hang in there for at least another 3-5 years. — 23 days ago

John Howard

Harvest production at Hirsch and Cobb Wineries

9.1

Fresh mix of red and darker fruit. Tree bark. Great. — a month ago

Nate Chambers

9.5

Date night with Mel — a month ago

Adriana Fabbro

8.9

Gorgeous, polished, silky texture. Oaked (which gives it some mid palate weight) but not overly so. Cherry liqueur with some bay leaf on the finish. Finishes a tad hot and bitter. Barbera is just too light a variety. This is one of the better examples I’ve had and it still struggles to hold the higher alcohol levels (15% per the label—can that be right?) of Piemonte in these recent warm vintages.
— 19 days ago

John Osgood

9.1

Really nice — 8 days ago

with Matt

Cathy Levy

9.0

Cellar find… deep red fruit.
Drinking well in 2023. — a month ago

Keith M

9.1

開けたては少し硬い印象ながらも、醤油っぽい酸とバルベーラらしい乳酸を感じる果実。
数日後開いてくるとかなりエロティック。
すんごい華やかだったり、果実が増す訳ではないんだけど。
最近はモンフェラートあたりのバルベーラを飲むことが多かったが、久しぶりのアルバで、
久しぶりにバルベーラで大ヒット。 — 11 days ago

Ming L

9.0

A sumptuous rendition of Barbera. Dark fruits, mocha, dark chocolate, dried flowers, and light menthol. Richest palate I’ve came across of a Barbera. Tart acidity and firm tannins.
— 16 days ago

Chris Buggy

8.9

Some recent visitors to Piemonte suggested this one, did not disappoint. Nice fruit, good acidity…a wine for food — a month ago

with Jennifer

Philip Patston

9.0

Light fruity and enjoyable — 21 days ago