Jody Scharf

9.2

enjoyable, effortless, silky...flows nicely — a month ago

Mark S.

9.0

sweet red flower. Spicy. Acidic. Dry. Plum. Tannin. Elio Altare Barbera d’Alba 23 @4972, AD, 250210,88
Deep cherry red still with violet. Vanilla. Rose, blueberry. Cherry Clove nutmeg. Fe blood. Leather. Fruitiness M+ Sweetness M Acidity M+++ Tannin M unexpectedly Soft Bitterness M Body M Finish M 14.5% Elegant Balanced Concentrated. Elio Altare Barbera d’Alba 23 @4972,AD, 250215-260308 — a year ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Served to me double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine appears a deep garnet color with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears and no signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with ripe bramble fruits: a mix of blackberries and raspberries with Morello cherry, roses, tar, talcum powder, dried herbs, and gravelly soil. On the palate, the wine is dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and delicious. Alcohol is medium+. Initial conclusions: this could be Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, Pinot Noir or Grenache from Italy or France. Because of the high tannin and talcum powder/tar/roses combo (and the utter lack of staining), my final conclusion is: Nebbiolo; from Italy; from Piemonte; Barolo…from Monforte d’Alba. I chose 2016 because it shows good great balance of structure and fruit. Ooooof…that was too close.

“La Villa” is Fratelli Seghesio’s most precious wine and until now, I can only ever recall drinking their Barolo “classico” and Barbera d’Alba and only on a few occasions. Believe it or not, “La Villa” is the oldest, single MGA bottling from any producer in Castelletto. The name “La Villa” is an old name for an area within Castelletto when it was once a commune all to itself. The distinguishing feature of “La Villa” is the eponymous ridge that runs perpendicular with Collaretto and Vigna Rionda to the east, across the stream of Talloria di Castiglione. The vines facing south are dedicated to their Nebbiolo while the vines facing north are predominately Barbera and Dolcetto. A very tasty Barolo. Drink now through 2035. — 2 years ago

Edo Wachters

9.3

The Mascarello ‘Scudetto’ Barbera d’Alba is dark and substantial, where cherries come out first on the palate followed by some chocolate and very soft tannines. Makes you want to go back for another sip. Really nice. — 4 months ago

Mark S.

8.9

Deep ruby red with violet. Fe, rose, raspberry, blueberry. Vanilla. Clove. Herbal. Matured Plum. Animal flavor. Complexity. 2nd day, it is stabilized. Elegant and good concentration. Fruitiness M Sweetness M Acidity M++ Tannin M++ Bitterness M Body M Finish M 14% Sorelle de Nicola Feyles Barbera D’Alba 19 @4356, AD, 250921-260125 — 8 months ago

Maddie Fromell

9.1

Better than the D’alba — a year ago

Mark Rosse

9.3

Fantastic Barbera d’Alba! — 2 years ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Fairly consistent throughout but better on Day 1 to my palate where the freshness carried the day. The 2022 “Vigna Santa Lucia” pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with wonderful notes of fig, plum, old attic, dried wildflowers, and organic, iron rich earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ with ferrous minerals. A positively lovely Barbara d’Alba that effortlessly draws one’s attention. Drink now through 2032. Thanks for the assist @Lyle Fass — 5 months ago

Shreya Murthy

9.6

bold dry a little spicy but still guzzle worthy. this is a review for the barbera d’alba — a year ago

Jay Kline

9.0

Popped and poured, Cappellano’s Barbera d’Alba “Classico” is actually sourced fruit from Roero. The 2021 pours a deep purple color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity and moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with mostly blue and black fruits, some purple flowers, and after an hour of air, a Maillard reaction character that gives a rather remarkable note of freshly burnt, buttered toast. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. A lovely Barbera that benefits from air but it should be stated that this is a very different wine from the “Vigna Gabutti” which, to my palate, is one of the greatest Barbera’s on the planet. Drink now with some patience and through 2031. — 2 years ago