Freddy R. Troya

9.1

Macchia – “Delicious” Barbera – 2023
Heaven’s Vines, Lodi – USA 🇺🇸

Overview
100% Barbera from Lodi. an Italian indigenous grape known for its naturally high acidity, juicy fruit, and casual drinkability. Macchia Winery, celebrated for producing over 20 distinct styles of Zinfandel, also showcases its versatility with Italian varieties. Consistently recognized with domestic and international awards, the winery brings Barbera into the spotlight with this vibrant estate bottling.

Aromas & Flavors
Ripe red cherries, plum, blackberry compote, and a touch of vanilla and sweet spice. Fresh, fruity, and forward with that classic Barbera brightness.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with lively acidity and a smooth, easygoing finish. Juicy fruit drives the palate, making it approachable and highly sip-worthy.

Food Pairings
Perfect with pizza, pasta with tomato-based sauces, grilled sausages, roasted vegetables, or charcuterie. A true “any day, any time” red.

Verdict
A fun, approachable, and fruit-driven Barbera with Macchia’s signature Lodi generosity. Casual enough for weeknight sipping yet polished enough to show the quality behind this estate-grown wine.

Did You Know?
Barbera is one of Italy’s most widely planted red grapes, cherished for its fresh acidity and versatility. In California, Lodi’s warm days and cool delta breezes help the variety express generous fruit while maintaining balance. — 3 days ago

Shay A

9.2

I debated giving this a NR for its rating as this tastes like a wine that is made to taste a certain way rather than a wine made to express its region, but there is a tasty factor in play. Bordeaux blend. Michel Rolland consulted on the winemaking. 2nd vintage.

This is real suave and sexy in style, but I could see this being from a multitude of places. Ripe and decadent fruit that seems to just now be calming down 13yrs later. Mostly red and black fruits (black cherry compote), and cherry vanilla pipe tobacco both aromatically and on the palate. Stops short of being hedonistic, but the mid palate is dense. Finish brings some currant and herbal flair to tie back to Italy. Tannic but not a monster.

Decanted an hour and finished the next day, it didn’t experience much change. I’d consume these in the next 3-5yrs. — 3 years ago

Drew Schwartz

9.2

Supple, beautiful, slight chalky. Needs a bit more tile to express but a beautiful bottle. — 5 years ago

Eldon Sproule

10

So for those who don’t know, this wine is a collaboration between one of the most famous California winemakers and one of the most famous Bordeaux wine makers (the grapes are from Napa).

The young expression when I first had it 10 years ago was big bold ripe fruit, probably the quintessential Napa cab.

The aged expression had more secondary and tertiary characteristics, terroir, and represented Baron Rothschild in respects of crafting a wine that could grow and develop and express the care that goes into winemaking as opposed to simply growing good fruit.

The young version of it perfectly expresses Mondavi and Napa. The aged version captures the elegance of Bordeaux winemaking and Rothschild’s fingerprints. You cannot fully experience this wine unless you’ve had it young and old. Unbelievable experience tonight. — 3 months ago

Vanessa

9.1

This wine has a medium lemon hue with refreshing and zesty notes of lemon peel, grapefruit pith, and kumquat, alongside juicy peach, nectarine, yellow apple, chamomile, white blossom, chervil, saline, and wet stone characteristics. 

It carries a relative richness lending balance to the fresh primary and mineral notes with a fuller mouthfeel.

This wine is made exclusively from the Godello variety hailing from northwest Spain’s Bierzo appellation in the Castilla Y Leon region.
 
It was produced by Raul Perez, an acclaimed, small-batch winemaker whose practices have built a beautiful platform upon which the fruit and terroir may express themselves to the fullest and purest extent.
 
A delightful pairing with pan-seared halibut with roasted broccolini. Cheers!

Bodegas Raul Perez Ultreia La Claudina Godello 2019. ABV 13.5%. — 3 years ago

with Deked1

Andrea Wilson @farmforthesoul

9.4

No words can express how much we enjoyed this wine. Really something special! — 4 years ago

with Jeremy

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Nickel & Nickel exclusively produces 100% varietal, single-vineyard wines that express the distinctive personality of each vineyard. Established in 1997 by the partners of Far Niente. Medium lemon color with aromas of tropical and stone fruit with citrus and toasty oak notes. On the palate flavors of apple, pear and peach, lemon zest, vanilla oak and wet stone notes. Nice balance with tangy acidity on long finish ending with fruit, oak and rich minerality. Classic, very nice! — 10 months ago

Jason Keefer

8.9

For the Baixo Corgo version. Tastes like vacation in Portugal! Simple but delicious and affordable! A mix of fresh and stewed fruit with a slightly woodsy finish. — 2 years ago

with Natasha

Willie Carter

8.9

A really beautiful opaque crimson. Truly almost impenetrable. Definite signs of bricking but nothing to be concerned about. As expected, it’s more than a bit closed in upon opening and needs a few hours to express itself. Soft vanilla and violet aromas are coaxed from their shell. A little cherry rhubarb and burnt tobacco. Cinnamon and spice with dark chocolate. Leather and lace with an abundance of faded cherries. The earthy aromas are the star of the show here.

This obviously needs a lot of time decanting, as much time as you have to give it. Quite a bit of sediment in the bottle, but don’t let that stop you. There’s a lot of good to be had here. Some fruit remains on the palate but mostly delightful earth and spice. The acid remains and keeps things lively. The alcohol throws the balance out of whack a bit and there’s almost no tannic structure remaining but at the end of the day it’s still a fun, impressive wine. — 4 years ago

Michael B

9.0

Opened up after 2.5-3hrs. It’s quite young. Tart blackberry, and blueberry, hints of black cherry. Medium leather, graphite pencil, cocoa notes. Very tight tannins. Requires further maturing within the bottle to unleash the dark fruit notes and express the leathery earth quality. Score of 9 for future potential. 8.6 now, due to the restrained notes and restrictively tight tannin. — 5 years ago