Product Line
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Willie Smiths Pommeau de Tasmanie 18.2%Aged in small apple brandy casks for over 12 months, this rich and generous liqueur is a result of blending pressed French and British heirloom apple varieties with our apple spirit.
Complex and well-structured with baked apple and spice, balanced with firm tannins and cask influence.
Our take on the traditional aperitif from North-West France – enjoy as such or serve with blue cheese or dessert. WILLIE SMITH
NVCalvadosFrance$90.00 As low as $81.00 -
March Premium 6-pack 2021 - Italy: North vs SouthIt's a battle royal of North vs South for our second premium pack where the only winner is going to be you! From the warm southern coast to the rolling hills of the verdant north, Italy's multitude of breathtaking terroir and incredible indigenous varieties is one to impress.
This is an exciting little pack, something a little different with some cracking little wines brand new to the country, some Prince Wine Store classics and a couple of wines, we know, you will be happily and wonderfully surprised by.
From the north we start with one of the best new wines we have seen in a while. The Battiselle le Battiselle Soave is such a beautiful Soave. This is the second vintage of this to hit our shores and we missed the tiny allocation last time but certainly won't this time. You are in for a treat as we think this is one of best Soave's, if not, best white wine from Italy in some time.
Next up is the La Dama Vini Superiore. A nuanced and pretty style Valpolicella from a modern and thoughtful producer. Also relatively new to the country this see's the skins of the Amarone ferment added to the Valpolicella to add an extra depth and richness that you do not normally see from the Classico versions.
Last is the king of red wine in Italy and the Mauro Veglio Barolo Gattera. Both the vineyard and the vintage favour this release with so much immediate appeal straight our of the gate. Veglio is turning back the use of oak and we are reaping the benefits for the change in tack. All the generosity is still there of the house style but with even more clarity and verve.
From the south we start with the Petila Greco di Tufo. This is another family estate that has only relatively recently started to bottle under their own label. This come from an elevated plot of old vines and see's some extended ageing and subtle barrel work. The zingy greco grape keeps it liveliness while the extra time in bottle has built and layered the wine.
We would be hard pressed not to include an Etna Rosso in the pack and we are so lucky that our choices here in Aus are so exceptional. Giuseppe Tornatore spent much of the early 2000s sourcing some of the regions best plots which has proved to be an insightful move with, now some of the most highly sought after vineyards in his holding and what seems like an unstoppable thirst for his wines.
The last wine of the list is a real treat and was such a surprise for us in a recent tasting. This hails from foothills of Mt Vesuvias and in fact the vineyards overlook the famous ruins of Pompei. Unsurprisingly the wine reflects in origins and is an intriguing blend of piedirosso and aglianico that greets you with its smokey and charred fruit overlayed with dried and broody fruits.
$270.00 Regular Price $350.00 -
Rizzi Barbera d'Alba 2020Ripe, plummy fruits leap from the glass followed up by violets, dried rose, gravel and something that reminds me of the perfect Sunday lamb roast. Yum. This is unctuous, round and ripe at first but just when it's needed that tart Barbera acidity comes to the rescue, freshening the palate and propelling the wine forward revealing a lovely mineral tingle and foundation of ripe tannin in its wake. This is very appealing and even more so when you see the price tag. ALEX DOBSON
2020BarberaItaly457$41.00 As low as $36.90 -
Gianfranco Alessandria Barbera d'Alba Vittoria 2019Showing more oak rendering and depth, the 2019 Barbera d'Alba Vittoria (with 4,500 bottles made) exhibits a much bigger and broader style compared to the estate's steel-aged Barbera. This wine sees 18 months in barrique, with about one-third new oak. The aging process serves to flesh out the dark fruit, dark cherry and plum. It creates a wine of bigger structure too, opening it up to more food-pairing possibilities, from meat lasagna to grilled steak. MONICA LARNER2019BarberaItaly457$75.00 As low as $67.50 -
Margan Breaking Ground Rosato 2022More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2022Barbera, Merlot, Pinot GrisAustralia407$30.00 As low as $27.00 -
Famiglia Statella Pettinociarelle Etna Rosso 2019The attractive red-plum and cherry nose pulls you into this generous and fresh Etna red. Beautiful balance of ripe fruit and polished tannins. Moderately dry, mineral finish. JAMES SUCKLING2019Nerello MascaleseItaly482$100.00 As low as $90.00 -
Hobo Wine Camp Folk Machine Parts and Labour Red 2022This is the second vintage that Grenache has dominated the P&L blend. The 2022 is a blend of Grenache from Mangels Ranch in Suisun Valley, Cedar Lane in Arroyo Seco, and Waddington Ranch in Mendocino, Carignane from Lolonis, Maria Martinson, and Castañon all in Mendocino, and Syrah from Vecino in Potter Valley. There is a good amount of whole cluster and carbonic maceration through the lots keeping everything fresh and fun. As always, the blend was made immediately after harvest and the wine was aged in a combination of French oak foudres and stainless steel tanks.
Oh yum! This is such a joy to drink. A cracking drop here from the legend that is Kenny likitprakong of Hobo. He was telling us that this was his house wine. The one that he has cases of to rip the corks off when mates come round, the BBQ fires up and a long warm weekend is about a kick off and we can see why. This is hard to put down once it's in your glass.
It's all about the red fruits here with fresh picked red cherry and raspberry all vying for position at the front of the pack. Some pretty violet notes swirl around and as this opens up some savoury whole black peppercorn and foresty bits make themselves heard. Its lithe and fresh bursting onto the palate with that core of red berry fruit. Clean and pure just sizzling with energy. A joy to drink and would happily take a brief chill if you were so inclined.
2022Barbera, Carignan, Grenache, shirazUSA362$46.00 As low as $43.00 -
Correggia Barbera Bricco Marun 2019This is a classy single vineyard barbera. From 45-65 year old densely planted vines, the Marun was the brainchild of Matteo Correggia. He sourced fruit from sandy soils at the top of the hill with a sunny exposition and good air flow to stifle vine disease.
The 2019 Barbera d'Alba Superiore Marun is packed with scents of blackberry, underbrush, mocha, licorice, leather and cloves. There's plenty of density and volume, and yet forward aromas and flavors lead me to believe the 2019 is best enjoyed sooner rather than later. ANTONIO GALLONI2019BarberaItaly457$69.00 As low as $62.10 -
Diego & Damiano Barale Barbera 2021More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2021BarberaItaly457$56.00 As low as $50.40 -
Petilia Greco di Tufo 2022Petilia's story is woven into the very fabric of Greco di Tufo and this wine encapsulate brilliantly what these wines can be when this variety and place come together under the watchful eye of a producer of this calibre. Drink this with abandon, enjoy it with a wide range of fare, it's freshness and structure give it a wide zone to play in.
Very cool wine. Almond oil and citrus pith on the nose slowly open to reveal orange blossom, green mandarin and saline notes. Some lovely phenolic grip add texture webbing the pristine fruits on the palate together nicely. It starts tangy and fresh with an array of citrus interspersed with rocky notes and green apple fruit. Super refreshing with a long palate that sizzles along to a long supple close.
2022GrecoItaly363$35.00 As low as $31.50 -
Petilia Quattro Venti Greco di Tufo Riserva 2020Quite a different beast to the 'entry' Greco offering. There's a palpable intensity, structure and savouriness to the wine. Peach, lemon curd and a refreshing saline grapefruit acidity all in the mix along with a little nutty nuance. The texture starts of creamy and round but is quickly usurped by a wall of drying, pithy tannin which draws everything in at the back leaving dry and lightly bitter, pleasing finish. This is a distinctive wine built to be consumed with food to see it at its best. Idiosyncratic and intriguing in the best way. ALEX DOBSON, PWS
Showing Greco di Tufo’s serious, sophisticated side, this has discreet aromas suggesting stone fruit, lychee and Spanish broom. Linear and polished, the elegant palate offers white peach, pear and Myer lemon before finishing on hints of white almond and acacia honey. It’s bright, with fresh acidity while a saline finish keeps it savory. KERIN O'KEEFE2020GrecoItaly363$57.00 As low as $51.30 -
Marchesi Alfieri La Tota Barbera d'Asti 2021 (Screwcap)Voluptuous black fruits on the nose, blackberries with intense plums and dark cherry. Broad and fleshy with good weight of fruit and concentration. Candied cherry and good structure with grip and bite. Solid richness on the moderate finish. DECANTER
Dark chocolate, black cherries and poached plums on the nose, with a kiss of tobacco and clove. It’s full-bodied, balanced by lively acidity, with fine and polished tannins. Drink or hold. JAMES SUCKLLING2021BarberaItaly457$47.00 As low as $42.30 -
Pietracupa Greco di Tufo 2021More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2021GrecoItaly363$89.00 As low as $80.10 -
Tornatore Etna Trimarischa 2017More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2019Nerello MascaleseItaly482$110.00 As low as $99.00 -
Passopisciaro Passorosso Etna Rosso 2016Raspberry, cherry, light spice and smokiness, almond, floral prettiniess this vintage too. Bright red fruits, firm, brick dust tannin, very ‘mineral’ and stony, slip of orange peel and dried herb on the finish. It’s a complete iteration of Passorosso with weight of fruit, freshness and perfume all in the mix. Splendid (95) GARY WALSH, The Wine Front
Woodland berry, smoke, wild rose and Mediterranean scrub lead the way on this vibrant red. Racy and succulent, the savory, focused palate delivers juicy strawberry, red cherry, star anise and chopped herb alongside polished tannins and bright acidity. A saline note gives it a tangy finish KERIN O’KEEFFE, Wine Enthusiast2016Nerello MascaleseItaly482$220.00 As low as $198.00 -
Albino Rocca Barbera d'Alba 2022The 2022 Barbera d'Alba is another delicious entry-level wine from Albino Rocca. It captures notable freshness and energy. Dark red cherry/plum fruit, spice, leather and blood orange and all dialed up. Vinification and aging in steel keeps the flavors vibrant. ANTONIO GALLONI, Vinous2023BarberaItaly457$46.00 As low as $41.40 -
Albino Rocca Barbaresco Ronchi 2020The 2020 Barbaresco Ronchi stands out in this range for its breadth and textural resonance. There's gorgeous palate presence. Sweet red plum, blood orange, spice, new leather and incense ?ll out the layers. It’s a compelling wine in every way, and one that handles its alcohol quite well. (95) ANTONIO GALLONI, Vinous
This is red-fruited and floral with citrus peel, rose petals and some undergrowth notes. Medium-bodied, polished and delicate with fine tannins and fresh cherry-fruit in the middle. Very attractive.
(93) JAMES SUCKLING, jamessuckling.com2021BarberaItaly457Special Price $119.00 Regular Price $140.00 -
Albino Rocca Barbaresco Montersino 2020The 2020 Barbaresco Montersino is intensely ?oral and savory, re?ecting a slightly higher position on the slope in a cool site. Dried herbs, tobacco, cedar, spice and earthy tones lend character. There is plenty of complexity and nuance here, and certainly more than enough depth to balance the tannins. This is a ?ne vintage for the Montersino. (93) ANTONIO GALLONI, Vinous
Attractive aromas of red berries like raspberries and strawberries with hints of dried herbs, walnuts and bark. Medium-bodied, juicy and bright with fine, velvety tannins that are firm and grippy. Lingering finish. Very fine. (94) JAMES SUCKLING, jamessuckling.com2021BarberaItaly457Special Price $104.00 Regular Price $123.00 -
Albino Rocca Barbaresco Angelo 2020The 2020 Barbaresco Angelo is an exotic wine. Macerated cherry, white ?owers, apricot and spice are some of the many notes that grace this sensual, super-expressive Barbaresco. Fine tannins wrap it all together while lifted ?oral accents frame the ?nish. The Angelo is beautifully done. (94) ANTONIO GALLONI, Vinous
Angelo is a small blend of fruit from selected parcels across the estate. It was given a lunga macerazione (50 days on skins using a submerged cap) in a specially designed large-format wooden Stockinger fermenter. The wine was then aged for 24 months in a 2,000-litre cask. The blend is typically 50% Ronchi, 25% Ovello and 25% Montersino. Galloni has described it as a “Brunate of Barbaresco”, which gives you some insight into the quality on offer here.2021BarberaItaly457Special Price $204.00 Regular Price $240.00 -
Diego & Damiano Barale Barbera 2022Sourced exclusively from the Barolo San Giovanni Cru in Monforte d'Alba
Distinctly ripe with plenty of charm and appeal, this is what Barbera is all about. The acidity is bright and that is reflected in the fruit through the tartness that snaps its way across the palate while the more obviously ripe and well rounded fruit follows up with admirable depth and plenty of spice inflected plum, orange zest and a bright, long, primarily red fruited finish that carries a light mineral flair and a faint hint of scorched earth. Plenty of potential here, this is a very classical styling that really screams out for food. Your ideal partner for a lot of meals and with more than enough going on to keep the geeks interested too. NICE! ROSCOE2022BarberaItaly457$59.00 As low as $53.10 -
Marchesi Alfieri La Tota Barbera d'Asti 2022 (Screwcap)Morello cherries, fresh bouquets and a touch of geraniums. Creamy tannins on the palate, with fleshy cherries and plums. Juicy, brambly and pristine medium-length finish. Drink now. ZEKUN SHUAI. James Suckling2022BarberaItaly457$47.00 As low as $42.30 -
Marchesi Alfieri La Tota Barbera d'Asti 2022 1500mlMorello cherries, fresh bouquets and a touch of geraniums. Creamy tannins on the palate, with fleshy cherries and plums. Juicy, brambly and pristine medium-length finish. Drink now. ZEKUN SHUAI, jamessuckling.com2022BarberaItaly457$110.00 As low as $99.00 -
Albino Rocca Barbera d'Alba Superiore Gepin 2020The 2020 Barbera d'Alba Superiore Gepin is deep, flavorful with tons of character. It emerges from the Cottà cru, where the wines are naturally rich and creamy. Black cherry, plum, chocolate, leather and incense all open nicely. A year of aging in cask adds structure. What I like most about the 2020 is the combination of fruit intensity and depth, but in the restrained, classic style that is the norm here these days. ANTONIO GALLONI, Vinous
The name of this wine is taken from the previous farmer. Gepin tended these old parcels of Barbera in the great crus of Ronchi (Barbaresco) and Cottà (Neive), planted between 1950 and 1974.This wine has improved out of sight in recent vintages (in part thanks to enhanced barrel integration) and has now become a regular in our portfolio. Where the classic Barbera is raised in tank, the Gepin matures for 12 months in low-impact, large Austrian casks (from you know who) and is bottled unfiltered
2020BarberaItaly457Special Price $52.00 Regular Price $62.00 -
Conterno Fantino Barbera d'Alba Vignota 2021The 2021 Barbera d'Alba Vignota is a tasty entry-level offering. Crushed flowers and bright red/purplish fruit give the Barbera its effusive, charming personality. This mid-weight, open-knit Barbera is a fine choice for near-term drinking. ANTONIO GALLONI, Vinous
Notes of ripe dark cherries and blueberries with hints of cloves, dark licorice and cocoa beans. Medium body. Juicy and vibrant with dusty tannins and a succulent finish. Drink now. JAMES SUCKLING2021BarberaItaly457$67.00 As low as $60.30 -
Fratelli Revello Barbera d’Alba 2022From vineyards located in Annunziata, measuring 1.8 ha, facing east, at 270 metres above sea level, and west, at 240 metres above sea level. Roto fermenters and all steel tank with about 8-10 days skin contact.2022BarberaItaly457$55.00 As low as $49.50 -
Giacomo Fenocchio Barbera d'Alba Superiore 2022From about westerly exposed sight all in Monforted d'Alba from 30 year old vines and 300 meters above sea level. 10 days on skins in stainless steel tanks with 6 months in stainless steel tanks followed by six months in large Slavonian oak barrels2022BarberaItaly457$68.00 As low as $61.20 -
Benanti Etna Rosso 2022The 2022 Etna Rosso wafts up with a perfumed blend of rosy florals and hints of juniper berry. This is vividly fruit-focused, with a wave of ripe wild berries and sweet spices that flow across a stream of brisk acidity. It leaves a staining of primary concentration and mildly grippy tannins to resonate as violet inner florals slowly fade. While more extroverted than expected, the 2022 is a total pleasure to taste and maintains fantastic balance. ERIC GUIDO, Vinous2022Nerello MascaleseItaly482$59.00 As low as $53.10 -
Benanti Contrada Cavaliere Etna Rosso 2022More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2022Nerello MascaleseItaly482$120.00 As low as $108.00 -
Benanti Serra della Contessa Riserva 2019More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2019Nerello MascaleseItaly482$295.00 As low as $265.50 -
Benanti Rovittello Riserva 2019More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2019Nerello MascaleseItaly482$295.00 As low as $265.50 -
Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Rosso San Lorenzo 2022More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2022Nerello MascaleseItaly482$180.00 As low as $162.00 -
Petilia Greco di Tufo 2023Honey, aniseed, dried herbs, almond, pink grapefruit and green pear. It’s juicy, but kind of saline, tight and flecked with a fennel and herb perfume, a bit of chalky texture with some grip and energy on a finish of good length and some lemon rind. I like this. Lots of character. GARY WALSH, the wine front
Introspective and intriguing. Baked ruby quinces. Grapefruit G&T. A burst of freshness finds its end in a pithy grip. ALEX DOBSON , PWS
2023GrecoItaly363$35.00 As low as $31.50 -
Paitin ‘Bonina’ Freisa Paitin 2020This is a bit of a banger. Raspberry, almond paste, dried roses, a fair bit of white pepper and spice, aniseed too. It’s medium-bodied, frisky and fresh, plenty of red fruits, dried herb, a ‘mineral’ feel to it, not least with regards to acidity, peppery tannin, lots of energy, also kind of earthy and gravelly too, with a brisk finish of excellent length. GARY WALSH, The Wine Front
The 2020 Freisa Bonina is another fabulous wine in the entry-level portion of the range. Bright and translucent, the 2020 delivers striking complexity and nuance. Rose petal, lavender, spice, mint and dried herbs all open in the glass. The 2020 is translucent, bright and wonderfully expressive. For readers who want to explore Freisa, this is certainly a great start. ANOTONIO GALLONI,Vinous
2020BarberaItaly457$63.00 As low as $56.70 -
Mastroberardino Lacryma Cristi Vesuvio Bianco 2020More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2020GrecoItaly363$37.00 As low as $33.30 -
Caggiano Fiagre Bianco 2022More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2022Fiano, GrecoItaly363$51.00 As low as $45.90 -
Tenuta Russobruno Greco di Tufo 2022More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2022GrecoItaly363$45.00 As low as $40.50 -
Cantina Giardino Paski 2021More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2021GrecoItaly$75.00 As low as $67.50 -
Cantina Giardino Tu Tu Fiano 2021More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2021GrecoItaly$80.00 As low as $72.00 -
Pietradolce Etna Rosso Santo Spirito 2020Remarkably pretty, the 2020 Etna Rosso Santo Spirito wafts up with a lifted blend of black cherries and dried strawberries, complemented by hints of clove and allspice. It's soothingly round, with pretty red berry fruits motivated by vibrant acidity as rosy inner florals and licorice tones form toward the close. This tapers off with a classic tannic grip, maintaining fantastic freshness. The 2020 possesses a lovely balance that will carry it through its long and broad drinking window. ERIC GUIDO, Vinous.com
2020Nerello MascaleseItaly482$120.00 As low as $108.00 -
Pietradolce Etna Rosso Archineri 2020Earthy, dark and brooding, the 2020 Etna Rosso Archineri grumbles up with a youthfully backward bouquet of ashen stones, grilled herbs and dried berries. It's silky smooth, with ripe wild berry fruits offset by hints of blood orange. A saline core of minerality saturates toward the close. This leaves the palate reeling with residual tension. Brisk acidity peppers the senses and fine tannins penetrate deeply, making for a dramatically long, structured and intense finale. ERIC GUIDO, Vinous.com2020Nerello MascaleseItaly482$120.00 As low as $108.00 -
Pietradolce Etna Rosso Feudo di Mezzo 2020Dusty, floral and slightly spicy, the 2020 Etna Rosso Feudo di Mezzo entices from the first tilt of the glass. It floods the palate with textures of pure silk, complicated by tactile mineral tones and brisk acidity as crunchy red berry fruits cascade throughout. A tart cranberry crunchiness takes hold through the structured finale as violet inner florals slowly fade. This is a simply stunning rendition of Feudo di Mezzo. Bravo. ERIC GUIDO, Vinous.com2020Nerello MascaleseItaly482$120.00 As low as $108.00 -
Pietradolce Etna Rosso Rampante 2020Hauntingly dark and floral, the 2020 Eina Rosso Rampante smolders up with an array of dusty violets, lavender, cloves and earth tones before giving way to musky black currants. This is sleek and cool toned in feel, showing its crisp minerality up front as tart wild berry fruits emerge over a core of sour citrus and spice. Structured and long yet still remarkably fresh, the 2020 finishes with dramatic length and concentration, leaving a hint of licorice and saline minerals that pinch at the cheeks. Patience will be required for this strapping Etna Rosso to come to full maturity. ERIC GUIDO, Vinous.com
2020Nerello MascaleseItaly482$120.00 As low as $108.00 -
Luciano Sandrone Barbera d'Alba 2022Blueberry, raspberry and oak-driven spice aromas come to the forefront on the deeply colored, fragrant 2022 Barbera d’Alba from Sandrone. The aromas march over to the generous, savory palate along with ripe plum and ground pepper supported by tightly knit, velvety tannins and surprisingly fresh acidity for the dry, scorching year. Drink 2025–2032. KERIN O'KEEFE2022BarberaItaly457$83.00 As low as $74.70
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Albino Rocca Barbera d'Alba 2023The lion’s share of this small-volume cuvée is drawn from a single parcel of vines planted in 2004 in the clay and limestone soils of San Rocco Seno d'Elvio—just outside the Alba township, on the edge of the Barbaresco area. More recently, a parcel of 20-year-old Barbera from Castagnito, on the opposite side of the Tanaro River, has joined the party. The resulting wine, raised entirely in tank, is bursting with juicy red and blue fruit and crushed-flower flavours framed by light-footed tannins and balancing acidity.2022BarberaItaly457Special Price $35.00 Regular Price $42.00
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Cavallotto Barbera d'Alba Vigna Cucolo 2021
Cavallotto’s Vigna del Cuculo is a major-league Barbera from a parcel of 50-plus-year-old vines on the western side of Bricco Boschis. This parcel is named after the cuckoo bird (cuculo)—we’re not sure why, and neither is Alfio Cavallotto! This wine's unique power and ridiculous quality can be attributed to the mature vines, low yields and powerful terroir of the Bricco Boschis. The western aspect and the preponderance of limestone temper Barbera’s natural acidity, and Alfio Cavallotto explains that this ‘Barolo’ terroir contributes to an aromatic range in Barbera that is closer to Nebbiolo.
The winemaking is also distinctive, with up to 18 days on skins (a long time for Barbera) and then aging for 20 months in the same mature Slavonian casks as the Nebbiolo wines. 2021 is a wonderfully fleshy and perfumed year for this benchmark wine. It’s got that core of pure, sweet, plummy fruit so particular to this Barbera, here infused with nuances of anise, dried flower and earthy minerals. The tannins are supple and elegant, the acidity ripe yet racy, and the wine finishes with unusual depth, finesse and complexity for the variety. Equally deep, complex and textural—not all Barbera is created equal.
2021BarberaItaly457Special Price $84.00 Regular Price $99.00 -
Lalu Langhe Barbera d'Alba 2021Organic. Lalù’s Barbera from fruit purchased from Monforte’s San Sebastiano—a site that Lara Rocchetti and Luisa Sala believe is exceptional for this variety. Made with a third each of whole-berry (Leroy style), whole-bunch and destemmed fruit, the wine fermented and was raised entirely in concrete, where it aged for eight months. Lalù’s is a radiant, linear, focused Barbera that wafts from the glass with shades of fresh red fruit, woody herbs and floral lift. The palate is silky and vibrant with depth and texture, and while it delivers a serious dose of fruit, you’ll find plenty of finesse and mineral freshness, too. A lovely, new-wave Barbera.2021BarberaItaly457Special Price $62.00 Regular Price $74.00
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Lalu Langhe Barbera d'Alba 2022
Organic. Lalù’s Barbera just gets better. The new release is the first to include fruit from the new estate vineyard of Bricco Giubellini in Monforte. The vines here lie on Diano sandstone at a lofty 530 metres, an altitude that brings welcome freshness to warmer Piemonte vintages such as 2022 and 2023. The balance of the Barbera is drawn from fruit purchased from Monforte’s San Sebastiano—another site Lara Rocchetti and Luisa Sala believe exceptional for this variety.
Made with a mix of whole berries and bunches, the wine fermented and matured for eight months entirely in concrete. It’s a more powerful, sensual release than last year, still perfumed and vibrant yet more textural. The wine slinks out of the glass with pure red berries, violets and brown spices before turning towards more earthy shades of liquorice and woody herbs. The palate has joyous purity as well as a lovely mouthwatering quality from both the powdery tannins and the variety’s bright acidity while also hinting at Lalù’s light touch in the cellar. A first-class artisanal Barbera here.
2022BarberaItaly457Special Price $62.00 Regular Price $74.00 -
Piero Busso Barbera d'Alba Majano 2020
The domaine crafts two Barbara wines, both sitting at what we could call ‘the serious end’ of the Barbera spectrum. In a Bibendum setting, this means closer in style to the structured, ageworthy style of Cavallotto, rather than, say, the approachable and seductive character of Sandrone or Massolino. This wine is the more fruit-forward of the two and is drawn from the Majano vineyard in Neive, sitting at 190 metres on sandy clay. The oldest vines here have reached 50 years of age, bringing uncommon depth and vinosity. The wine was matured in stainless steel for 12 months before bottling.
This is superb; bloody and ferrous yet with lovely florals and a pure, dark cherry core. It immediately speaks as to why we love this producer. There’s depth yet great finesse and it’s loaded with character.
2021BarberaItaly457Special Price $52.00 Regular Price $62.00