Vietti - Barbera d'Asti Tre Vigne 2022
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Twenty-five years ago, I was living in Richmond, VA, working in the hottest kitchen in town. On my one day off a week, Sunday, there weren't a whole lot of dinner options. But, thanks to a chummy relationship between owners, there was always a seat at this killer Italian restaurant. A real trattoria, the menu was on a chalkboard, subject to change as the night wore on. Wine was served in juice glasses – pour a couple of ounces, slug it, then pour some more! Not a thing pretentious about the place. And the food… oh, my… the food… unbelievable.
For me, this is the image forever ingrained about how Italian wine should be drunk! “Table” wine for sure – as in one bottle for each person at the table!
And for me, no other Italian wine captures the spirit and the essence of this experience more than Barbera. Simple, straightforward, pop and pour, loaded with fruit and bright acidity – I’ll even break out the juice glasses!
Of course, my tolerance for plonk has disappeared, so I am forever in search of a Barbera that lives up to my standards – I want “trattoria” wine pricing, but white table cloth quality!
Which brings me to… dug... arguably the standard-bearer for the grape!
100% Barbera aged in large, neutral (in imparting flavor) oak barrels and tanks, the wine is meant to be straightforward and simple. Now, don’t mistake that for a lack of complexity or depth. No sir. Because this baby packs in a ton of flavors for such a workhorse wine! That’s because Vietti sources from three vineyards (Tre Vigne), in cluding their famed La Crena, source for their $40 single-vineyard offering.
With vines ranging from 35 to 90 years old, Vietti is able to draw upon different flavor profiles – from the dense, rich, structured La Crena to the fruitier, higher acid younger vines. The result is a wine offering deep concentration and richness, thanks to the warm 2017 growing season, that is balanced by freshness and verve. Aromas of cherries and warming spices burst forth from the glass, offering flavors of the same, finishing dry and full, redolent of fresh cherries.
The winery suggests pairing with “antipasti, rich salads, grilled seasoned vegetables, hearty soups, pasta, pork, chicken with light sauces.” Yep, pretty much anything will work here. And you will be in heaven. Now, where did I put those juice glasses.
Vintages and ratings subject to change at any time.
All pricing and availability subject to change.
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