Barbera d'Asti is produced in 118 communes in the province of Asti and in 50 in the province of Alessandria (part of the large Piedmont region of Italy). The wine is generally an intense ruby red when young, with a tendency to garnet with aging. It can be vinous and intense in odor and either dry or slightly sweet and full-bodied; with some minor aging, the flavor becomes fuller, more balanced and appealing.
Taste: This particular Barbera d'Asti was bright with superb acidity and relatively balanced fruit. Made from 100% Barbera, it showed a few rough edges, but still light tannins. It was a little closed but it's meant to be a young drinking wine (though many Piedmont wines are not). Piedmont wines like this Barbera d'Asti are so wonderful when fresh from a good maker. I just aerated it a bunch while tasting.
This is no small estate lot though. Michele Chiarlo produces 42,000 cases of this and for an excellent price. This is the best $10 bottle I've found in years. And with so many cases produced, you can find it, if not at your local wine shop, then online. I was pleasantly surprised overall. The flavor profile had some peppery notes with a predominance of tart unripe cherries. I also couldn't help noticing a Jolly Rancher grape flavor after the second glass. Oh well. After my first glass I took the rest over to our neighbors Mike and Rene to share the find. Now we have a light bodied inexpensive wine to stock up on.
Color: Ripe cherry juice
Nose: Fresh and lively, though no pronounced aromas.
Alcohol: 13%
Price: $10
Wine Spectator gave it 86 points and had this to say: "Plum skin and cherry aromas follow through to a medium-bodied palate, with good fruit and a citrus and strawberry aftertaste. Drink now."
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