A Tale of Two Barberas

I tried two inexpensive Barberas tonight that make me want to explore more of this food-friendly wine  variety.

The first, Castelvero Barbera 2006 Piemonte($12, Vias Imports, NY), is a fruit-forward, grapey wine that reminds me of Beaujolais Nouveau in weight, texture and almost flavor. While it seems simple, it has decent length and a hint of complexity that matches well with a tomatoey pasta sauce. Fun and delish.

The second wine was Produttori di Govone Barbera d’Alba Superiore ($14, Dionysus, Lorton VA). While a tad more expensive, it is more classic in its flavor profile. Deep in color and flavor, with a hint of mushroom and soy. And yet there’s a clear note of boysenberry on the gritty, tannic finish. This excellent wine will improve for the next 2-3 years, I’ll wager.