Saturday, April 9, 2011

Macchia "Delicious" Barbera 2009

Macchia is a winery that seems to specialize in BIG wines, mainly from the Lodi area. So far, I've had two of their zins, and a wonderful Sangiovese. Tonight I tried their Barbera. As might be expected, it was a great match for the lasagna I had for dinner. But unlike many Italian Barberas, it also drinks very well on its own. Weighing in at 15.4% abv, this is a true California wine, with rich body and a silky smooth texture.
On the nose, it presents a lot of tart cherry, blackberry, and spice, with slight notes of tar. On the palate, it is almost explosive; while there are hints of cherry, most of the fruit flavor is dark berries, but there is also a nice structure of earthy flavors, with tobacco and coffee being the main components. While not as dry as many Italian versions of the wine, it is still a dry wine, with plenty of acidity to stand up to a hearty meal.

This wine is a real delight to drink, and at $20, it's a great choice for making an Italian meal something special, or just to drink by itself; although I might have a slight preference for the Sangiovese.

Highly Recommended

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