MUSCARDINI  
2015 Barbera, Pauli Ranch

92 Points, Gold Medal
- 2018 North Coast Wine Challenge

This week we were able to secure another allocation from the tiny production, and our friends over at Muscardini Cellars.  Muscardini makes small quantities of a variety of wines, some traditionally Californian like Zinfandel, and others, like today’s Barbera inspired by the wines of Italy.  Barbera is planted in many places in Italy, but is most well known for producing lighter, earlier drinking wines from Piedmont, to enjoy while waiting for Barolo and Barberesco to mature.  That being said, Barbera is capable of making extremely fine wines in its own right, especially when yields are kept low, as they are by Muscardini Cellars.  The result is a delicious wine perfect for winter drinking.

The 2015 Muscardini Pauli Ranch Barbera, sourced from the Ukiah Valley in Mendocino County, is light purple in color, with a ruby rim.  The nose shows exotic aromas of candied fruit and baked apple, and the palate is similar, showing cherry, ripe berries, and floral notes.  Great acidity and lively fresh fruit flavors make this an ideal summer wine, pairing beautifully with a wide range of food, and even having the ability to be served slightly chilled.  Alternatively, this could age for 3 more years in the cellar, where it would develop depth and complexity. 

Barbera is rare in California, and good Barbera even more so, so don’t miss out on the chance to stock up on this exquisite example at a great discount. Your next Italian meal won’t be the same without it!

Cases Produced:  352
Harvested:  September 3, 2015
Bottled:  February 12, 2018
Alcohol:  14.2%

Tasting Notes  PDF

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Muscardini Cellars graces Sonoma Valley’s (Valley of the Moon) Monte Terra with its estate grape vines, family home and barrel room. You are welcome to visit us in their Kenwood tasting room. 

History of Muscardini Cellars
1892, when Michael Muscardini's grandfather, Emilio Alchera, was born in the village of Calliano, just outside of the city of Asti in the Piemonte region. Emilio came to America in 1909 via Ellis Island in New York.  After heading to the West Coast by train to meet his two brothers, Antonio and Louis, he settled in San Francisco.  Emilio began his living in California by helping to dig the Caldecott Tunnel, which connects the East Bay to Contra Costa County. After saving his money, he began to buy and run corner grocery stores where he sold fine bulk wines, and in his spare time made a red table wine for the family.  His business would eventually become the "St. Helena Napa Valley Wine Company."

Learn more at www.muscardinicellars.com.

As a reminder, due to legal restrictions on shipments of wine and other alcoholic beverages, we are only permitted to ship to the following states: AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OK, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY.