Carol Shelton
2022 Barbera
, D'Oakley
Planchon Vineyard

93 Points - Wine Enthusiast

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 of tart cherry and pomegranate, and the mouthfeel is silky smooth making this an ideal summer wine, pairing beautifully with a wide range of food.  Almost dangerous in how easy it is to drink. 

Delicious with tomato-sauced pastas, harder cheeses, and grilled things, especially portabello mushroom caps.  Buon appétito!

VINEYARD

The 130-year-old Planchon Vineyard in Oakley is the source of this interesting "Italian blend" of Barbera with its companion vines of Zinfandel and Merlot. The Barbera rows are a veritable jungle of vegetation on the perimeter of the ancient Zin vines; they thrive on their own roots in this sandy soil. 

WINEMAKER:  Carol Shelton
VARIETAL:  75% Barbera, 13% Zinfandel, 10% Merlot, 2% Rose of Peru
VINEYARD:  Planchon Vineyard
APPELLATION:  Contra Costa County
FERMENTATION:  3-day cold soak, fermented in 0.8-ton T-bins and a 3-ton open-top fermenter & punched down by hand twice daily, 2 different yeast strains, 10 days total on skins.
AGING:  7 months in Hungarian, American and French oak barrels.
TA: 0.64 gm/100ml
pH: 3.48
VINTAGE:  2022
ALCOHOL:  13.2%

Tasting Notes  PDF

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