Barbera Tasting

[RAD]

So here's the notes from last night's Barbera tasting. We tasted them in reverse chronological order, with the 1998 Vietti first, the 1997 Poderi Aldo Conterno second, the 1997 Bovio third, and the 1995 Bovio last.

First, the overall "scores":

Both my wife and I ranked the 1997 Bovio #1. The Vietti was controversial: I ranked it #2, but my wife ranked it dead last, saying she wouldn't buy it again (more on this in a moment). We both ranked the 1997 Poderi Aldo Conterno #3. She ranked the 1995 Bovio #2 and I ranked it last.

As for the 1997 Bovio: we both found a nice ruby color, typical Barbera acidity, and low tannins. (However, relating to tannins, I found a very full and round mouthfeel compared to the others). I found a nose of wet earth and berries, with dried cherry flavors and a long finish that started with hints of tar and ended in smokiness. Very nice.

As for the 1998 Vietti, which Scoop posted on earlier: my wife and I had tasted this wine before, and I recalled liking it, and remembered it having a taste that I couldn't quite put my finger on. Last night we figured it out. (My wife and I were sitting across the table from one another, taking notes while we tasted, and not talking about the notes until we were finished). The Vietti exhibited it's peculiarity again, both on the nose, in the mouth, and on the finish. I was trying to be brutally honest in my notes, and I wrote down caramel, or more specifically butterscotch. These aren't flavors I typically run across in a red wine. Suffice to say, my wife also wrote down caramel! A long finish, again butterscotch. I'm very much interested in other's comments on this, particularly Scoop's, if you're reading this.

The 1997 Poderi Aldo Conterno, which we both ranked third, had the cleanest finish of the lot--unremarkable, but not unpleasant. A fruity bouquet, pleasant acidity, with cherry flavors.

The 1995 Bovio, which my wife had recently declared to be her favorite wine, was judged by her as #2 of the lot, while I ranked it last. I noted some strawberry elements, but kept getting a taste akin to rubber that reminded me of a motor shop. My wife found some earth and strawberry.

Not exactly scientific, but a lot of fun. And with four bottles, we drank a good bit--probably nearly a bottle each--so we corked the rest and put them in the fridge, to be finished off tonight!

I'd love to hear about how others conduct at home tastings.

RAD