and more:
• Modern: La Spinetta & Clerico
• Summer Case: Barbera's Zing
• A Wine Club For The Collector!

Piemonte's Other "B"...

The ultimate Italian summer red is also known as the perfect pizza wine for many. With its tooth jarring acidity, high alcohol, low tannin and lush fruit, Barbera is an ideal food wine that will stand up against anything you throw on the barbie. No other wine has the versatility that can cut through tomato sauce or compliment a steak as nicely. It should be noted that the recent string of warm weather vintages (1996 – 2001) resulted in riper grapes that are bigger, fruitier, and less acidic than previous years.

Barbera is the most planted grape in Piemonte, and thrives in this region known for its nebbiolo. The wine is often made by the majestic Barolo and Barbaresco producers as a secondary, younger drinking wine. There are five DOC regions in Piemonte that produce the most noteworthy Barbera. The two most important are Barbera d’Alba and Barbera d’Asti which create a 100% Barbera, while Monferrato, Colli Toronesi, and Rubino di Cantavenna may produce blended wines.

Time has changed and the easy drinking wine is now in vogue. In the early 80’s Giacomo Bologna’s Braida estate changed everything for barbera when he released his Bricco dell’Uccellone. He selected grapes from the best vineyard and aged them in new French barriques and the results started a revolution in Piemonte. Oak aging can soften the sharp acidity and add a dose of needed tannic structure. To gain an appreciation of the range this grape offers, there are now many collectible and highly sought-after wines from Barbera producers, such as La Spinetta, Hilberg, Braida, Coppo, and the joint effort Hastae 'Quorum'.

Today we are pleased to present the various styles of Barbera; from the classically simple and fruity to the dense and more extracted modern style (ask about the Super-Piemonte blends that use barbera as a softening agent for nebbiolo). All are excellent drinking wines for summer. For more information on these wines or collectible Barberas, please contact our Portfolio Managers at 212.473.2323.

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2000 Perfection: Hilberg & Scavino

Hilberg 2000 Barbera d’Alba Superiore $45.33 (750ml)

This small Piedmont revolutionary estate has become an overnight “cult” winery producing tiny quantities of very big, unctuous wines. The family team of Michele Pasquero (a teacher by profession), his wife Annette and mother Clementine implement biodynamic farming and expert use of his estate’s varied soil types to produce some of the best Barberas to come from Piedmont in recent years.

This flagship red is massive and dense. Strong, ruby-red color. Lots of ripe, almost dried, fruit on the nose and palate followed by a sweet lingering finish.

Scavino 2000 Barbera d’Alba $32.00 (750ml)

Paolo Scavino’s approach of radical modernization made him among the first in the Langhe to build a new winery using modern temperature-controlled winemaking and storage facilities. His pioneering work with rotary fermenters and use of small barrels puts him at the forefront of a new breed of Piemonte producers, including Clerico, Voerzio, and Sandrone.

The deep ruby red colors fill the glass followed by a complex nose of cherry, eucalyptus and leather. On the palate deep, lush fruit flavors give way to notes of underlying chocolate and firm acids which are balanced by sweet oak. Unusually dense texture provides for a long, fulfilling finish.

Click here to order Hilberg & Scavino by fax!

Tradition: Conterno & Mascarello

Conterno 2001 Barbera Conca Tre Pile $27.00 (750ml)

The son of the late, great Giacomo Conterno and brother to Giovanni, it is Aldo who is known as the “King of Barolo” in Italy. This family is a Piemonte legend, with Aldo making some of the most powerfully structured Barolos to date while also creating a traditionally spirited Barbera.

Deep ruby with purple inflections. The sweet, jammy nose mixes strawberries and plums with notes of earth, tobacco and smoke. Medium-bodied, with excellent extraction of well-ripened fruit and very moderate acidity. A voluptuous mouthful of wine that is an amazing value for its quality and concentration.

Bartolo Mascarello 1998 Barbera d'Alba $22.00 (750ml)

A brilliant traditionalist, Bartolo has been defending his winemaking techniques against the temptations of a modernity, which he sees as incompatible with typicity and tradition. A master of his craft, Bartolo is considered one of the top three producers in Piemonte by professional standards. His Barbera is a true treat to experience.

This rustic Barbera is deep red. On the nose aromas of raspberry, raisin, and underbrush. Sweet and dense, with pronounced soil character, ripe fruit and nut flavors. Big and mouthfilling, with firm acids nicely integrated with the wine's solid extract.

Click here to order Conterno & Mascarello by fax!

Modern: La Spinetta & Clerico

La Spinetta 2001 Barbera d’Asti 'Ca di Pian' $21.00 (750ml)

From the master Giuseppe Rivetti, La Spinetta’s single-vineyard Barbarescos are hard-to-find blockbusters. The outstanding vineyard exposition and state-of-the-art winery create saturated and full-bodied beauties. Though clearly crafted with an “international” leaning, these wines are not overly “modern.” The barrique effect doesn’t mask the fruit and allows the underlying Piemontese pedigree to shine through. After you have experienced his entry level wine, be sure to try the Superiore from vineyards in Castiglione d’Asti, and the massive Barbera Gallina.

Aromas of espresso, roasted hazelnut and ripe plum are followed by intense flavors of red plum, tobacco and lead on the palate. Almost heady acidity is balanced by generous alcohol and mild tannins. Slightly rustic, but the long finish shows this wine has a fine pedigree.

Clerico 2001 Barbera d'Alba 'Trevigne' $21.00 (750ml)

Domenico Clerico continues to astonish the world with a range of top class wines. He is a great believer in single-vineyard wines, and considers a wine's origin to be its essence, while winemaking techniques merely influence its style.

A modern style Barbera with the characteristic deep purple color. Spicy sandalwood aromas and full fruit flavors, with a hint of vanilla and chocolate derived from the oak. Medium-bodied, with balanced acidity and a long, spicy finish.

Click here to order La Spinetta & Clerico by fax!

Summer Case: Barbera's Zing

IWM is offering these six great examples of Barbera in both a six pack (1 of each) and case sampler (2 of each) for your summer entertaining. This a great way to experience the range this grape has across vintage, producer, style, and zone. Enjoy these summer reds at the bar-b-que with friends and family.

Hilberg 2000 Barbera d'Alba (750ml)
Scavino 2000 Barbera d'Alba (750ml)
Aldo Conterno 2001 Barbera d'Alba (750ml)
Bartolo Mascarello 1998 Barbera d'Alba (750ml)
La Spinetta 2001 Barbera d'Asti 'Ca di Pian' (750ml)
Clerico 2001 Barbera d'Alba (750ml)

IWM Barbera Six-Pack (6) $168.33*
IWM Barbera Case Sampler (12) $309.73*
*Free delivery to NYC residents

For additional summer wines cases, that include the frosty whites of Friuli and the ripe tropical fruit flavors from Campania's indigenous varietals, contact Robert Allen at 212.473.2323.

Click here to order your case by fax!

A Wine Club For The Collector!

We can proudly say, there is no other. Through IWMs' Patron Wine Club, we open our cellar doors and include members in something rare and unique. Selections are not based on inventory, but rather driven by the desire to enlighten collectors and enthusiasts to the world of high quality Italian wine. Open up your palate and learn what makes these wines great.

There is no other merchant that would include the limited-production cult favorite of the South - Montevetrano; or the most collectible Barbaresco in the world - Giacosa Santo Stefano; or perhaps the great example of modern-style Barolo from the 1997 vintage - Scavino Bric del Fiasc. All have received the IWM Stamp of Excellence and are Tre Bicchieri winners and/or have received 95+ ratings from Parker.

In addition to receiving these wines well below market value, members have other benefits. For more information about Sergio's Cellar Club or our other wine club levels, please contact Chris Deas at 212.334.6734.

Give the perfect gift, an IWM Wine Club. Click to explore!