LCBO Sale Pick of the Week: Mar. 20
| We want you to drink only good wine. And to never overpay. Since our kwäf Taste Buds are drinking all the time anyway—we mean, tasting all the time—we’re happy to pick out the super star values and pass them on to you. One good wine at a time, just because we care. Find these wines on sale at the LCBO, and enjoy! Sign up to receive weekly picks. |
Bersano Costalunga 2011 Barbera d’Asti (Piemonte, Italy)
Sale $11.00, Regular $12.00
Discount (until March 30): $1.00
LCBO #348680 | 750 mL bottle
Tastes like: Sour cherries and raspberry with a hint of black tea and a whiff of sweet spice.
Pairs with: BLT, grilled cheese, cheese course or Asian soup and, of course, anything tomato-y.
Good for: Expanding your palate with an unfashionable but fabulous grape.
Drink this: Now.
Alcohol: 13.5%
Why we're drinking this
We love Barbera . Everyone should love Barbera. It’s got elements of lots of popular grapes. There’s a little Merlot richness, a touch of Gamay cherry/cranberry, a hint of Pinot earthiness, some Sangiovese acidity and bite. But it’s no copycat. It has a personality all its own. This Barbera hails from Northern Italy and the famous wine-growing province of Asti. This is the Piemonte region, the spiritual home of Barbera and its big brother Nebbiolo. Barbera isn’t a fashionable grape so there are bargains to be had. Even top-priced esoteric versions rarely exceed $20. This one, at a mere $11 on sale, is a monster deal.
Tasting note
Precise Barbera fruit flavours are all here: sour cherry, raspberry and a little cranberry. These are all bright, mouth-puckering fruits, similar to what you’d find in a good Pinot Noir. But Barbera is a bit longer on acidity. Don’t let this scare you. Acid is essential to balancing fruit, alcohol, tannins and sugar (even dry wines have some sugar). Acid also helps carry the juicy fruit on your palate, extending the hang time for these nice bursts of flavour on your tongue. Acid is your friend—cue Jefferson Airplane—and this is a lovely wine to highlight this most important element. Also, acidity and salt are pals, so pair this up with salty foods and notice how the flavours of both the wine and the food rise to new heights.
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This week's selection by kwäf Taste Bud Dick Snyder