Campo Pietra Rosso di Montepulciano

Tasting notes & discussion 12

Best Producer 2022 (Luca Maroni)

Typically $35/bottle from Barbanera/One Vine
Vintage 2021 from Tuscany
Available for AZ; CA; CO; CT; DC; FL; GA; IA; ID; IL; IN; KS; LA; MA; MD; ME; MI; MN; MO; MT; NC; ND; NE; NH; NJ; NM; NV; NY; OH; OK; OR; PA; RI; SC; SD; TN; TX; VA; VT; WA; WI; WV; WY
Sold by participating winery or licensee, fulfilled by Wine Country Connect

About Barbanera: “Barbanera has been achieving many recognitions throughout the years. In 2020, they were awarded ‘Best Design,’ and ‘Best Innovation’ of still red wines by VINI & CONSUMI. This same year, they were named (for the 4th year in a row) the ‘Best Italian Wine Producer’ in the quantity-quality category by Luca Maroni. And in 2022 they were recognized as the ‘Best medium-sized company for management and financial reliability’ in Siena, on the 41st edition of the INDUSTRIA FELIX Award, not to mention the numerous medals and 90+ points granted by some of the world’s leading wine critics. (Just to give you an idea, only in 2021, more than 200 of their wines were awarded 90+ points.)”

Barbanera Marinara

TASTING NOTES:
An intense red color with strong purple hues in the glass. Deeply vinous on the nose with notes of forest berries, cherry and delicate spicy scents. A dry, rich and well-structured red that is easy-drinking and modern in style. For someone who craves a wine like a Vino Nobile but for any day of the week. (AbV 13%, Sangiovese, Canaiolo Nero, Prugnolo Gentile, Ciliegiolo)

BARRELS: N/A

TANGENTIALLY RELATED FACT to help you make conversation over this wine:
It’s really weird to think about, but Europe didn’t have tomatoes until the 1500’s. They weren’t a thing. We think of all these staple European dishes that involve the tomato now, and they haven’t been around all that long. Pasta didn’t have any sort of tomato sauce until basically the 18th century. At least, that’s when the first descriptions/recipes appeared despite tomatoes having been introduced to Italy a century or two prior. And you know how they ate it before sauces were involved? With their bare hands. Unbelievable. Turns out the fork was needed because of the sauces. Because they would get all over your hands, I would guess. And it probably allowed more sauce to stick.

One more fact for the road: the name marinara translates to sailors, which, I don’t know how I never considered that given the “mari-" part of it before. Whether it was because the sailors made it themselves or it was made for them when they came ashore, we don’t know.

PAIRS WITH (winery recommended): Roasted white meats and mature cheeses.

OR (really-going-with-the-theme-option): Spaghetti marinara.

Who's buying this?

How are you buying your bottles?

Favorite type of (these vague/broadly-defined) pasta sauces?

Tomato-based

Tomato-based
Cheese- or cream-based

Cheese- or cream-based
Oil-based (including Pesto)

Oil-based (including Pesto)
Meat-based

Meat-based
Other (comment in the discussion)

Other (comment in the discussion)

50 votes