A grape from Northern Italy, Barbera has been consumed for centuries by some of the greatest wine makers Italy has ever known. Bright, berry flavors make this wine ideal for nearly all meals and seasons. This wine bursts with flavor and aroma tantalizing your senses with every sip.
A delightful wine with bright berry flavors throughout the drinking experience. A practical berry medley displaying blackberry, cherry and raspberries with no dryness to the mouth. High acidity makes this wine perfect for pairing with rich holiday foods.
When Nicholas Caston’s grandfather Peter Gusmano immigrated to California from Italy, little did he know that he was delivering his future grandson to his future passion: wine. The prime vineyards and rich culture of Sonoma County’s wine industry inspired Nicholas to combine his Irish and Italian heritage to pursue the thing that make people smile.
By taking the prime grapes from select vineyards in California, Nicholas is creating unique Italian inspired wines to share with family, friends, and those who share his passion for small batch wines that chase the unique characteristics of each vintage.
“I invite you to join me and my family on our vino adventure. Raise a glass and start your next dinner or day by the pool with a glass of our fine wine. We made it for you to enjoy!” – Nicholas Caston, Proprietor and Winemaker
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
You always know it’s going to be a good day when an email from Ariana appears in your inbox. Thanks, as always, for the opportunity to labrat!
I should start by saying that I don’t have a lot of experience with this varietal, with Sangiovese/Brunello being my go-to Italian wine.
We received this wine on Wednesday which gave us the chance to sample it over a couple of days.
Day 1: Initial tasting
We started with a three hour decant to kick things off. Our food pairings were sous vide tuna steak and fresh mozzarella with tomato sauce.
Appearance: Garnet color, somewhat translucent, clear and free of sediment.
Aroma: Not getting much here, even after the decant. I definitely get some red fruit and a touch of oak. Alcohol was in check.
Flavor: This is a light bodied wine with high acidity and light to moderate tannins. Very primary at this point, which is to be expected at this stage of its development. Finish is short to medium.
Food pairing: This is a wine that screams for food. That being said, the choice of tuna was made before we became aware of our labrat status. It was not an ideal pairing. Much better was the fresh mutz and marinara, which worked very well.
We also decided to taste test this against a Noceto Sangio (375ml) which recently arrived. I realize this is an apples and oranges comparison, but might be of value to those familiar with Noceto. The sangio was more full bodied and complex, which was not a total shock having had two additional years in the bottle.
Day 2:
This was re-corked in an unused 375ml bottle for the next day. Dinner tonight was instant pot pork loin which was a better pairing than the tuna. The wine was not much changed from the previous night, but disappeared quickly.
Overall, I think this is a wine that will appeal to those who prefer light bodied reds. I think the wine could benefit from more time in the bottle. I definitely preferred it with food to on its own.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2017 Caston Family Wines Barbera - $50 = 20.82%
I was excited to get an email about lab ratting on Tuesday evening and excitedly waited on the bottle. My post office is always a bit on the slower side, so I was able to get the bottle just in time to try Thursday after work.
I’m more of a pinot noir drinker, and I’m not very familiar with Italian wines. However, I was excited to see a Barbera as I’ve often found them very drinkable and a good wine to pull out for an early afternoon with friends. I had two friends over to sample some snacks and the wine.
We opened the wine about 5 pm. The cork had absolutely no smell, which I found amazing. The color on the cork (sorry no pictures) was deep purple with almost no residue.
The wine smelled very closed, a bit musty but also definite fruit and acidity. The color in the glass upon initial pour was ruby (and one of my friends said light burgundy color). We all agreed that the wine had little to no legs. The first sip was bright, fruity, and acidic. No one mentioned any other notes, and I found that the wine could do with more time in the bottle.
We had a few snacks with the wine. The wine was complimented by several cheeses, but was the best with gouda (best) and parmigiano reggiano (second best). These two really cut the acidity of the wine and made it extremely drinkable. We had some grilled and marinated artichoke hearts and casevaltrano olives, which really amplified the sourness of the Barbera. A side of fresh red pepper and zucchini slices didn’t add anything but didn’t hurt the wine.
I finished my glass throughout the evening but felt that it became a bit more acidic as time went on. Overall, we all agreed that the wine needed food at this point, but that likely a meal that would cut the acidity and bring out the brightness. We didn’t feel the wine at this point could hold up to a dark meat, but would probably go well with pizza or pasta.
I’d drink a bottle now but save the rest (or try a long decant). This could also be a good bottle to open up with some cheese and other snacks. This variety will likely not be my personal go-to but it seemed a decent bottle of Barbera for those who enjoy that type of wine, especially at the Casemates price.
Great notes on pairing with food. The acidity in Barbera makes it as flexible as sparkling wine. Creamy sauce pastas are our favorite with this wine. Try Creamy Carbonara and Penne alla Vodka.
2017 Caston Family Wines Barbera, Alta Mesa
Tasting Notes
A grape from Northern Italy, Barbera has been consumed for centuries by some of the greatest wine makers Italy has ever known. Bright, berry flavors make this wine ideal for nearly all meals and seasons. This wine bursts with flavor and aroma tantalizing your senses with every sip.
A delightful wine with bright berry flavors throughout the drinking experience. A practical berry medley displaying blackberry, cherry and raspberries with no dryness to the mouth. High acidity makes this wine perfect for pairing with rich holiday foods.
Specifications
Included In The Box
Price Comparison
$530.93/case at Caston Family Wines (including shipping)
About The Winery
Winery: Caston Family Wines
Location: Alta Mesa, CA
When Nicholas Caston’s grandfather Peter Gusmano immigrated to California from Italy, little did he know that he was delivering his future grandson to his future passion: wine. The prime vineyards and rich culture of Sonoma County’s wine industry inspired Nicholas to combine his Irish and Italian heritage to pursue the thing that make people smile.
By taking the prime grapes from select vineyards in California, Nicholas is creating unique Italian inspired wines to share with family, friends, and those who share his passion for small batch wines that chase the unique characteristics of each vintage.
“I invite you to join me and my family on our vino adventure. Raise a glass and start your next dinner or day by the pool with a glass of our fine wine. We made it for you to enjoy!” – Nicholas Caston, Proprietor and Winemaker
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Thursday, November 21st - Monday, November 25th
Caston Family Wines Barbera
3 bottles for $59.99 $20/bottle + $2.67/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $189.99 $15.83/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2017 Caston Barbera
You always know it’s going to be a good day when an email from Ariana appears in your inbox. Thanks, as always, for the opportunity to labrat!
I should start by saying that I don’t have a lot of experience with this varietal, with Sangiovese/Brunello being my go-to Italian wine.
We received this wine on Wednesday which gave us the chance to sample it over a couple of days.
Day 1: Initial tasting
We started with a three hour decant to kick things off. Our food pairings were sous vide tuna steak and fresh mozzarella with tomato sauce.
Appearance: Garnet color, somewhat translucent, clear and free of sediment.
Aroma: Not getting much here, even after the decant. I definitely get some red fruit and a touch of oak. Alcohol was in check.
Flavor: This is a light bodied wine with high acidity and light to moderate tannins. Very primary at this point, which is to be expected at this stage of its development. Finish is short to medium.
Food pairing: This is a wine that screams for food. That being said, the choice of tuna was made before we became aware of our labrat status. It was not an ideal pairing. Much better was the fresh mutz and marinara, which worked very well.
We also decided to taste test this against a Noceto Sangio (375ml) which recently arrived. I realize this is an apples and oranges comparison, but might be of value to those familiar with Noceto. The sangio was more full bodied and complex, which was not a total shock having had two additional years in the bottle.
Day 2:
This was re-corked in an unused 375ml bottle for the next day. Dinner tonight was instant pot pork loin which was a better pairing than the tuna. The wine was not much changed from the previous night, but disappeared quickly.
Overall, I think this is a wine that will appeal to those who prefer light bodied reds. I think the wine could benefit from more time in the bottle. I definitely preferred it with food to on its own.
Thanks again for the chance to rat!
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2017 Caston Family Wines Barbera - $50 = 20.82%
I was excited to get an email about lab ratting on Tuesday evening and excitedly waited on the bottle. My post office is always a bit on the slower side, so I was able to get the bottle just in time to try Thursday after work.
I’m more of a pinot noir drinker, and I’m not very familiar with Italian wines. However, I was excited to see a Barbera as I’ve often found them very drinkable and a good wine to pull out for an early afternoon with friends. I had two friends over to sample some snacks and the wine.
We opened the wine about 5 pm. The cork had absolutely no smell, which I found amazing. The color on the cork (sorry no pictures) was deep purple with almost no residue.
The wine smelled very closed, a bit musty but also definite fruit and acidity. The color in the glass upon initial pour was ruby (and one of my friends said light burgundy color). We all agreed that the wine had little to no legs. The first sip was bright, fruity, and acidic. No one mentioned any other notes, and I found that the wine could do with more time in the bottle.
We had a few snacks with the wine. The wine was complimented by several cheeses, but was the best with gouda (best) and parmigiano reggiano (second best). These two really cut the acidity of the wine and made it extremely drinkable. We had some grilled and marinated artichoke hearts and casevaltrano olives, which really amplified the sourness of the Barbera. A side of fresh red pepper and zucchini slices didn’t add anything but didn’t hurt the wine.
I finished my glass throughout the evening but felt that it became a bit more acidic as time went on. Overall, we all agreed that the wine needed food at this point, but that likely a meal that would cut the acidity and bring out the brightness. We didn’t feel the wine at this point could hold up to a dark meat, but would probably go well with pizza or pasta.
I’d drink a bottle now but save the rest (or try a long decant). This could also be a good bottle to open up with some cheese and other snacks. This variety will likely not be my personal go-to but it seemed a decent bottle of Barbera for those who enjoy that type of wine, especially at the Casemates price.
Thanks for the community, everyone!
Great notes on pairing with food. The acidity in Barbera makes it as flexible as sparkling wine. Creamy sauce pastas are our favorite with this wine. Try Creamy Carbonara and Penne alla Vodka.