Barbera has overtaken Zinfandel to quickly become Amador County’s sought-after grape. Our Barbera has the crisp acidity Barbera is known for complimented by a fruit-forward bubble gum character in the middle of your palate. This wine pairs with most any food and ages well due to its low alcohol and pH.
For 6 generations we’ve done everything from dairy farming, mining, cattle ranching, logging, and construction in these mountains to try and make a living. We hope wine works because we don’t know what the heck else to do.
“Winemaking gives me the opportunity to see something from the very beginning of the pruning season, all the way to a glass of wine that I’ve made,” Campbell reflects. “It’s the feeling that you aged it, you maturated it and it’s something you molded and created. It’s very satisfying.”
Leoni Farms is a tribute to Co-Owner Meredith Campbell’s family name. The Leoni’s were Swiss pioneers who arrived with a Swiss-Italian wine-drinking tradition. The bottle art for Leoni Farms, a stalking silhouetted mountain lion, pays homage to the Swiss-Italian story in Amador. The word “leone” is Italian for lion. When sojourners from the Alps first arrived in the Mother Lode in the 1850s, many put stakes down in the higher elevations, where mountain lions, grizzly bears and gray wolves were part of the rugged natural world. Now only the mountain lions remain. But, as Campbell’s quick to point out, the brick and mortar of that era remains, too. For him, it’s the reason Amador’s wine tasting ambiance can’t be matched by other California settings.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2017 Leoni Farms Amador County Barbera - $45 = 21.42%
@sdilullo
Yes. Yes, we do! That got me looking at the Wooster Inn website and it is still unchanged so whatever they are doing with it, it hasn’t happened yet. I need to start searching for another venue…
@Winedavid49 thanks, our Barbera is very popular, and I stick to a pretty methodical recipe that has worked for me, which includes a hefty blending of Zin into the Barbera, to help mellow out the acidity and give it some different fruit- it works for me , and I find it ironic that Amador Countys two iconic grapes, which do so well here, also blend well together
@browncj7 hopefully they get their wine - I sent it out Friday due to my vacation last week and the holiday weekend may have delayed the darn shipment - I’m praying they get it
Summer shipments - I live in AZ… What are your experiences shipping in summer? Do you find the wine makes it in tact, or do you just wait off until cooler time of the year?
@gy3d1nyt3@Leonifarms@Winedavid49 However, casemates does not hold shipments. There is some sort of summer shipping option with an upcharge available but don’t know the details of it, don’t know when it starts. Me, I do not have any wine shipped from anyone in the summer/warm months so casemates goes off the grid for me.
@Leonifarms Jon, I think I saw somewhere that you are making (or do make) a Montepulciano. One of my fondest memories is drinking that varietal while staying in a small town in Abruzzo. How well does that grape grow in Amador?
@KitMarlot well , Montepulciano in Italy with their protected DOCG through the EU is a blend , much like a Chianti , from a specific region - Montepulciano in California is a grape with a fairly ambiguous background that they think may or may not have originated in the town of Montepulciano but is mostly grown in Southern Italy if I recall - it makes a nice , light , earthy wine that I enjoy
@winecaseaholic it’s not like bazooka , it’s just that , like many Barbera las , it’s got a lot of fruit and strawberry in the middle of your palate - too often winemakers put too much oak on Barbera and hang it too long to get the acidity down , which often contributes to a loss of fruit (probably why I love Italian Barbera s , they don’t do that )
After much ado, finally, a lab rat receives their sample! At first, I was bummed that I didn’t have the most ideal dinner planned to pair with my first lab rat report, but I have to work with what I’ve got in the name of expediency. Fortunately, tonight’s pairing held a pleasant surprise.
Upon first sniff, I noted fruity and floral. Immediately tried a sip and noted the first taste was a bit acidic and chewy and thought it could benefit from some decanting.
After sitting in the bottle for about half an hour, I started to smell some cotton candy. Noted that there was still a bit of a bite upon sipping and decided to let it sit in the decanter while making dinner (tofu dogs).
With dinner, it was drinking very easy and smooth. I tasted a little cherry and anise. I found it simultaneously very light but able to hold up to the ketchup on my tofu dog quite well. Typical of a barbera with their sneaky split-personality.
In stark contrast, despite my better judgment, I asked my non-wine-drinker fiance for his thoughts. At dinner, he said it smelled interesting and was not getting any of the fruit I was. He says it smells like an old house, deep and rich, almost like leather. I’m not getting those notes at all, so I probed, asking how it tastes, what’s the mouthfeel like to which he replied that it felt like wine in the mouth, very wet, a liquidy sensation.
Overall, I think this is a great wine to compliment your summer cookouts. You could drink it now or cellar it for a bit to see how it evolves.
1st time Rat here, barely got this bottle today. I will give it my best shot. The first impression is a deep and rich Barbera. A lot of fruit to the nose. The first taste has vibrant acidity to it. Gives me the idea that a good NY Strip should be a good pair. One hour after open, had some dry aged NY. This wine paired well with it and helped cut through the marbling in the steak. I think this should great with summer grilling. I would suggest giving it a few more years in the cellar.
@danandlisa casemates is a cool site , I met Ariana in my tasting room about a year ago , we talked about all this , at first I was trepidatious, but now , love these sales and typically email Ariana as soon as it is over and say “when’s the next one” , and much of that is thanks to the tight-knit community you guys have created here too on the consumer side!
Tasting Notes
Barbera has overtaken Zinfandel to quickly become Amador County’s sought-after grape. Our Barbera has the crisp acidity Barbera is known for complimented by a fruit-forward bubble gum character in the middle of your palate. This wine pairs with most any food and ages well due to its low alcohol and pH.
Specifications
Price Comparison
Not for sale online, $360/case MSRP
About The Winery
Winery: Leoni Farms Winery
For 6 generations we’ve done everything from dairy farming, mining, cattle ranching, logging, and construction in these mountains to try and make a living. We hope wine works because we don’t know what the heck else to do.
“Winemaking gives me the opportunity to see something from the very beginning of the pruning season, all the way to a glass of wine that I’ve made,” Campbell reflects. “It’s the feeling that you aged it, you maturated it and it’s something you molded and created. It’s very satisfying.”
Leoni Farms is a tribute to Co-Owner Meredith Campbell’s family name. The Leoni’s were Swiss pioneers who arrived with a Swiss-Italian wine-drinking tradition. The bottle art for Leoni Farms, a stalking silhouetted mountain lion, pays homage to the Swiss-Italian story in Amador. The word “leone” is Italian for lion. When sojourners from the Alps first arrived in the Mother Lode in the 1850s, many put stakes down in the higher elevations, where mountain lions, grizzly bears and gray wolves were part of the rugged natural world. Now only the mountain lions remain. But, as Campbell’s quick to point out, the brick and mortar of that era remains, too. For him, it’s the reason Amador’s wine tasting ambiance can’t be matched by other California settings.
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, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Thursday, June 20th - Monday, June 24th
Leoni Farms Amador County Barbera
4 bottles for $69.99 $17.50/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $164.99 $13.75/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2017 Leoni Farms Amador County Barbera
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2017 Leoni Farms Amador County Barbera - $45 = 21.42%
We went in on the original offer (50/50 Zin/Barbera) last October and both are superb QPR.
In for another case today, once again sans question.
@sdilullo
Hi stranger!
@chipgreen Howdy! We definitely need to suss out a post-Wooster venue.
@sdilullo thank you , our Barbera is by far our most popular varietal bottling we do
@Leonifarms
Speaking of
any more labs and elevage notes you can share?
13.9% alc , 3.52 pH , .57 TA , .76 VA
@sdilullo
Yes. Yes, we do! That got me looking at the Wooster Inn website and it is still unchanged so whatever they are doing with it, it hasn’t happened yet. I need to start searching for another venue…
@Leonifarms @rjquillin looks like a good one to me. I might have to get back out there soon.
Amador Barbera? if anyone is looking to expand their pallet beyond the typical, this is such a safe bet. QPR for days.
@Winedavid49 We do, of course, expect a rat comparison to Scott’s benchmark Barberas; for science.
@rjquillin @Winedavid49 ^ came here to say this.
@rjquillin @Winedavid49 @winer go for it
@Winedavid49 thanks, our Barbera is very popular, and I stick to a pretty methodical recipe that has worked for me, which includes a hefty blending of Zin into the Barbera, to help mellow out the acidity and give it some different fruit- it works for me , and I find it ironic that Amador Countys two iconic grapes, which do so well here, also blend well together
I usually wait for the rat…
/giphy lawful-minimalist-yogurt
@browncj7 hopefully they get their wine - I sent it out Friday due to my vacation last week and the holiday weekend may have delayed the darn shipment - I’m praying they get it
@Leonifarms — I’m glad to rat next time
Maybe Scott Harvey could pop open a bottle and give us an opinion
@CruelMelody he has bought it in the past , as I regularly buy his stuff , particularly 1869 (the new one is bomb ) and his mountain selection Syrah
Summer shipments - I live in AZ… What are your experiences shipping in summer? Do you find the wine makes it in tact, or do you just wait off until cooler time of the year?
@gy3d1nyt3 I shop when the customer tells me to , most of my Arizona wine clubs get held til October after it heats up
@gy3d1nyt3 @Leonifarms @Winedavid49 However, casemates does not hold shipments. There is some sort of summer shipping option with an upcharge available but don’t know the details of it, don’t know when it starts. Me, I do not have any wine shipped from anyone in the summer/warm months so casemates goes off the grid for me.
@gy3d1nyt3 @kaolis @Winedavid49 it’s probably the ice pack deal in wine shipping , which my shipper offers too
/giphy abandoned-earthly-rain
/giphy where-are-rats
Anyone in the nyc area interested in a case split?
@Montepulciano love the handle
@Leonifarms Jon, I think I saw somewhere that you are making (or do make) a Montepulciano. One of my fondest memories is drinking that varietal while staying in a small town in Abruzzo. How well does that grape grow in Amador?
@KitMarlot well , Montepulciano in Italy with their protected DOCG through the EU is a blend , much like a Chianti , from a specific region - Montepulciano in California is a grape with a fairly ambiguous background that they think may or may not have originated in the town of Montepulciano but is mostly grown in Southern Italy if I recall - it makes a nice , light , earthy wine that I enjoy
While I’m debating on that buy button, this ”fruit-forward bubble gum” statement, scares me, I don’t want a wine to remind me of bazooka bubble gum…
@winecaseaholic it’s not like bazooka , it’s just that , like many Barbera las , it’s got a lot of fruit and strawberry in the middle of your palate - too often winemakers put too much oak on Barbera and hang it too long to get the acidity down , which often contributes to a loss of fruit (probably why I love Italian Barbera s , they don’t do that )
After much ado, finally, a lab rat receives their sample! At first, I was bummed that I didn’t have the most ideal dinner planned to pair with my first lab rat report, but I have to work with what I’ve got in the name of expediency. Fortunately, tonight’s pairing held a pleasant surprise.
Upon first sniff, I noted fruity and floral. Immediately tried a sip and noted the first taste was a bit acidic and chewy and thought it could benefit from some decanting.
After sitting in the bottle for about half an hour, I started to smell some cotton candy. Noted that there was still a bit of a bite upon sipping and decided to let it sit in the decanter while making dinner (tofu dogs).
With dinner, it was drinking very easy and smooth. I tasted a little cherry and anise. I found it simultaneously very light but able to hold up to the ketchup on my tofu dog quite well. Typical of a barbera with their sneaky split-personality.
In stark contrast, despite my better judgment, I asked my non-wine-drinker fiance for his thoughts. At dinner, he said it smelled interesting and was not getting any of the fruit I was. He says it smells like an old house, deep and rich, almost like leather. I’m not getting those notes at all, so I probed, asking how it tastes, what’s the mouthfeel like to which he replied that it felt like wine in the mouth, very wet, a liquidy sensation.
Overall, I think this is a great wine to compliment your summer cookouts. You could drink it now or cellar it for a bit to see how it evolves.
1st time Rat here, barely got this bottle today. I will give it my best shot. The first impression is a deep and rich Barbera. A lot of fruit to the nose. The first taste has vibrant acidity to it. Gives me the idea that a good NY Strip should be a good pair. One hour after open, had some dry aged NY. This wine paired well with it and helped cut through the marbling in the steak. I think this should great with summer grilling. I would suggest giving it a few more years in the cellar.
Great stuff - good reports , and thanks all who bought - these casemates deals and the revenue from them are helpful for a small business like mine
@Leonifarms Thanks for being here. We are very grateful you provide your lovely wines to us.
@danandlisa casemates is a cool site , I met Ariana in my tasting room about a year ago , we talked about all this , at first I was trepidatious, but now , love these sales and typically email Ariana as soon as it is over and say “when’s the next one” , and much of that is thanks to the tight-knit community you guys have created here too on the consumer side!
Sorry to have missed out on this one. Was busy judging the California State Fair and didn’t check Casemates.