Boysenberry, blackberry, and pomegranate tones in a round, juicy, medium-weight-plus package with characteristic good acidity, low tannin and a bit of roasted herb and pepper. No new oak.
Grown at 1450ā elevation on red, obsidian-strewn soil resulting from Mt. Konoctiās volcanic upheaval, our Barbera combines two clones in a focused package that reflects our region while respecting its Italian heritage.
Vineyard:
One block of Barbera planted in 1999 and then another block in 2004 to clones 02 and 09. St. George rootstocks. Bilateral cordon planted north to south on California sprawl trellising. Massive handwork to keep the notoriously vigorous canopies under control.
Winemaking:
Hand-harvested 10/17/17, destemmed and fermented separately by a clone in stainless to different temperatures. Fermentation lasted 17 days. Wood-basket pressed at dryness. No sulfur added for 9 months, bottled at 14 months.
Specs
Vintage: 2017
Barbera: 2 different clones from separate vineyard blocks, fermented separately
Yield: 2.8 tons per acre
Aging: 10 neutral 225l barrels used for aging, mostly 6-12-year-old thin stave French and Hungarian oak
Racking: one racking before bottling to control reduction
Unfined, unfiltered
pH 3.53
TA 6.3gm/l
14.2% abv
R.S. less than .1gm/100ml
240 cases produced
Included in the Box
3-bottles:
3x 2017 Prima Materia Barbera, Kelsey Bench, Lake County
Case:
12x 2017 Prima Materia Barbera, Kelsey Bench, Lake County
Winery: Prima Materia
Owner: Pietro Buttitta
Founded: 2015
Location: Oakland, CA
Prima Materia Winery grows grapes and crafts wine and food with an Old World voice that celebrates uncommon grapes and their unique histories here in California and abroad.
Prima Materia is the product of two decades spent in vineyards, wineries, and cooking in restaurant kitchens that ranged from Michelin starred to hamburger consulting. I planted most of Prima Materiaās grapes at 1,450ā of elevation in Lake Countyās red volcanic soils, and every bottle hopes to capture a distinctive, Old-World inflected voice in harmony with Californiaās vast and evolving wine history. Prima Materia is a bottom-up adventure that begins with digging holes, pounding stakes, and constant time spent in the vineyard. I am proud to work within an ancient agricultural tradition, and that vast, sometimes cyclical history is a central part of Prima Materiaās story and trajectory.
The wines are crafted in criminally small batches of two to ten barrels each. The winemaking and grape growing are intensively hands-on and sustainable, using stems and time, gravity and buckets, rather than fancy impersonal machinery or mechanized processes. Prima Materiaās wines are unsulfured for much of their lives, allowing them to evolve as living things and new oak is rarely used. The wines are unfined, unfiltered, hand-harvested, and hand bottled.
The alchemical theme of Prima Materia is significant both in the vague sense of food and wine alchemy, or the alchemy of agriculture and growth, but also in the Jungian idea of alchemy being the interaction between us and the world we are exploring, both internal and external. Alchemy in this sense is the bold-yet-humble pursuit of knowledge through wonder, the natural and the personal, and uncovering hidden essences so that eventually art and craft might one day meet.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, ID, IA, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NM, NY, NC, OH, OR, TN, TX, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Had the opportunity to rat this one along with my lovely wife. We both agreed (which seldom happens) the color was deep red but somewhat cloudy. Nose of blueberries and some gamey (though not overpowering) thing going on.
Taste was complex with medium tannins. Lots of blueberries with some wood. Kinda like licking the inside of a barrel. Long finish. Blueberry pie.
Both agreed this is an elegant wine.
Funny thing is it has the characteristics of a PS in my opinion.
In any event, both guessed $35 winery price and well worth it. At $15 case price and under 250 cases produced a definite no brainer.
This offer has a double Lost stamp of approval. Saved 1/4 bottle in fridge for a follow up tomorrow.
@losthighwayz Iām not even drinking it, but just from the CM text, I was thinking PS in the back of my head. Confirmed. Thanks for the notes! Leaning more on the case side now. Just need more to join in.
@MarkDaSpark@rjquillin@TechnoViking Iām not sure how the logistics work on this, with the wine going to LV and me in SoCal, but I would take 2 if they can get to me. I take it RJQ has done this before?
@davirom@MarkDaSpark@rjquillin yeah, I drive down a couple times a year. I have some family in Torrance area and San Diego. Iām about due for another visit.
@rjquillin@TechnoViking Sorry folks, I would prefer to get the bottles from my homie @losthighwayz. Itās so much easier to be mates in the same town. If this puts you in a bind, TV, I will stay with this group. I would not do this except TV āgrabbed a caseā before commitments.
@davirom@losthighwayz@merrybill@rjquillin all good on this end. If you want to split with the locals that works. I have other I can get to take these bottles off my hands. Another coworker wants a couple as well.
@MarkDaSpark Of course you didnāt see it, you werenāt there! Any way, Iām down to 1/2 billion because I spent the rest on toilet paper and canned goods at Costco.
@Twich22 Hi, the Barbera ages pretty well. Acidity keeps it fresh plus it likes a little oxygen - definitely not fragile. It seems like we get more dark fruit character in wetter vintages, plus the oldest block that brings the pomegranate had an extra light crop in 2017. I get the P.S. comparison. I usually ferment it until a little grainy seed tannin comes up on the back palate to frame everything. That rustic touch is personal stylistic preference, plus extends the stability and aging. Thanks
No shipping to South Dakota, but if anyone in the Twin Cities wants to get a case Iād be up for 3 or 4 bottles - I get up there about once a month and am more than willing to pick it up!
Iām not familiar with this winery or their Barbera. I like the specs and like making wines from the Mt. elevations of Lake County. Should be good. Iām in.
@ScottHarveyWine I enjoy your wines and have had your Barbera. IMO yours has more red fruit and is brighter with a bit of oak coming through. Iām curious why this offer has more of a dark berry presence and reminds me of Petit Sirah but without the grippy tannins
Thanks to @losthighwayz Rat Report, Iām in for a case. As a Floridian, my wine shipping window will be closing soon. Now is the time to buy!
/giphy reflective-zany-beer
@pseudogourmet98 Iām in North FL, about 45 minutes west of St. Augustine on the St. Johns River. If thereās anyone in the Jacksonville/Gainesville area, Iād be happy to split cases
@gemeinschaft79
While I have split many cases with friends and colleagues off-line, this will also be my first actual casemates (i.e. stranger from the internet) share as well.
@pseudogourmet98 Update on our shipment . . . It is supposed to be delivered on Friday. Would you like to meet to get your bottles this weekend, or would you like to wait until I have the Syrah and can bring you a whole case?
@pseudogourmet98 The Gersing should be delivered on Wednesday. Would you be able to meet in Gainesville on Saturday or Sunday (assuming we are both healthy)?
@pseudogourmet98 can we meet somewhere in Gainesville on Sunday? I popped a bottle of the Syrah and the Barbera last night, and both bottles were excellent. They did not get too hot during shipment. You can contact me at awriteword @ gmail dot com. Just let me know where and what time works for you. I promise not to breathe on you.
@pseudogourmet98 I have your wines. I know things are getting weird, so if you donāt want to split the cases anymore, I totally understand. I just didnāt want to leave you hanging. You can contact me directly if awriteword @ Gmail doy com
@Turner103200 We canāt organize that, unfortunately. However, Iāve been to the tasting room and I highly recommend checking it out and meeting Pietro!
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2017 Prima Materia Barbera - $65 = 27.07%
So, I went and pulled the switch for a case as the
"Estimated Delivery
Monday, March 23rd - Wednesday, March 25th "
On the initial offering page fit in with my travel plans.
Yay
But it showed up Mar 13 while I was still out of town to sit in a hot truck till I can get it rescheduled in a day or so. Rats.
Then right after I get home a day later the UPS truck cometh and maketh my day.
Yay (2 yays - 1 rats).
@brucenie Something similar happened to me on my recent Pedroncelli order. Page had estimated delivery of March 23-26, which worked well with our travel plans. But when I got a notice that it would be delivered on March 13, (we were leaving town on the 12th) I had to put a āvacation holdā on the shipment (to avoid a ā3 strikesā delivery failure as well as keep it off the truck for multiple days) which UPS charges a $5 delivery reschedule fee to do.
Tasting Notes
Boysenberry, blackberry, and pomegranate tones in a round, juicy, medium-weight-plus package with characteristic good acidity, low tannin and a bit of roasted herb and pepper. No new oak.
Previous Vintage Score:
91 Points, Wine Enthusiast, 2016 Vintage
Vineyard/Winemaking Notes
Grown at 1450ā elevation on red, obsidian-strewn soil resulting from Mt. Konoctiās volcanic upheaval, our Barbera combines two clones in a focused package that reflects our region while respecting its Italian heritage.
Vineyard:
One block of Barbera planted in 1999 and then another block in 2004 to clones 02 and 09. St. George rootstocks. Bilateral cordon planted north to south on California sprawl trellising. Massive handwork to keep the notoriously vigorous canopies under control.
Winemaking:
Hand-harvested 10/17/17, destemmed and fermented separately by a clone in stainless to different temperatures. Fermentation lasted 17 days. Wood-basket pressed at dryness. No sulfur added for 9 months, bottled at 14 months.
Specs
Unfined, unfiltered
Included in the Box
Price Comparison
$420 for a Case at Prima Materia $35MSRP/Excluding Shipping and Taxes/Does not Ship/Sell to Texas on website
About The Winery
Winery: Prima Materia
Owner: Pietro Buttitta
Founded: 2015
Location: Oakland, CA
Prima Materia Winery grows grapes and crafts wine and food with an Old World voice that celebrates uncommon grapes and their unique histories here in California and abroad.
Prima Materia is the product of two decades spent in vineyards, wineries, and cooking in restaurant kitchens that ranged from Michelin starred to hamburger consulting. I planted most of Prima Materiaās grapes at 1,450ā of elevation in Lake Countyās red volcanic soils, and every bottle hopes to capture a distinctive, Old-World inflected voice in harmony with Californiaās vast and evolving wine history. Prima Materia is a bottom-up adventure that begins with digging holes, pounding stakes, and constant time spent in the vineyard. I am proud to work within an ancient agricultural tradition, and that vast, sometimes cyclical history is a central part of Prima Materiaās story and trajectory.
The wines are crafted in criminally small batches of two to ten barrels each. The winemaking and grape growing are intensively hands-on and sustainable, using stems and time, gravity and buckets, rather than fancy impersonal machinery or mechanized processes. Prima Materiaās wines are unsulfured for much of their lives, allowing them to evolve as living things and new oak is rarely used. The wines are unfined, unfiltered, hand-harvested, and hand bottled.
The alchemical theme of Prima Materia is significant both in the vague sense of food and wine alchemy, or the alchemy of agriculture and growth, but also in the Jungian idea of alchemy being the interaction between us and the world we are exploring, both internal and external. Alchemy in this sense is the bold-yet-humble pursuit of knowledge through wonder, the natural and the personal, and uncovering hidden essences so that eventually art and craft might one day meet.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, ID, IA, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NM, NY, NC, OH, OR, TN, TX, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Thursday, March 26th - Monday, March 30th
Prima Materia Barbera
3 bottles for $59.99 $20/bottle + $2.67/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $174.99 $14.58/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2017 Prima Materia Barbera
I actually want to try this oneā¦willing to split 3 ways here in Vegas if anyone else is interested?..otherwise Iāll grab the 3 pk.
@TechnoViking
Put me on the short list.
Iād sure like to know what @winesmith thinks of this, as he works with Lake Co vineyards.
Had the opportunity to rat this one along with my lovely wife. We both agreed (which seldom happens) the color was deep red but somewhat cloudy. Nose of blueberries and some gamey (though not overpowering) thing going on.
Taste was complex with medium tannins. Lots of blueberries with some wood. Kinda like licking the inside of a barrel. Long finish. Blueberry pie.
Both agreed this is an elegant wine.
Funny thing is it has the characteristics of a PS in my opinion.
In any event, both guessed $35 winery price and well worth it. At $15 case price and under 250 cases produced a definite no brainer.
This offer has a double Lost stamp of approval. Saved 1/4 bottle in fridge for a follow up tomorrow.
@losthighwayz Iām not even drinking it, but just from the CM text, I was thinking PS in the back of my head. Confirmed. Thanks for the notes! Leaning more on the case side now. Just need more to join in.
@losthighwayz If you are in for a case, would you part with a couple of bottles? @MarkDaSpark is holding my Scott Harvey Barbera hostage
@losthighwayz PS? Elaborate.
@GatorFL @losthighwayz
Pretty sure he is referring to Petite Sirah
@davirom @MarkDaSpark
@technoviking and I are looking at a possible splitā¦
You up to receiving Dave?
@MarkDaSpark @rjquillin @TechnoViking I would only want 2 bottles, but if you want me to take delivery, I can do that.
@davirom @MarkDaSpark @TechnoViking
Iād be good for two or three as well.
TV, MdS; how many you two taking?
@davirom @MarkDaSpark @rjquillin I already grabbed a case here. Had some coworkers raise their eyebrows. I should have 4 or 5 extraā¦
@davirom @MarkDaSpark @TechnoViking
Put me down for a couple if you would please.
@MarkDaSpark @rjquillin @TechnoViking Iām not sure how the logistics work on this, with the wine going to LV and me in SoCal, but I would take 2 if they can get to me. I take it RJQ has done this before?
@davirom @MarkDaSpark @rjquillin yeah, I drive down a couple times a year. I have some family in Torrance area and San Diego. Iām about due for another visit.
@davirom @rjquillin @TechnoViking
None for me thanks.
As for āhostagesā ā¦ you need to pay for them first, for them to be āyoursā!
@davirom @MarkDaSpark yes but looks like I am late to the party!
@MarkDaSpark Ah, the ransom demand!
@rjquillin @TechnoViking Sorry folks, I would prefer to get the bottles from my homie @losthighwayz. Itās so much easier to be mates in the same town. If this puts you in a bind, TV, I will stay with this group. I would not do this except TV āgrabbed a caseā before commitments.
@davirom @losthighwayz @rjquillin @TechnoViking Soooo, this thread has been a little hard to follow, but if somebody has an extra bottle or 2, Iāll take them.
@davirom @merrybill @rjquillin @TechnoViking I can take 6 and Davirom and Merrybill 3 each. Iāll buy. Just let me know
@davirom @losthighwayz @rjquillin @TechnoViking Iād prefer 2, but Iām in.
@davirom @merrybill @rjquillin @TechnoViking cant justify more than 6. merrybill good for 3 right?
@davirom @losthighwayz @merrybill @rjquillin all good on this end. If you want to split with the locals that works. I have other I can get to take these bottles off my hands. Another coworker wants a couple as well.
@davirom @merrybill @rjquillin @TechnoViking ordered the case with one minute to go!
@davirom
ransom demand
@MarkDaSpark Seems reasonable, it is Scottās juice. Only thing is, last time you missed the drop off.
@davirom
I didnāt see the billion dollars!
@MarkDaSpark Of course you didnāt see it, you werenāt there! Any way, Iām down to 1/2 billion because I spent the rest on toilet paper and canned goods at Costco.
@davirom. Not latex gloves and masks too?
So, new drop this Saturday? š¦¹ā
How long will these keep for?
/giphy gullible-melodious-nest
@Twich22 Hi, the Barbera ages pretty well. Acidity keeps it fresh plus it likes a little oxygen - definitely not fragile. It seems like we get more dark fruit character in wetter vintages, plus the oldest block that brings the pomegranate had an extra light crop in 2017. I get the P.S. comparison. I usually ferment it until a little grainy seed tannin comes up on the back palate to frame everything. That rustic touch is personal stylistic preference, plus extends the stability and aging. Thanks
Skunked again
Anybody want to split in South FL? @JonnyA9497
@GatorFL sure Iām in for 6.
@JonnyA9497 I got you bro
@GatorFL I am in South Florida as well and am always interested in a split!
@GatorFL @kbiehl94 GatorFL and I are in Palm Beach, where are you in S Fla?
@GatorFL @JonnyA9497 I am in Delray Beach
@JonnyA9497 @kbiehl94 KB nice, youāre in the hood!
/giphy warped-modest-card
I got a caseā¦
No shipping to GA? Booo.
No shipping to South Dakota, but if anyone in the Twin Cities wants to get a case Iād be up for 3 or 4 bottles - I get up there about once a month and am more than willing to pick it up!
Iām not familiar with this winery or their Barbera. I like the specs and like making wines from the Mt. elevations of Lake County. Should be good. Iām in.
@ScottHarveyWine I enjoy your wines and have had your Barbera. IMO yours has more red fruit and is brighter with a bit of oak coming through. Iām curious why this offer has more of a dark berry presence and reminds me of Petit Sirah but without the grippy tannins
Anybody in Fort Worth trying to do a 3-way split?
Thanks to @losthighwayz Rat Report, Iām in for a case. As a Floridian, my wine shipping window will be closing soon. Now is the time to buy!
/giphy reflective-zany-beer
@gemeinschaft79 The weather was perfect for a shipment today!
@gemeinschaft79 what part of FL are you in? Always looking for āmatesā.
@pseudogourmet98 Iām in North FL, about 45 minutes west of St. Augustine on the St. Johns River. If thereās anyone in the Jacksonville/Gainesville area, Iād be happy to split cases
@GatorFL Absolutely! Iām trying to enjoy the last of the cool weather.
@gemeinschaft79
Iām in Gainesville. Iād definitely be interested in splitting a case of this if that works for you.
@pseudogourmet98 Sure! Iām happy to go halves with you. This will be my first actual casemates share
@gemeinschaft79
While I have split many cases with friends and colleagues off-line, this will also be my first actual casemates (i.e. stranger from the internet) share as well.
@pseudogourmet98 Update on our shipment . . . It is supposed to be delivered on Friday. Would you like to meet to get your bottles this weekend, or would you like to wait until I have the Syrah and can bring you a whole case?
@gemeinschaft79
Sorry I just saw this. Letās do it all at once.
@pseudogourmet98 The Gersing should be delivered on Wednesday. Would you be able to meet in Gainesville on Saturday or Sunday (assuming we are both healthy)?
@gemeinschaft79 Absolutely!
@pseudogourmet98 can we meet somewhere in Gainesville on Sunday? I popped a bottle of the Syrah and the Barbera last night, and both bottles were excellent. They did not get too hot during shipment. You can contact me at awriteword @ gmail dot com. Just let me know where and what time works for you. I promise not to breathe on you.
@pseudogourmet98 I have your wines. I know things are getting weird, so if you donāt want to split the cases anymore, I totally understand. I just didnāt want to leave you hanging. You can contact me directly if awriteword @ Gmail doy com
I drive past this place from time to time, any possibility I could pick mine up at the tasting room?
@Turner103200 We canāt organize that, unfortunately. However, Iāve been to the tasting room and I highly recommend checking it out and meeting Pietro!
@Turner103200 You could call them and see if theyāll do it for you direct that way.
@klezman
/giphy negative-spiffy-friction
Thanks Klezman for the advice, my fellow Mate!! Cheers!
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2017 Prima Materia Barbera - $65 = 27.07%
So, I went and pulled the switch for a case as the
"Estimated Delivery
Monday, March 23rd - Wednesday, March 25th "
On the initial offering page fit in with my travel plans.
Yay
But it showed up Mar 13 while I was still out of town to sit in a hot truck till I can get it rescheduled in a day or so. Rats.
Then right after I get home a day later the UPS truck cometh and maketh my day.
Yay (2 yays - 1 rats).
@brucenie Something similar happened to me on my recent Pedroncelli order. Page had estimated delivery of March 23-26, which worked well with our travel plans. But when I got a notice that it would be delivered on March 13, (we were leaving town on the 12th) I had to put a āvacation holdā on the shipment (to avoid a ā3 strikesā delivery failure as well as keep it off the truck for multiple days) which UPS charges a $5 delivery reschedule fee to do.
@brucenie had a quick thing to say 32 minutes ago
One of the best buys Iāve had on Casemates. Shoulda bought two. Hope to see it again.