Scott Harvey Wines focus on Scott’s roots, the mountain vineyards of Amador County where he grew up and his grandfather grew old vine Zinfandel. The region has a wonderful ability to produce wines of place allowing Scott to make the rich full bodied Barbera and Old Vine Zinfandel exemplifying the mountain terroir of Amador County. Being a European trained winemaker, these balanced Old World style wines show an amazing ability for being served with your best meals.
2016 Scott Harvey J&S Reserve Barbera, Amador County
Tasting Notes
Amador County Barbera produces small bunches of high extraction, perfect pH and flavors to produce world class Barbera.
Fruit forward, rich full flavors expressing both the varietal and the Amador Terroir. This complex wine has notes of bright red cherries, pepper and mulberry with a bright center finishing with chocolate and spice.
Vintage and Winemaker Notes
100% from Amador County. Amador County is extremely well suited to Barbera. Barbera both buds out earlier and ripens later than Zinfandel producing grapes at lower pH with full bright varietal fruit. Amador County is rapidly becoming known as the best wine growing region in the world for Barbera.
Specs
Vintage: 2016
Blend: 100% 2016, 100% Amador County Barbera
Appellation: Amador County
Vineyard Sources: 53% Toy Vineyard and 46% Wilderotter Vineyard
Cooperage: 21 months in French Oak
Bottled: 8/27/2018
Alcohol: 14.5%
pH: 3.55
RS: dry @ .2%
2016 Scott Harvey Mountain Selection Barbera, Amador County
Tasting Notes
Produced in the Italian old world, food friendly style. Blueberry and raspberry blend into a bright center of cola, and red liquorish flowing into a flavorful lingering finish.
Specs
Appellation: Amador County
Vineyard/Vintage Notes: Grown on steep mountainous terrain in the higher elevations of the Shenandoah Valley of Amador County, California.
Vineyard Sources: 100% 2016 Amador County Barbera. 43% Manby Vineyard, 37% Wilderotter Vineyard and 20% Toy Vineyard
Cooperage: 21 months in French Oak
Bottling Date: 8/27/18
Alcohol: Labeled @ 14.5%
pH: 3.38
RS: Dry <.2%
Included in the Box
4-bottles:
2x 2016 Scott Harvey J&S Reserve Barbera, Amador County
2x 2016 Scott Harvey Mountain Selection Barbera, Amador County
Case:
6x 2016 Scott Harvey J&S Reserve Barbera, Amador County
6x 2016 Scott Harvey Mountain Selection Barbera, Amador County
Winery: Scott Harvey Wines
Owners: Scott & Jana Harvey
Founded: 2004
Location: St. Helena, CA
After decades of creating and crafting premium wines for wineries like Santino and Folie a Deux – and putting Amador County on the map as a world-class appellation – Scott Harvey launched his own winery in 2004. With decades of winemaking experience on two continents, it’s no wonder his wines became an immediate sensation. overnight success 35 years in the making. (Oh, and Scott’s not too shabby with a pen, either. Scott’s not too shabby with a pen, either.)
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI, WY
Scott Harvey Reserve and Mountain Selection Barbera
4 bottles for $76.99 $19.25/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $204.99 $17.08/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
Just payed off CC now WD is coming back for more! To complete transaction…@rjquillin do you have space to store a case til June? And can I ship to your whereabouts? Send me back a whisper. I’ve been waiting for SH Barbera to show up.
So… I will have a Lab Rat report for the Mountain Selection Barbera sometime Monday evening or night, EDT. The bottle was a surprise arrival just before I had to go away for the weekend, with no forewarning that it was on its way or any indication of when the offer was going live.
I do appreciate the opportunity to be a Lab Rat – but some forewarning that this was happening might have resulted in a more timely report.
@moondigger I’ve found that signing up for the FedEx delivery notification gives me a great heads up when something is shipped to me and I don’t have to worry about the rat email which sometimes comes out later
@deadlyapp I have FedEx delivery notification. The problem is that this was an overnight package, and knowing it was coming the day before it arrived was not much of a warning.
Also, FedEx delivery notification does not tell me when the Scott Harvey offer is going live on Casemates. It’s lucky that my trip allowed me to be home Sunday night rather than Monday night, or the report would have been delivered literally too late to be useful to anybody.
@deadlyapp@moondigger I too have FedEx delivery notification and they haven’t notified me of any labrat wines I’ve received. Perhaps it’s due to the overnight shipping.
@moondigger@arianawcc I made a suggestion on the “Lab Rat Survey” that they send an initial inquiry on availability before shipping a Lab Rat sample. Seems like it would avoid situations such as this.
@jaybird@moondigger My sample size is one, so maybe I got lucky, but I received notification of a shipment on a Wednesday, it shipped Thursday, I received Friday, for an offer that went live on Monday or Wednesday of the following week. Perhaps I’m an anomaly.
I agree - the ratting notification could be better - there’s no reason they can’t pick rats ahead of schedule and check to make sure you’re available. This is why you need to go do the rat poll that is stickied at the top of the forum!
@moondigger Ariana sends out emails to the email address your Casemates Account has listed. You may want to check your spam folder, if it didn’t show up in your “INCOMING” folder.
@Boatman72 Last year when I ratted a bottle, Ariana sent me a message a few days in advance letting me know. This time she didn’t.
I had checked my spam folders the day I got the FedEx notification to see if I had gotten anything from her, but I hadn’t. I did send her an e-mail Friday asking about it. She replied this morning with an apology, but said they can’t guarantee a notification e-mail “right now,” which seems to imply that people shouldn’t count on them.
@moondigger Good to know!! Thanks!
On the other hand, it’s not very frequent that I get that surprising bottle! Maybe not getting an email creates more of the surprise factor? All I know, it’s not fun when there’s a Fedex Door Tag causing a delay!!
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2016 Scott Harvey Reserve and Mountain Selection Barbera - $26 = 11.25%
@chipgreen I think that I’m doing another three way family split on Scott’s offer. What the heck is a SIWBM if you can’t bust it wide open on a Harvey offer!!! I’m sure that some of the other NE OH peeps will chime in soon. They probably got too much sun over the weekend!
It’s kind of funny that last week I was “feeling” that we were due for a Scott Harvey offer to celebrate Spring, then low and behold, Scott and Jana came through and didn’t disappoint us!!
@Boatman72
I am just going to do a 4-pack for my wife and I, since the extra discount on the case isn’t that substantial and I have a 6-pack club shipment coming next month that will likely include at least one of these.
/image humorous-comfortable-lip
@chipgreen When I saw this offer early this morning I said I was sticking to my SIWBM, plus I thought others in NE OH would gladly take the balance of your case. As a pal…I’ll take 2-4.
@mrn1
Except that I only bought a 4-pack… but if you’re interested, I could hook you up with a 4 year vertical (2012-2015) of the Mountain Barbera and/or 2 bottles of the 2012 J&S Reserve Barbera.
@MarkDaSpark Yeah, 4 seems about the right level of disrespect for the WBM but still having delicious Barbera. I’m also happy to leave you to the case and just get a 4-pack given the small discount. Just let me know.
Scott was always helpful on the forums, even on other wineries. And always welcoming to us Wineaux descending in his St. Helena home after Dark & Delicious ( Petite Sirah event in late February that is sadly, no more ).
Brought both of these (several years ago) to a family dinner, and they were both enjoyed. However, the Mountain Select (red label) was enjoyed more by my son, nephews, and niece, while the Reserve (white label) was enjoyed more by my sister and myself. So they should both be hits.
Also, Scott and Jana have hosted a “few”(always fantastic) dinners in their vineyard in St. Helena during RPM Historical Tours, as well as a great visit during last summer’s RPM tour to Lodi & Amador.
Caveat: I have been in their wine club since 2008. Never disappointed!
@MarkDaSpark
Scott & Jana have come to Ohio almost every year, hosting wine dinners at the Wooster Inn. I always created wine.woot and Casemates gatherings around the dinners (which were always amazing) and we would get to hang out with Scott & Jana after dinner, sharing wines we brought from home. Unfortunately, the Inn, owned by the College of Wooster, declined to renew the lease of its proprietor and has been closed for renovations since January 1 with no information as to its future plans.
I am also a wine club member, since 2012. Only wine club I belong to, in fact. The Casemates case pricing beats club pricing and with free or discounted shipping, it’s a no-brainer!
Um. Ok. I have mostly enjoyed Scott’s wine as well and he does sound like a very nice guy but any thoughts about the qualities of these wines in particular?
I’m sure Scott will chime in later but it would be great to hear from a less-biased source.
Also, “best place for Barbera in the world”? Seems a little bold considering there are a few places, (like Asti and Alba) that make some pretty good Barbera as well…
Does this wine have some depth? Some character? The SH wines I have had have all been fruity and tasty but short on acid and nuance.
@rlmanzo When I see or hear Scott and Jana Harvey’s names mention, I think of all of their labels of great red Zinfandels, Barbera, Syrah, and Angel Eis! What also comes to mind are the great times spent with them when they visit NE OH while they host their wine dinners!! Great times into the wee hours of the morning! I just saw on their website, they have RIESLING!!! OMG, with Scott’s German trained winemaking skills, his whites have to be killers also! How long has he been hiding this from us or did I miss it? WD49 needs to bring some of his whites on board before summer arrives!! Now more simply stated: AUTOBUY!!! Great people, great wine, great times!!
@Boatman72@rlmanzo My favorite red wine to make is Barbera because it makes the best wine in Amador. My favorite white wine to make is Riesling because of my German training. I like to make low alcohol light crisp aroma rich whites. Wines with no oak and no malo-lactic. White wines that show the varietal character and appellation. There is not enough produced to offer them on Casemates. They can only be purchased through our website. The Riesling, Vermentino, Sauvignon Blanc and a Barbera Rose are made in this light fresh dry to semi dry style.
@Boatman72@InFrom Early on, he used to source fruit from the Finger Lakes, then from Michigan. Now he’s getting all of his Riesling from California. Napa and Mendocino.
@ScottHarveyWine FYI for the last 6 years wifey and I have truly enjoyed your wines. Her fav is the Barbera! I am torn between that and the Syrah…will have to sample more! to decide. Thanks.
@Boatman72@ddeuddeg@InFrom I still think both the Finger Lakes of New York and the Travis City area of Michigan produce some of America’s best Rieslings. Probably should make some more from each area. Will need to make it there under custom crush. To expensive to ship the grapes to California in over night refrigerated trucks.
@chipgreen@ddeuddeg@InFrom@ScottHarveyWine Oh yeah! Or go there to pick up our splits? My son and I fish just below Traverse City in October for freshwater King Salmon. May have to call Scott to try some of his also. I drank Riesling during my Duty in Germany '69 - '71> We’d buy it from local farmer’s that stored bottles under straw in their barns; fill our bota bags with wine and walk the forests around Schwaebisch Hall/Hessental heading to the Einchorn!!
@Boatman72@chipgreen@ddeuddeg@ScottHarveyWine I live in central New York, just about an hour’s drive from the eastern edge of the Finger Lakes region. When it comes to Dry Rieslings, my favorite is Hermann J. Wiemer. (Usually people rave about his Semi-Dry Riesling, but that one isn’t for me.)
Another good Dry Riesling is Dr. Konstantin Frank’s, though I think it has a bit more RS than Wiemer’s.
The Finger Lakes are simply fantastic for Riesling. But I should warn you that I have never in my life found a Finger Lakes red wine that I thought was great. The very best reds I’ve tried I have found merely acceptable, and overpriced for the quality delivered.
I don’t think I have notes on these since I always seem to drink them too fast, but I’ve never been disappointed so I’m in on a case despite overflowing every wine storage space I have. Houstonites, willing to let half of this go if you don’t want your own case!
I’ve been waiting for Scott to offer Barbera on Casemates! These are my favorite SH wines besides the 1869 zin, so in for a case. I will also echo what others have said about Scott and Jana’s generous hospitality. I’ve only met them once a few years ago- Scott drove 3 hours straight back from harvest and crush in Amador (horrible traffic) to keep a tasting appointment my wife and I had made at their house in St. Helena. He got out of the truck, asked Jana for a beer (lol) and then they spent a wonderful couple hours with us offering food and tasting through the wines. It was a really memorable afternoon that I’ll never forget.
You guys are going to bleed me dry! We’ve been waiting for the Scott Harvey Barbera to make an appearance, this is one of our favorites and a staple of our cellar. We’re down to our last 2-3 bottles; I’ve been hoarding them, worried that they were going to run out before we had another chance to order.
Anyone in the CMH region care to go in on this as a split? My storage areas are overflowing lately, but I also don’t really want to pass on the Scott Harvey.
I don’t understand: one of the two is said to be “made in the Italian old world”. But then it is Amador county anyway. “Confused” is underestimating my feeling right now…
Hi Everyone,
These are new releases so not much has been written about them yet. They are consistent with our style of Barbera. I’ve been making Barbera from Amador for 46 years now and have always felt it is the best variety of the region and the region is the best place in the world to produce Barbera. Both Amador and the Piedmont of Italy are foothill regions up against fast young growing mountain ranges. Both the Alps and the Sierra Nevada are huge granite uplifts due to continental drift and they both have decomposed granite soils coming off the sides of them. The difference is that Piedmont in Italy is much closer to a large marine influence. Up over Genoa fog raises off the Mediterranean and floods across the Piedmont. The best variety in the Piedmont is named after the fog and is called Nebbiolo. Nebbiolo makes the most expensive wines of the Piedmont. The famous Barolos and Barberescos. Barbera is a sun loving variety in a foggy foothill region when grown in the Piedmont. Bring it around the world to a similar foothill region, but this one not having any fog during the growing season and it explodes. Up until the early 70’s most the Barbera in the Piedmont was produces as an every day frizzante semi sweet wine bottled soon after harvest. In 1976 Darrel Corti of Corti Brother’s Wine Merchants and grocery store in Sacramento was showing Piero Antinori and his winemaker around the California wine regions. Antinori’s winemaker was from the Piedmont. At a dinner Darrel poured the 1974 Montinvina Barbera, a wine I helped make. The next morning Darrel was having breakfast with Piero Antinori and Antinori told Darrel that he really pissed off his winemaker. After tasting the Amador Barbera the winemaker know that he had to now go back and make serious red Barbera wine in Piedmont. The resulting wines from Asti and Alba are wonderful wines. I greatly enjoy Barbera from all three regions Asti, Alba and Amador. All for what each region gives the grape variety. The highest most austere wine with the highest acidity is the Asti, next comes the Alba and then the Amador will have more extraction and body than the Italian wines. With Amador’s lack of fog and more sun Barbera has a chance to fully ripen.
@ScottHarveyWine@Winedavid49 Love it when a seasoned wine maestro like Scott chimes in!! The history, experience, professionalism, dedication, and ability are like a well known artist painting on a canvas! With the only difference being, you can’t drink a painting!!
Scott - I don’t recall seeing the Toy Vineyard as one of your sources before. Is my memory faulty or is this a new source?
I recall Manby is also one of your Zin sources, right?
Wilderotter I vaguely recall you discussing a year or two ago.
Do you pre-allocate from the vineyards to the wines or do you blend the separate lots once they’re resting in barrel?
@klezman I’ve been using Toy for 14 years. Almost always has gone into the reserve wines. It is on a hill over looking the whole Sacramento Valley. On a clear day you can see Mt. Diablo south of San Francisco Bay from the vineyard.
Manby is a shareholder in the company and we get both Zinfandel and Barbera from him. It is farmed by my ex-wife who also owns and farms Vineyard 1869. Fortunately, I get along better with her now than I did way back when. She farms a number of our vineyards and does a great job.
Once they have been in barrel for 14 months, I start deciding which vineyards will go into which wines. Most years the better vineyards are always the same. But, sometimes I’m surprised. One of the surprises is the Wilderotter vineyard. It was formally the Gould vineyard. When Jay Wilderotter bought it he changed the farming practices and the vineyard improved greatly. As we say “Wine is made in the vineyard”.
@ScottHarveyWine Thanks! Toy Vineyard sounds gorgeous!
How do you define “better” vineyards for the reserve vs Mountain Selection bottles? I thought you hewed more to a style for each rather than a “great” vs “excellent” standard.
@klezman Those vineyards with good south west facing exposure and good air drainage tend to produce better wines but not always. Wine is made the same from all the vineyards. It is just the differences in each lot each year that defines where the lot ends up.
@klezman@ScottHarveyWine I’ve made Barbera out of that field - makes really nice wine , plus one of the best growers in the Sierra Foothills , Pat Rohan helps manage it
I’m going to do this one a little differently than in the past – in part because I only just popped the cork, and I’d like to get some notes up here quickly. This report will also be a little more interactive than any I’ve done in the past, either here or on Woot. If you have questions, ask. The bottle is open. My wife and I are going to be sipping it as we prepare dinner, and then we’ll have some with the meal as well.
This report will also have with visual aids.
(I’m not sure if I can go back to edit this particular post with new information, or if I’ll have to spread the info out. Here we go…)
@moondigger
Unfortunately there is only a 5-minute edit time frame for Casemates discussion forums. Although you can cheat with one edit past the 5 minute mark if you do not refresh the page while the edit window is open. I’m not sure if that is also time limited but I have edited at least 15 minutes after the original post that way a couple times.
Okay… I thought I could edit, but it appears the ability to do so times out after a few minutes. I just lost a couple paragraphs of text. Going to retype it now. Oh, and for clarification, this is a report on the 2016 Mountain Selection Barbera. (Red label.)
Before I get to the tasting notes, I just want to relate a short story about a happy coincidence. I had a long business trip to northern California in October of 2016. (I was basically there for the entire month.) One weekend, I flew my wife out so we could do some sightseeing and wine tasting.
On that Saturday morning I called Scott Harvey Winery to ask about their tasting hours, and spoke with a nice woman whose name I can’t recall now. When she found out our “group” was only two people, she asked if we’d be interested in a winery tour, vineyard tour, tasting, and gourmet meal, rather than just the tasting. Apparently they had a couple open spots for an event that had been scheduled long before, and we just so happened to be in the right place at the right time.
I won’t bore everybody with a minute-by-minute account. But as others have said, Scott and Jana are gracious hosts.
I mention all this because as part of the tour, Scott allowed us to sample wines at a couple different points in the winemaking process. And so while I don’t remember exactly which wines we tasted from early in the process, this 2016 Mountain Selection Barbera may very well have been one of them.
I’m going to post a couple photos from that day. I’m blurring out the faces of other attendees, since I don’t have permission from any of them to post their images. And Scott – if you’d prefer I didn’t post these, just say so and I’ll take them down.
Check out the designations on some of these barrels:
Hmmm… The forum software seems to be shrinking the image to the point that it’s hard to read the writing on the barrels. Maybe these visual aids aren’t going to work out too well…
So it appears that the juice in those barrels was used in the wine on offer here today.
Okay, on to tasting notes:
PnP: I’m getting raspberry and cherry cola on the nose, more cherry than cola. Swirling in the glass enhances the raspberry and brings a slight hint of alcohol to the nose. It is fruit-forward on the palate, with tart cherry and cola dominating. The Casemates/winemaker’s notes say red licorice, but I’m not getting that. I’m not getting much in the way of tannins or oak… if they’re there, they’re subtle.
Scott’s Barberas are always food-friendly, and this one is no exception. My wife just put out a small plate of stuff to snack on while we prepare dinner. This wine goes extremely well with Kerrygold Reserve Cheddar, and pairs nicely with mozzarella and hard salami. It doesn’t work quite as well with pepperoni, IMO, but my wife disagrees.
Specific notes from my wife, which I’m transcribing as fast as I can while she explains:
“It’s better with sharp cheese, like cheddar, than mozzarella. It goes really well with strawberry preserves on crackers. I get blackberry and cherry on the palate. I tried it with a piece of Hershey’s dark chocolate, and while it wasn’t bad, I like both of them better separately. It is really fantastic with the Kerrygold Reserve Cheddar.”
I’m saving one bottle each of the 2014 Barbera, Syrah, and 2013 Zin I bought from the Dec 2017 woot special. Wish you had another mixed pack like you did then but I’m buying this anyway since they were all so good. Hope to see more Zins and Syrahs from Harvey offered in the future!
/giphy kindhearted-rushing-crumpet
Actually went 3 months with no purchases?! Pretty much an auto-buy. Running low on white… love to see some Iron Horse Chardonnay!!
Okay, I’m back. We had grilled ribeyes for dinner – no sides, because of all the snack foods we had beforehand. Barbera might not be the classic choice to accompany a grilled steak, but it worked perfectly well.
Overall, I really like this Barbera. In fact, I like it more than Scott’s previous vintages (which I liked just fine). But I think this one is a step up. Nothing in particular stands out – it’s just a little better in every aspect than my memory of previous vintages. It is a very well-balanced wine. Fruit-forward, but not a fruit bomb. Enough acidity to make it pair well with most foods. Nice to sip on its own as well.
I know there are some folks who have doubts about Scott’s claim that Amador County is the best place in the world for Barbera. I might not go that far – I like some of the Italian Barberas a lot – but the Amador County Barberas I’ve had make a strong case. (Just down the road from Scott Harvey Winery is another Casemates/Woot favorite, Vino Noceto. Their Barberas are also fantastic.) The better Italian Barberas I’ve had seem to focus on different characteristics than the Amador County Barberas. Variety is the spice of life, right?
I’m about to place my order for this offer. It’s just a question of how much. I’m splitting with two other people, and waiting for a response from one of them to determine how much to order.
@moondigger The most joyful of Italian wines, this sassy
varietal gushes blackberries and exotic spices,
and never fails to kiss us with racy acidity.
Deep purple color yet soft and round in its
tannins, one drinks Barbera for its zesty life
energy.
I agree with you. I don’t think it’s useful or appropriate to talk about “best” when it comes to regional character. For example, Chateau Latour, despite its amazing profundity, is a really crappy Beaujolais because it has far too much tannin, is closed in youth, and doesn’t possess a fruity core.
I suspect Scott loves Amador for Barbera because it ripens evenly there and produces at relatively low alcohol wines full of a fruity center (not, in my mind, “fruit-forward” in the Aussie long hang time raisin methodology which Scott has always studiously avoided) characterized by high-pitched blackberry.
Personally, I like to blend these with a Mendocino component contributes lush
cherry fruit and round feminine tannins, and perhaps a bit of Syrah for structure. Scott’s genius is to achieve the same results without these tricks, resulting in a well-mannered and profound wine that speaks more eloquently of place.
Dude , needless to say , Scott’s a legendary winemaker here in Amador ! Saw him today at his winery ! Such a solid dude , always willing to help us young guys out! The mountain selection is always a buy for me ! And his Barbera is always bomb ! Amador County Barbera has become legendary and he has been making it longer than anyone else out here ! Recently , I was holding a bottle of 1984 Santino Barbera he made that my buddy and I need to drink , I was 5 when he made that ; pretty damn cool -
We just finished the last of the bottle, about 4 hours after first opening it. Over those hours it opened up a little bit more, so the last sip was maybe a little bit better than the first.
That said, this isn’t a wine that needs significant time to bloom. The difference after four hours wasn’t dramatic. It was good from beginning to end.
@winesmith I’m sipping your 2013 Cabernet now, while I read. It arrived Monday afternoon…Thank you! Note to self: Open the next one in 2025 (when I retire)!??
@ttboy23 Not a bad plan for the peak of this wine, though why one would wish to deprive oneself of this affordable luxury into ones dotage escapes me.
BTW, I consider that I retired at the age of 27 when I jumped from selling to making wine 40 years ago. My definition:
-Do only what you love.
-Give up all hope of riches.
-Don’t work with jerks.
-Work your ass off until you die.
@winesmith I’ve been resisting, but I’m probably going to pull the trigger on this offer. I’m taking a bottle of the 2013 WineSmith Cabernet to Florida with me. Probably won’t open it during the reunion (it wouldn’t go very far among 100 people!), but will save it for when I get together with family after.
Last night (about 2 am Monday-- I’m a night owl) I saw this offer and opened the only similar thing I had, a 2013 Scott Harvey Mountain Barbera. Frankly, I was underwhelmed, and figured I’d sit this one out. But with dinner (salmon and asparagus) Monday evening, and afterward until my wife and finished the bottle, I liked it. (She did, too.) So in for a case.
Along with many of you, I also am stocked up for days, months, certainly not years, and Scott’s Barbera is one of my absolute faves. In for a case!
Cheers!
@catcoland@lamplighter@noodles@schristopher524
I’ve ordered a case. If anyone else is interested in a couple of bottles, let me know. I’ll be happy to share. Ive been a wine club member for a decade, and Scott never disappoints. His Barberas are among my favorites.
Hey Scott,
I know your Barbera can age for extended durations, and I’m in no hurry to pull corks.
What’s your best guess as to these two will drink in the future?
I have never tried Barbera (other than as part of the Noceto Rosso blend), and am deciding to stay ignorant, to save money. What if I tried it and loved it? That would not help my wine/money situation.
Scott Harvey Wines focus on Scott’s roots, the mountain vineyards of Amador County where he grew up and his grandfather grew old vine Zinfandel. The region has a wonderful ability to produce wines of place allowing Scott to make the rich full bodied Barbera and Old Vine Zinfandel exemplifying the mountain terroir of Amador County. Being a European trained winemaker, these balanced Old World style wines show an amazing ability for being served with your best meals.
2016 Scott Harvey J&S Reserve Barbera, Amador County
Tasting Notes
Amador County Barbera produces small bunches of high extraction, perfect pH and flavors to produce world class Barbera.
Fruit forward, rich full flavors expressing both the varietal and the Amador Terroir. This complex wine has notes of bright red cherries, pepper and mulberry with a bright center finishing with chocolate and spice.
Vintage and Winemaker Notes
100% from Amador County. Amador County is extremely well suited to Barbera. Barbera both buds out earlier and ripens later than Zinfandel producing grapes at lower pH with full bright varietal fruit. Amador County is rapidly becoming known as the best wine growing region in the world for Barbera.
Specs
2016 Scott Harvey Mountain Selection Barbera, Amador County
Tasting Notes
Produced in the Italian old world, food friendly style. Blueberry and raspberry blend into a bright center of cola, and red liquorish flowing into a flavorful lingering finish.
Specs
Included in the Box
Price Comparison
$396.75/case (for 2015 vintage, including shipping) at Scott Harvey Wines
About The Winery
Winery: Scott Harvey Wines
Owners: Scott & Jana Harvey
Founded: 2004
Location: St. Helena, CA
After decades of creating and crafting premium wines for wineries like Santino and Folie a Deux – and putting Amador County on the map as a world-class appellation – Scott Harvey launched his own winery in 2004. With decades of winemaking experience on two continents, it’s no wonder his wines became an immediate sensation. overnight success 35 years in the making. (Oh, and Scott’s not too shabby with a pen, either. Scott’s not too shabby with a pen, either.)
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Thursday, May 2nd - Monday, May 6th
Scott Harvey Reserve and Mountain Selection Barbera
4 bottles for $76.99 $19.25/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $204.99 $17.08/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2016 Scott Harvey Reserve Barbera
2016 Scott Harvey Mountain Selection Barbera
Just payed off CC now WD is coming back for more! To complete transaction…@rjquillin do you have space to store a case til June? And can I ship to your whereabouts? Send me back a whisper. I’ve been waiting for SH Barbera to show up.
@TechnoViking
@TechnoViking Fetched from cold storage and now ready for p/u at work, along with the Keller Rôtie and I think some other bottles.
So… I will have a Lab Rat report for the Mountain Selection Barbera sometime Monday evening or night, EDT. The bottle was a surprise arrival just before I had to go away for the weekend, with no forewarning that it was on its way or any indication of when the offer was going live.
I do appreciate the opportunity to be a Lab Rat – but some forewarning that this was happening might have resulted in a more timely report.
@moondigger I’ve found that signing up for the FedEx delivery notification gives me a great heads up when something is shipped to me and I don’t have to worry about the rat email which sometimes comes out later
@deadlyapp I have FedEx delivery notification. The problem is that this was an overnight package, and knowing it was coming the day before it arrived was not much of a warning.
Also, FedEx delivery notification does not tell me when the Scott Harvey offer is going live on Casemates. It’s lucky that my trip allowed me to be home Sunday night rather than Monday night, or the report would have been delivered literally too late to be useful to anybody.
@deadlyapp @moondigger I too have FedEx delivery notification and they haven’t notified me of any labrat wines I’ve received. Perhaps it’s due to the overnight shipping.
@moondigger @arianawcc I made a suggestion on the “Lab Rat Survey” that they send an initial inquiry on availability before shipping a Lab Rat sample. Seems like it would avoid situations such as this.
@jaybird @moondigger My sample size is one, so maybe I got lucky, but I received notification of a shipment on a Wednesday, it shipped Thursday, I received Friday, for an offer that went live on Monday or Wednesday of the following week. Perhaps I’m an anomaly.
I agree - the ratting notification could be better - there’s no reason they can’t pick rats ahead of schedule and check to make sure you’re available. This is why you need to go do the rat poll that is stickied at the top of the forum!
@moondigger Ariana sends out emails to the email address your Casemates Account has listed. You may want to check your spam folder, if it didn’t show up in your “INCOMING” folder.
@Boatman72 Last year when I ratted a bottle, Ariana sent me a message a few days in advance letting me know. This time she didn’t.
I had checked my spam folders the day I got the FedEx notification to see if I had gotten anything from her, but I hadn’t. I did send her an e-mail Friday asking about it. She replied this morning with an apology, but said they can’t guarantee a notification e-mail “right now,” which seems to imply that people shouldn’t count on them.
@arianaWCC @Mark_L @moondigger You and others have made this same comment/request…
@moondigger Good to know!! Thanks!
On the other hand, it’s not very frequent that I get that surprising bottle! Maybe not getting an email creates more of the surprise factor? All I know, it’s not fun when there’s a Fedex Door Tag causing a delay!!
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2016 Scott Harvey Reserve and Mountain Selection Barbera - $26 = 11.25%
@chipgreen Thank you…Just enough to count me in on a whole box full : ]
This deal was way overdue! I am good for 4-6 bottles.
Love Scott’s Barberas! NE OH peeps?
@chipgreen I think that I’m doing another three way family split on Scott’s offer. What the heck is a SIWBM if you can’t bust it wide open on a Harvey offer!!! I’m sure that some of the other NE OH peeps will chime in soon. They probably got too much sun over the weekend!
It’s kind of funny that last week I was “feeling” that we were due for a Scott Harvey offer to celebrate Spring, then low and behold, Scott and Jana came through and didn’t disappoint us!!
@Boatman72
I am just going to do a 4-pack for my wife and I, since the extra discount on the case isn’t that substantial and I have a 6-pack club shipment coming next month that will likely include at least one of these.
/image humorous-comfortable-lip
@chipgreen When I saw this offer early this morning I said I was sticking to my SIWBM, plus I thought others in NE OH would gladly take the balance of your case. As a pal…I’ll take 2-4.
Where’s the rest of NE OH???
@chipgreen Well, after reading Scott’s view on Amador Barbera I could take 4-6
@mrn1
Except that I only bought a 4-pack… but if you’re interested, I could hook you up with a 4 year vertical (2012-2015) of the Mountain Barbera and/or 2 bottles of the 2012 J&S Reserve Barbera.
@chipgreen @mrn1 mrn1, that’s all it took? I’m staying strong. Great juice though
@chipgreen Maybe that was just the forces of the Universe telling me to sit this one out. But thanks for the offer!
Oy, just what I needed! Another thing I have to get.
@klezman
I “might” be able to spare a few bottles (2 of each?).
@MarkDaSpark Yeah, 4 seems about the right level of disrespect for the WBM but still having delicious Barbera. I’m also happy to leave you to the case and just get a 4-pack given the small discount. Just let me know.
@klezman
I’m fine either way, but it’s cheaper for you to get the 4 from me.
@MarkDaSpark OK, I just wanted to make sure you actually wanted less than a case. Either way you’ve got plenty, right?
#Autobuy
Scott was always helpful on the forums, even on other wineries. And always welcoming to us Wineaux descending in his St. Helena home after Dark & Delicious ( Petite Sirah event in late February that is sadly, no more
).
Brought both of these (several years ago) to a family dinner, and they were both enjoyed. However, the Mountain Select (red label) was enjoyed more by my son, nephews, and niece, while the Reserve (white label) was enjoyed more by my sister and myself. So they should both be hits.
/giphy bountiful-oily-cockatoo
@MarkDaSpark St. Helena home is also sadly no more.
@ddeuddeg
No, really? :endsarcasm.
@MarkDaSpark Just lamenting/letting people know. Don’t see the need for sarcasm.
@MarkDaSpark I miss Dark & Delicious- seeing everyone and the great times at the St. Helena house. Scott and Jana are wonderful people.
Also, Scott and Jana have hosted a “few”(always fantastic) dinners in their vineyard in St. Helena during RPM Historical Tours, as well as a great visit during last summer’s RPM tour to Lodi & Amador.
Caveat: I have been in their wine club since 2008. Never disappointed!
@MarkDaSpark
Scott & Jana have come to Ohio almost every year, hosting wine dinners at the Wooster Inn. I always created wine.woot and Casemates gatherings around the dinners (which were always amazing) and we would get to hang out with Scott & Jana after dinner, sharing wines we brought from home. Unfortunately, the Inn, owned by the College of Wooster, declined to renew the lease of its proprietor and has been closed for renovations since January 1 with no information as to its future plans.
I am also a wine club member, since 2012. Only wine club I belong to, in fact. The Casemates case pricing beats club pricing and with free or discounted shipping, it’s a no-brainer!
Except for when bahwm or ddeuddeg would do it because they got impatient waiting for me to start the gathering thread.
Um. Ok. I have mostly enjoyed Scott’s wine as well and he does sound like a very nice guy but any thoughts about the qualities of these wines in particular?
I’m sure Scott will chime in later but it would be great to hear from a less-biased source.
Also, “best place for Barbera in the world”? Seems a little bold considering there are a few places, (like Asti and Alba) that make some pretty good Barbera as well…
Does this wine have some depth? Some character? The SH wines I have had have all been fruity and tasty but short on acid and nuance.
Hoping for some good rat info!
@rlmanzo
HERE is why Scott believes that Amador County is the best place in the World for Barbera.
@mediocrebot I see what you did there
@rlmanzo When I see or hear Scott and Jana Harvey’s names mention, I think of all of their labels of great red Zinfandels, Barbera, Syrah, and Angel Eis! What also comes to mind are the great times spent with them when they visit NE OH while they host their wine dinners!! Great times into the wee hours of the morning! I just saw on their website, they have RIESLING!!! OMG, with Scott’s German trained winemaking skills, his whites have to be killers also! How long has he been hiding this from us or did I miss it? WD49 needs to bring some of his whites on board before summer arrives!! Now more simply stated: AUTOBUY!!! Great people, great wine, great times!!
@Boatman72 Thanks for your enthusiasm.
However, it would be nice to hear more about how good this particular wine is.
(Visits to NE Ohio not withstanding…)
@Boatman72 @rlmanzo My favorite red wine to make is Barbera because it makes the best wine in Amador. My favorite white wine to make is Riesling because of my German training. I like to make low alcohol light crisp aroma rich whites. Wines with no oak and no malo-lactic. White wines that show the varietal character and appellation. There is not enough produced to offer them on Casemates. They can only be purchased through our website. The Riesling, Vermentino, Sauvignon Blanc and a Barbera Rose are made in this light fresh dry to semi dry style.
@Boatman72 The Riesling showed up on Woot, many moons ago.
@Boatman72 @InFrom Early on, he used to source fruit from the Finger Lakes, then from Michigan. Now he’s getting all of his Riesling from California. Napa and Mendocino.
@ScottHarveyWine FYI for the last 6 years wifey and I have truly enjoyed your wines. Her fav is the Barbera! I am torn between that and the Syrah…will have to sample more! to decide. Thanks.
@Boatman72 @ddeuddeg @InFrom I still think both the Finger Lakes of New York and the Travis City area of Michigan produce some of America’s best Rieslings. Probably should make some more from each area. Will need to make it there under custom crush. To expensive to ship the grapes to California in over night refrigerated trucks.
@Boatman72 @ddeuddeg The one I ratted was from Michigan. Ah yes, I remember it well…
@Boatman72 @ddeuddeg @InFrom @ScottHarveyWine
Don’t forget about Ohio!
You could give Nick Ferrante a call…
@chipgreen @ddeuddeg @InFrom @ScottHarveyWine Oh yeah! Or go there to pick up our splits? My son and I fish just below Traverse City in October for freshwater King Salmon. May have to call Scott to try some of his also. I drank Riesling during my Duty in Germany '69 - '71> We’d buy it from local farmer’s that stored bottles under straw in their barns; fill our bota bags with wine and walk the forests around Schwaebisch Hall/Hessental heading to the Einchorn!!
@chipgreen @ddeuddeg @ScottHarveyWine Any recommendations on Wineries that make Dry Riesling in Traverse City and Finger Lakes areas??
@Boatman72 @chipgreen @ddeuddeg @ScottHarveyWine In the FL, Hermann Wiemer always springs to mind. Love their Cab Franc also.
@Boatman72 @chipgreen @ddeuddeg @ScottHarveyWine I live in central New York, just about an hour’s drive from the eastern edge of the Finger Lakes region. When it comes to Dry Rieslings, my favorite is Hermann J. Wiemer. (Usually people rave about his Semi-Dry Riesling, but that one isn’t for me.)
Another good Dry Riesling is Dr. Konstantin Frank’s, though I think it has a bit more RS than Wiemer’s.
The Finger Lakes are simply fantastic for Riesling. But I should warn you that I have never in my life found a Finger Lakes red wine that I thought was great. The very best reds I’ve tried I have found merely acceptable, and overpriced for the quality delivered.
@Boatman72 @chipgreen @ddeuddeg @moondigger @ScottHarveyWine Red Newt makes some delicious Riesling as well.
I don’t think I have notes on these since I always seem to drink them too fast, but I’ve never been disappointed so I’m in on a case despite overflowing every wine storage space I have. Houstonites, willing to let half of this go if you don’t want your own case!
@deadlyapp I’ll take half
@modfalk perpetual trades
/giphy beautiful-light-grasshopper
Can’t say no to Scott Harvey!
Seems like a new release, not yet offered to club members or on their website, so I’d not expect notes yet; only rodents, should they appear.
I’ve been waiting for Scott to offer Barbera on Casemates! These are my favorite SH wines besides the 1869 zin, so in for a case. I will also echo what others have said about Scott and Jana’s generous hospitality. I’ve only met them once a few years ago- Scott drove 3 hours straight back from harvest and crush in Amador (horrible traffic) to keep a tasting appointment my wife and I had made at their house in St. Helena. He got out of the truck, asked Jana for a beer (lol) and then they spent a wonderful couple hours with us offering food and tasting through the wines. It was a really memorable afternoon that I’ll never forget.
@wnance Sounds like something Scott would do.
Sounds like a wine I gotta try… anyone down for an ATL split?
2016 Scott Harvey Mountain Selection Barbera
Full disclosure - Scott ‘s Barberas have always been one of my favorites.
Appearance: Beautiful - bright ruby red and clear.
Nose: Bright, fruit forward. Red fruits, most notably raspberry.
Taste: Like the nose, but with a little depth of flavor that adds a little complexity. Bright ( the word of the day) with nice acidity.
Overall it’s definitely what we’ve come to expect from this wine. I paired it with a grilled poblano Chile Relleno and it was perfect.
You guys are going to bleed me dry! We’ve been waiting for the Scott Harvey Barbera to make an appearance, this is one of our favorites and a staple of our cellar. We’re down to our last 2-3 bottles; I’ve been hoarding them, worried that they were going to run out before we had another chance to order.
/giphy precise-aquatic-trout
Anyone in the CMH region care to go in on this as a split? My storage areas are overflowing lately, but I also don’t really want to pass on the Scott Harvey.
@drhellknow Woo–ordered and split!
I don’t understand: one of the two is said to be “made in the Italian old world”. But then it is Amador county anyway. “Confused” is underestimating my feeling right now…
@salpo I believe that was meant to say “made in the Italian old world style.”
Hi Everyone,
These are new releases so not much has been written about them yet. They are consistent with our style of Barbera. I’ve been making Barbera from Amador for 46 years now and have always felt it is the best variety of the region and the region is the best place in the world to produce Barbera. Both Amador and the Piedmont of Italy are foothill regions up against fast young growing mountain ranges. Both the Alps and the Sierra Nevada are huge granite uplifts due to continental drift and they both have decomposed granite soils coming off the sides of them. The difference is that Piedmont in Italy is much closer to a large marine influence. Up over Genoa fog raises off the Mediterranean and floods across the Piedmont. The best variety in the Piedmont is named after the fog and is called Nebbiolo. Nebbiolo makes the most expensive wines of the Piedmont. The famous Barolos and Barberescos. Barbera is a sun loving variety in a foggy foothill region when grown in the Piedmont. Bring it around the world to a similar foothill region, but this one not having any fog during the growing season and it explodes. Up until the early 70’s most the Barbera in the Piedmont was produces as an every day frizzante semi sweet wine bottled soon after harvest. In 1976 Darrel Corti of Corti Brother’s Wine Merchants and grocery store in Sacramento was showing Piero Antinori and his winemaker around the California wine regions. Antinori’s winemaker was from the Piedmont. At a dinner Darrel poured the 1974 Montinvina Barbera, a wine I helped make. The next morning Darrel was having breakfast with Piero Antinori and Antinori told Darrel that he really pissed off his winemaker. After tasting the Amador Barbera the winemaker know that he had to now go back and make serious red Barbera wine in Piedmont. The resulting wines from Asti and Alba are wonderful wines. I greatly enjoy Barbera from all three regions Asti, Alba and Amador. All for what each region gives the grape variety. The highest most austere wine with the highest acidity is the Asti, next comes the Alba and then the Amador will have more extraction and body than the Italian wines. With Amador’s lack of fog and more sun Barbera has a chance to fully ripen.
@ScottHarveyWine Fantastic insight Scott! from a man who’s been there. i love these wines.
@ScottHarveyWine Thanks Scott! Do you have an idea what the drinking window on these is? I’m assuming these are not built for cellaring?
@cbrehman They are made to to be 10 to 15 year wines. The pH is low enough for the wines to age well. Barbera is all about, low pH/high acidity.
@ScottHarveyWine @Winedavid49 Super interesting comments on Piedmont vs Amador. Now I think I get it much more than I ever had before!
@ScottHarveyWine @Winedavid49 Love it when a seasoned wine maestro like Scott chimes in!! The history, experience, professionalism, dedication, and ability are like a well known artist painting on a canvas! With the only difference being, you can’t drink a painting!!
Scott - I don’t recall seeing the Toy Vineyard as one of your sources before. Is my memory faulty or is this a new source?
I recall Manby is also one of your Zin sources, right?
Wilderotter I vaguely recall you discussing a year or two ago.
Do you pre-allocate from the vineyards to the wines or do you blend the separate lots once they’re resting in barrel?
@klezman I’ve been using Toy for 14 years. Almost always has gone into the reserve wines. It is on a hill over looking the whole Sacramento Valley. On a clear day you can see Mt. Diablo south of San Francisco Bay from the vineyard.
Manby is a shareholder in the company and we get both Zinfandel and Barbera from him. It is farmed by my ex-wife who also owns and farms Vineyard 1869. Fortunately, I get along better with her now than I did way back when. She farms a number of our vineyards and does a great job.
Once they have been in barrel for 14 months, I start deciding which vineyards will go into which wines. Most years the better vineyards are always the same. But, sometimes I’m surprised. One of the surprises is the Wilderotter vineyard. It was formally the Gould vineyard. When Jay Wilderotter bought it he changed the farming practices and the vineyard improved greatly. As we say “Wine is made in the vineyard”.
@ScottHarveyWine Thanks! Toy Vineyard sounds gorgeous!
How do you define “better” vineyards for the reserve vs Mountain Selection bottles? I thought you hewed more to a style for each rather than a “great” vs “excellent” standard.
@klezman Those vineyards with good south west facing exposure and good air drainage tend to produce better wines but not always. Wine is made the same from all the vineyards. It is just the differences in each lot each year that defines where the lot ends up.
@klezman @ScottHarveyWine I’ve made Barbera out of that field - makes really nice wine , plus one of the best growers in the Sierra Foothills , Pat Rohan helps manage it
Lab Rat Report
I’m going to do this one a little differently than in the past – in part because I only just popped the cork, and I’d like to get some notes up here quickly. This report will also be a little more interactive than any I’ve done in the past, either here or on Woot. If you have questions, ask. The bottle is open. My wife and I are going to be sipping it as we prepare dinner, and then we’ll have some with the meal as well.
This report will also have with visual aids.
(I’m not sure if I can go back to edit this particular post with new information, or if I’ll have to spread the info out. Here we go…)
@moondigger
Unfortunately there is only a 5-minute edit time frame for Casemates discussion forums. Although you can cheat with one edit past the 5 minute mark if you do not refresh the page while the edit window is open. I’m not sure if that is also time limited but I have edited at least 15 minutes after the original post that way a couple times.
Okay… I thought I could edit, but it appears the ability to do so times out after a few minutes. I just lost a couple paragraphs of text. Going to retype it now. Oh, and for clarification, this is a report on the 2016 Mountain Selection Barbera. (Red label.)
@moondigger
Yes, see above
Before I get to the tasting notes, I just want to relate a short story about a happy coincidence. I had a long business trip to northern California in October of 2016. (I was basically there for the entire month.) One weekend, I flew my wife out so we could do some sightseeing and wine tasting.
On that Saturday morning I called Scott Harvey Winery to ask about their tasting hours, and spoke with a nice woman whose name I can’t recall now. When she found out our “group” was only two people, she asked if we’d be interested in a winery tour, vineyard tour, tasting, and gourmet meal, rather than just the tasting. Apparently they had a couple open spots for an event that had been scheduled long before, and we just so happened to be in the right place at the right time.
I won’t bore everybody with a minute-by-minute account. But as others have said, Scott and Jana are gracious hosts.
I mention all this because as part of the tour, Scott allowed us to sample wines at a couple different points in the winemaking process. And so while I don’t remember exactly which wines we tasted from early in the process, this 2016 Mountain Selection Barbera may very well have been one of them.
I’m going to post a couple photos from that day. I’m blurring out the faces of other attendees, since I don’t have permission from any of them to post their images. And Scott – if you’d prefer I didn’t post these, just say so and I’ll take them down.
Check out the designations on some of these barrels:
Hmmm… The forum software seems to be shrinking the image to the point that it’s hard to read the writing on the barrels. Maybe these visual aids aren’t going to work out too well…
@moondigger
Right-click then choose “view image in new tab” (at least that’s the Chrome method) to see full size
Here’s a close-up of some of those barrels:
So it appears that the juice in those barrels was used in the wine on offer here today.
Okay, on to tasting notes:
PnP: I’m getting raspberry and cherry cola on the nose, more cherry than cola. Swirling in the glass enhances the raspberry and brings a slight hint of alcohol to the nose. It is fruit-forward on the palate, with tart cherry and cola dominating. The Casemates/winemaker’s notes say red licorice, but I’m not getting that. I’m not getting much in the way of tannins or oak… if they’re there, they’re subtle.
Scott’s Barberas are always food-friendly, and this one is no exception. My wife just put out a small plate of stuff to snack on while we prepare dinner. This wine goes extremely well with Kerrygold Reserve Cheddar, and pairs nicely with mozzarella and hard salami. It doesn’t work quite as well with pepperoni, IMO, but my wife disagrees.
Specific notes from my wife, which I’m transcribing as fast as I can while she explains:
“It’s better with sharp cheese, like cheddar, than mozzarella. It goes really well with strawberry preserves on crackers. I get blackberry and cherry on the palate. I tried it with a piece of Hershey’s dark chocolate, and while it wasn’t bad, I like both of them better separately. It is really fantastic with the Kerrygold Reserve Cheddar.”
I’m saving one bottle each of the 2014 Barbera, Syrah, and 2013 Zin I bought from the Dec 2017 woot special. Wish you had another mixed pack like you did then but I’m buying this anyway since they were all so good. Hope to see more Zins and Syrahs from Harvey offered in the future!
Sorry, will be back with more notes in a little bit. Gotta help with dinner.
/giphy kindhearted-rushing-crumpet
Actually went 3 months with no purchases?! Pretty much an auto-buy. Running low on white… love to see some Iron Horse Chardonnay!!
Okay, I’m back. We had grilled ribeyes for dinner – no sides, because of all the snack foods we had beforehand. Barbera might not be the classic choice to accompany a grilled steak, but it worked perfectly well.
Overall, I really like this Barbera. In fact, I like it more than Scott’s previous vintages (which I liked just fine). But I think this one is a step up. Nothing in particular stands out – it’s just a little better in every aspect than my memory of previous vintages. It is a very well-balanced wine. Fruit-forward, but not a fruit bomb. Enough acidity to make it pair well with most foods. Nice to sip on its own as well.
I know there are some folks who have doubts about Scott’s claim that Amador County is the best place in the world for Barbera. I might not go that far – I like some of the Italian Barberas a lot – but the Amador County Barberas I’ve had make a strong case. (Just down the road from Scott Harvey Winery is another Casemates/Woot favorite, Vino Noceto. Their Barberas are also fantastic.) The better Italian Barberas I’ve had seem to focus on different characteristics than the Amador County Barberas. Variety is the spice of life, right?
I’m about to place my order for this offer. It’s just a question of how much. I’m splitting with two other people, and waiting for a response from one of them to determine how much to order.
@moondigger The most joyful of Italian wines, this sassy
varietal gushes blackberries and exotic spices,
and never fails to kiss us with racy acidity.
Deep purple color yet soft and round in its
tannins, one drinks Barbera for its zesty life
energy.
I agree with you. I don’t think it’s useful or appropriate to talk about “best” when it comes to regional character. For example, Chateau Latour, despite its amazing profundity, is a really crappy Beaujolais because it has far too much tannin, is closed in youth, and doesn’t possess a fruity core.
I suspect Scott loves Amador for Barbera because it ripens evenly there and produces at relatively low alcohol wines full of a fruity center (not, in my mind, “fruit-forward” in the Aussie long hang time raisin methodology which Scott has always studiously avoided) characterized by high-pitched blackberry.
Personally, I like to blend these with a Mendocino component contributes lush
cherry fruit and round feminine tannins, and perhaps a bit of Syrah for structure. Scott’s genius is to achieve the same results without these tricks, resulting in a well-mannered and profound wine that speaks more eloquently of place.
Dude , needless to say , Scott’s a legendary winemaker here in Amador ! Saw him today at his winery ! Such a solid dude , always willing to help us young guys out! The mountain selection is always a buy for me ! And his Barbera is always bomb ! Amador County Barbera has become legendary and he has been making it longer than anyone else out here ! Recently , I was holding a bottle of 1984 Santino Barbera he made that my buddy and I need to drink , I was 5 when he made that ; pretty damn cool -
Addendum to my Lab Rat Report:
We just finished the last of the bottle, about 4 hours after first opening it. Over those hours it opened up a little bit more, so the last sip was maybe a little bit better than the first.
That said, this isn’t a wine that needs significant time to bloom. The difference after four hours wasn’t dramatic. It was good from beginning to end.
/giphy atomic-neanderthal-fairy
This is one of my absolute favorite that Scott makes! In for a 4 pack.
/giphy teal-offbeat-writer
I need more wine like I need another hole in my head but I can’t pass this one up. Can’t wait to try it!
/giphy gracious-wide-van
Got my order in. Thank you Ron! Enjoy your new chair to sit on til I come by in June.
@ttboy23 because I was curious
/giphy hyperactive-confident-talk
Scott’s wine is always an auto-buy for me. The only downside is that my wife likes his wine more than mine!
@winesmith I’m sipping your 2013 Cabernet now, while I read. It arrived Monday afternoon…Thank you! Note to self: Open the next one in 2025 (when I retire)!??
@ttboy23 Not a bad plan for the peak of this wine, though why one would wish to deprive oneself of this affordable luxury into ones dotage escapes me.
BTW, I consider that I retired at the age of 27 when I jumped from selling to making wine 40 years ago. My definition:
-Do only what you love.
-Give up all hope of riches.
-Don’t work with jerks.
-Work your ass off until you die.
This is the essence of the winemaking life.
@winesmith I’ve been resisting, but I’m probably going to pull the trigger on this offer. I’m taking a bottle of the 2013 WineSmith Cabernet to Florida with me. Probably won’t open it during the reunion (it wouldn’t go very far among 100 people!), but will save it for when I get together with family after.
@winesmith Thanks Clark for getting on the board.
Cheers
Last night (about 2 am Monday-- I’m a night owl) I saw this offer and opened the only similar thing I had, a 2013 Scott Harvey Mountain Barbera. Frankly, I was underwhelmed, and figured I’d sit this one out. But with dinner (salmon and asparagus) Monday evening, and afterward until my wife and finished the bottle, I liked it. (She did, too.) So in for a case.
/giphy cheesy-ambiguous-whip
Don’t need more wine…Don’t need more wine…Don’t need more wine: In for a 4-pack, because Scott Harvey.
I do not need wine. I do not need wine. I do not need wine. OK in for 4.
/giphy technical-natty-border
@a5meiser @FritzCat
What they said. Exactly what they said.
/giphy patriotic-wearisome-porpoise
I never pass up Scott Harvey; I’ve never been disappointed and love the Zins most. One of these days we will visit the area. In for four.
/giphy broken-sweltering-icicle
I have too much wine and no place to store it!
/giphy rotten-nifty-friend
/giphy ashamedly-overblown-machinist
/giphy mandatory-unnatural-frog
/giphy uneven-gross-ramen
Any Iowans interested in a split?
@Kildahl In Iowa City , You?
Scott, how is the 2006 Barbera J&S Reserve drinking?
@Kildahl 2006 is holding up well, better than the 2007.
Along with many of you, I also am stocked up for days, months, certainly not years, and Scott’s Barbera is one of my absolute faves. In for a case!
Cheers!
The Mountain Selection is my go to wine pairing with Indian food - ghobi manchurian and tikka masala.
@SmilingBoognish have you ever had his mountain selection Syrah , it’s my favorite
/giphy cool-sorry-commander
Surprised I haven’t heard from any fellow Western New Yorkers. Anyone interested?
@ddeuddeg I was going to buy a 4 pack before it ended but would go in on a case split.
@catcoland @lamplighter@noodles@schristopher524
I’ve ordered a case. If anyone else is interested in a couple of bottles, let me know. I’ll be happy to share. Ive been a wine club member for a decade, and Scott never disappoints. His Barberas are among my favorites.
@ScottHarveyWine
Hey Scott,
I know your Barbera can age for extended durations, and I’m in no hurry to pull corks.
What’s your best guess as to these two will drink in the future?
@rjquillin Hi Ron, 15 to 20 years due to the low pH. Cheers
@ScottHarveyWine Thanks Scott!
I can only wish I’ll be around that long…
Kids should enjoy whatever I leave for them!
@rjquillin @ScottHarveyWine We hope you’ll both be around that long.
Headed to the SH tasting room in a couple weeks but definitely not going to miss this.
/giphy awestruck-fatty-firefly
I have never tried Barbera (other than as part of the Noceto Rosso blend), and am deciding to stay ignorant, to save money. What if I tried it and loved it? That would not help my wine/money situation.
@PatrickKarcher If you like the Noceto, you’ll like ours. Rusty, Vino Noceto’s winemaker was my apprentice for 16 years. He does a great job.
/giphy panoramic-logical-fold
In for a case. Can’t wait!