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2015 Bella Grace Barbera Amador County California
SRP: $25.99 Bottle / $311.88 case of 12
1-27 Cases Landed Profit Margin: 30.65%
28+ Cases Landed Profit Margin: 37.70%
FOB Profit Margin: 46.90%
Vintage
The 2015 harvest was earlier than most years. The yields and quality of red wine grapes were very good, as the ongoing drought that affected most regions had little effect on the Shenandoah Valley of Amador County. Winter rains in the region were more normal. Mild winter temperature caused early bud break, but fruit set was not impacted by any severe late spring weather. As we moved into summer, the weather was perfect for ripening and harvest. Red wine grapes exhibited good acidity and ripeness. Our hillside cave aging maintained a stable aging environment for a smooth clean finish on our red wines. The substantial Butte Fire in Northern California had no effect on the Amador grape harvest, as smoke from the fire tracked easts towards Lake Tahoe and into Nevada.
Winemaker’s Notes
Normally, I would describe Barbera as a party in my mouth. However, the 2015 Barbera is a dance party in my mouth. It has deep ruby purple and wonderful weight in the glass. The nose is all red fruits, raspberry, cherry and currant, with the light hint notes of vanilla and nutmeg. The finish lingers.
Vineyard
The Barbera has a unique flavor profile, produced from combining grapes from five distinct vineyards. Barrtman, Crain-Sleeper and Wilderotter vineyards are located within the Shenandoah Valley appellation, and Shake Ridge Vineyards is an Amador County vineyard along Shake Ridge Road above historic Sutter Creek. Care is taken during final ripening to insure acid levels in the Barbera grapes are not too high, since acid balance shows off the fabulous Barbera flavors in the mouth.
Food Pairings
Because of the terrific acidity, this wine holds its own against robust flavors. Try is with spaghetti and meatballs, grilled or roasted lamb, mushroom risotto or grilled sausages. Lest it be type cast, try it against Mexican dishes such as enchiladas or stuffed Poblano peppers.
Appellation Amador County
Vineyards Source Barrtman • Crain-Sleeper• Shake Ridge & Wilderotter Vineyards
Composition 100% Barbera
Maturation 25% New French Oak– 18 mos.
pH/TA 3.71/5.8
Bottling Date May 2017
Fanciful Name:
Vintage: 2015
Varietal: Barbera
Region/AVA: Amador County
ABV: 14.5%
Annual Production: 795
Country Of Origin: US
Bottle Size: 750
Bottles Per Case: 12
Closure Type: Cork
Scores: