Tried this last night w/ my leftovers:
1. EberyWnry Barbera PasoRobles (13.5%) 1996: Med.light color w/ slight bricking; light vanilla/Am.oak quite spicy/dried oregano/dried Italian herbs rather perfumed slight pencilly/oldRed complex nose; lightly tart light vanilla/oak/pencilly rather spicy/Italian sausage/dried Italian herbs/Barbera rather complex flavor w/ light smooth/gentle tannins; long light vanilla/oak/pencilly rather spicy/dried Italian herbs/Barbera/oregano lightly pungent/Italian sausage complex finish w/ light smooth tannins; a lovely fully mature Calif Barbera that's drinking great. $13.00
____________________
A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. This may or may not been from Art Norman's vnyd up in the WestSide Paso. Gary Eberle has always been one of the unsung heros in Calif w/ Barbera. I made my first visit w/ Gary at EstrellaRiverVnyds around 1977. He was getting a lot of good press for his Cabernets and Chards. He ushered me into his tasting room and had me taste several of them. I made the appropriate compliments...but then told him what I was really interested in was his Syrah & Barbera. Gary gave me this cock-eyed look as if to say "I've got a live one here" and lit up like the 4'th of July. We barrel tasted the Syrah and it was the first inkling I'd had that Syrah had a future in Calif. I had really been liking the Montevina (CaryGott) Barberas, but Gary's was a whole nuther beast. It had an elegance & a spice to it that made me a life-long fan of his Barberas.
________________
2. I also cracked the DavidCaffaro EstateCuvee '97. Pleasant enough but pretty much on its last legs.
Tom