Montevina Terra d'Oro Amador County Barbera 2004

"A big, bold, substantial Barbera with soul" is how one panel member described Montevina's beautiful 2004 Terra d'Oro Barbera. Thankfully, this is one California Barbera that does justice to its noble Italian heritage. Montevina's 2004 Terra d'Oro is made in a juicy Italianesque style the recalls the glory of Italy's Piedmonte. In the nose, it bursts with ripe plum and cherry fruit, which are adroitly interwoven with a dash of spice and a dollop of vanilla. Rich and layered on the palate, this sprightly Barbera captures everything we like about this beloved Piemontese grape variety: from this regal robed wine come forth oodles of black fruit and cherry cola flavors, into which complex tones of angostura and new oak have been sown. To complete the picture, all of this Terra d'Oro's goodness is expertly framed by Barbera's calling card, crisp refreshing acidity. We suggest consuming this delicious Barbera cool (no more than 66°F), after a quarter of an hour of aeration.

Given the wine's heritage as well as its style, the 2004 Montevina Terra d'Oro Barbera is a perfect choice for the delights of la cucina italiana. Whether Italy's regional dishes hail from the north or the south, this Barbera will hold court with the best of them. So, bring on the pasta and tomato sauce as well as the carne and risotto. Montevina's 2004 Terra d'Oro Barbera provides great companionship to everything from pizza to Florentine Steak. For slightly more adventuresome eaters, we suggest serving this wine with a Two Cheese and Smoked Chicken Ravioli; Pan Seared Chicken Fettuccine, served in an Asiago cream sauce with artichoke hearts, sun dried tomatoes, and roasted green onions; or how about a Grilled Beef Salad, that features plenty of well trimmed sirloin tips, grape tomatoes, seedless cucumber, garlic and mint, all tossed with organic greens, extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar. American style steaks and loin lamb chops will shine, too, so long as Montevina's Terra d'Oro Barbera is alongside. Saluté!

Montevina is one of the oldest and most prestigious wineries in Amador County. Set amid the foothills of the Sierra Mountains, Montevina lies at the heart of California's "Gold Rush Country." However, today Montevina is best known for its liquid gold in the form of excellent Zinfandel, Syrah, and Italian varietiels. The Trinchero family has owned Montevina since 1988, but this winery's passion for growing outstanding fruit and producing many of California's finest Italian and Mediterranean style varietals dates back even further to the 1960's. Since 1986, Jeff Meyers, unquestionably the most experienced winemaker in the Sierra Foothills, has been the General Manager and guiding force behind Montevina's huge success. Possessing and encyclopedic knowledge of the region's viticulture along with a knack for fashioning distinctive Italian varietals that possess elegance as well as fabulous flavor, Jeff is one of the first California winemakers to be enormously successful with Italian varieties. Montevina's Barbera, Sangiovese, and Zinfandel, produced under the Terra d'Oro label, constitute a triumvirate of Italian varietals that would be hard to find elsewhere in California. And unlike most of the wines from this estate's competitors, Montevina's wines are produced from old vines. The estate's Barbera vines average more than thirty years of age, while much of Montevina's Zinfandel is even older.