Category Archives: Barbera

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Bricco Dei Tati 2008 Barbera, DOC Piemonte, Italy. 12.5% ABV, $9 and up.

Posted on October 27, 2012 by The Frugal Wine Snob

Just delicious. This fresh, off-the-beaten-path red started out with some funky barnyard on the nose, but opened up quickly and gave way to dust, lively black fruits, and some spice. Medium-bodied but full-flavored, it tastes a lot more expensive than … Continue reading →

Posted in Barbera, Italy | Leave a comment

Winemakers’ Dinner, Columbia Gorge

Posted on September 24, 2012 by The Frugal Wine Snob

One of the traditions of the Wine Bloggers Conference is the “mystery bus” jaunt. Bloggers bravely board buses, blindfolded. (Not really, just had to get in that alliteration.) All we know is that we are headed to a winery, where … Continue reading →

Posted in Barbera, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Gruner Veltliner, Ice Wine, Oregon, Pinot Noir, Tastings, Tempranillo, Travel, Uncategorized, Viognier, Visits to Vineyards/Winemakers, Zinfandel | 17 Comments

WINE-TASTING: Double Decker brand launch event Monday, April 23. 2010 Pinot Grigio, 2009 Red Blend, 2010 Zinfandel, $9.99 each.

Posted on April 27, 2012 by The Frugal Wine Snob

Another online tasting this week … (See the previous post for my write-up of my first experience of this apparent oxymoron.) Monday’s tasting featured a flight of Double Decker wines. For the past 25 years or so, the Wente family … Continue reading →

Posted in Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon, California, News, Petite Sirah, Pinot Grigio (Pinot Gris), Riesling, Tastings, Viognier, Zinfandel | 2 Comments

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Fiddletown Cellars, 2009 Old Vine Zinfandel, Fiddletown, CA. 15.5% ABV. $18.99 from the vineyard.

Posted on December 25, 2011 by The Frugal Wine Snob

“Mmmm. BANG!” I love it when my co-tasters’ reactions are that immediate and direct. Especially when they’re my sentiments exactly. With a dramatic, almost dark-magenta color and pink edges, the nose on this baby was molasses, raspberry, gourmet mushrooms, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Alicante Bouschet, Barbera, California, Zinfandel | 1 Comment

RECOMMENDED: Tamás Estates, 2009 Double Decker Red (includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Barbera), Central Coast, CA. 13.5% ABV. Around $10.

Posted on December 14, 2011 by The Frugal Wine Snob

This is an interesting wine with fun contradictions. Maybe that’s one reason they named it “Double Decker!” First example: in the decanter, this big boy was nearly opaque and nearly black, yet in the glass, it was dark ruby-red with … Continue reading →

Posted in Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Petite Sirah, Red Blend | Leave a comment

RECOMMENDED: Project Paso 2010 Red Blend, Don Sebastiani & Sons, Paso Robles. 22% Grenache, 17% Petite Sirah, 16% Syrah, 15% Merlot, 9% Zinfandel, 8% Tempranillo, 7% Malbec, 4% Barbera, 2% Touriga Nacional. 13.8% ABV. $14, available for less than $10.

Posted on November 30, 2011 by The Frugal Wine Snob

Y’know how red blends with Cabernet Sauvignon are dominated by the Cab most of the time? That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it’s just the way it is. I mean, if Robin Williams comes to your party, guess who’s going … Continue reading →

Posted in Barbera, California, Grenache/Garnacha, Malbec, Merlot, Petite Sirah, Red Blend, Syrah/Shiraz, Tempranillo, Touriga Nacional, Zinfandel | Leave a comment