Pio Cesare Fides Barbera d'Alba 2003

This is going to be a short review because I last had this wine last winter and I didn't make detailed notes. The 2003 is no longer available, but I want to post a review because a new vintage is going to be available at the Wine Expo (likely the '05), and it is a wine worth looking for. The '03 Fides had beautiful balance and mouthfeel and the flavours are clean Barbera mid-notes in terms of fruit, but with great complexity in the chocolate / violets range. I served it blind to a few people along side the Glaetzer Amon-Ra Shiraz (which got 98 from RP) and there was complete agreement that the Fides was much better, primarily because of its complexity. Wine Spectator gave the '03 an 89, but it clearly deserves much more than that. They tasted it in 2006 and noted that it was 'still tight' so it has evidently improved in the bottle. In any event, the '03 was a great wine and a great value. And by all accounts the Piedmont vintages from 2004 -07 were even better than '03. So no matter what vintage we see at Wine Expo, this will be a wine to try.

Price: Approx $39
Value: 5/5
Score: 93
Tasted: March 2008
ANBL UPC: No longer listed / Available at WineExpo '08

Bodegas Norton Barbera 2007

I hate to buy wine when I go out to dinner, because pretty much nothing is good value at 100% markup - this wine is the rare exception. I chose it at the Blue Door, largely because it was the cheapest (sorry, least expensive) wine on the house wine list. What a very pleasant surprise. Barbera is perhaps not very well known. Its original home is as the second grape of Piedmont (after Nebbiolo), but it appears to have found second home in Argentina. This wine is medium bodied with clean fresh fruit and very good balance. Went very well with the food and at the price you don't have to worry if you feel like gulping it down. Outstandingly good value. Normally you would have to get into the $20+ price range for a wine of this quality.

Price: $13.29
Value: 4/5
Score: 86
Tasted: August 2008
ANBL UPC: 7792319064042