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June 27, 2001
1992 scavino barbera in carati - beautiful black tinged youthful glass of wine - meaty oaky somewhat sour nose at first, smoky, notes of green olive, eventually
settles down in a smoky, oaky new world style but with a ripe plump nugget of fruit within - medium body, sweet entry, layered fruit, attenuated acidityhollow
midpalate, some astringent tannins, lemonsquirty finish, develops plummy fruit with a spicy oak thread weaved throughout, a bit rustic but still youthful and fresh,
candied grapy notes on the shortish finish, nose continues down a meaty-sour-stonefruit-southern rhonelike path, fleshes out a bit but is still astringent, the finish
shows some heat and becomes dominated by somewhat harsh, drying oak tannins. Reminds me of some california mourvedres. I was surprised when i found this in
the cellar, it's evidently the only 92 piedmontese wine i bought and i recall not liking the last bottle i had a few years ago. It has certainly improved since then but is
so dominated by it's oak treatment that even the slightest loss of fruit would tip the balance out of whack and lead me to serve this to people a don't wish to see again
but tonight i'll give it */5. Really a tough wine, i think that people who like it'sa new world oak suit might be turned off by it's barbera acidity and rustic palate
profile, conversely those of use who find it's rusticity alluring might be turned off by it's international treatment. A middle of the roader for sure.
