Ninety Plus Cellars Barbaresco Lot 181 Review

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Barbaresco Lot 181: What I think

Barbaresco, a DOCG of Piemonte in Italy, wines are made with Nebbiolo. Despite being grown from the same grapes as Barolo, the climate differences lead to earlier-ripening grapes and the wines are better when young (less tannic).

So far, this is my least favorite of the shipment I received from the 90+ Cellars wine club. It was more interesting on its own than it was with food, and perhaps we should have decanted it longer because as the evening went on it developed more complex notes. It wasn’t bright enough to hold up to our sausage ravioli with tomato basil sauce.

My tasting notes: I smelled dark red fruit, and something herby which I eventually decided was menthol, along with tobacco and spice. I tasted sour cherry, all spice, and orange peel. The wine was light bodied and only medium acid but was smooth and not at all tannic until I’d been drinking it a while.

90+ Cellars is a wine negociant. They source wine in all stages of production — from grapes in the vineyard to finished wines — and bottle them under their own label. Many other companies use the negociant model, which was invented in France, and for value-seeking wine lovers who want more than Barefoot or Apothic, 90+ Cellars is a must-see winery.

Last updated: May 2, 2024