Ricossa Nizza Barbera DOCG

Surrounded by the snowy capped Alps the wine region of Piedmont in northern Italy looks a little like something from The Sound of Music! This is the home of some of Italy’s best fuller bodied red wines.

One of the most famous grapes from this region is Barbera. Once known as ‘The People’s Wine’ as it was widely planted, pretty affordable, easy to drink and a favourite on the tables of the Piemontese to wash down with the amazing local cuisine!

These days Barbera has had a huge uptick in quality and this is a banging example. Nizza is a new premium sub region of Barbera d’Asti in Piedmont and this 2018 release from the Ricossa winery is a seriously good bottle of red!

Medium to full bodied, dry reds known for their tangy, cherry like flavours Barbera is typically ruby red in its younger years and becoming dark and richer as it ages.

Local critic Sam Kim gave this a top score of 95/100 and simply said “This is a seriously good Barbera.”

Meanwhile Master of Wine Bob Campbell scored it 93/100 and said “Medium-bodied red with cassis, blackberry, cacao bean, vanilla, anise, dried herbs and spicy oak flavours. Quite a complex wine that is more vinous than fruity. Can be appreciated now but will reward cellaring.”

Drink now or tuck it away in your cellar until around 2029.