Full Review

Contempo

Contempo
2019 Barbera, Piemonte DOC

Pair this wine with:
Beef Cheese Pasta Pork

Category: Barbera

Date Tasted:
Country: Italy
Alcohol: 12.5% RS: <1%
87 Points
Silver Medal
Highly Recommended
$9.99
Best Buy

Contempo
2019 Barbera, Piemonte DOC

Pair this wine with:
Beef Cheese Pasta Pork

Category: Barbera

Date Tasted:
Country: Italy
Alcohol: 12.5% RS: <1%
Dark garnet color. Aromas and flavors of cherry, compressed watermelon, blackberry custard, hints of rose, carob, and earth with a vibrant, dry-yet-fruity light-to-medium body and a smooth, engaging, medium-length finish that presents accents of bay leaf with a suggestion of oak flavor. A rock solid Barbera with a nice blend fruity and earthy notes.

Tasting Info

Wine Glass Style: Fruity & Juicy & Smooth
Aroma Aroma: cherry, compressed watermelon, blackberry custard, hints of rose, carob, and earth
Taste Flavor: Same as aromas with accents of bay leaf
Sweetness Sweetness: Dry-yet-Fruity
Enjoy Enjoy: Now on its own and with food
Recipes Pairing: Baked Ham, Meat Loaf, Lasagna
Bottom Line Bottom Line: A rock solid Barbera with a nice blend fruity and earthy notes.

The Importer

Boutique Bev

The Importer
1319 Military Cutoff Rd. Ste CC #220
Wilmington, NC 28405
USA
1 910-210-6162

Their Portfolio

BR Castillo 2019 La Mancha 14.5% (Spain) $7.99. - Bronze Medal
86 Castillo De Monlero 2020 Tempranillo, Valencia 13% (Spain) $8.00.
87 Chevalier du Grand Robert 2019 Sauvignon Blanc, Loire Valley 12.5% (France) $14.00.
90 Chevalier du Grand Robert 2018 Pinot Noir, France 12.5% (France) $14.00.
88 Chevalier du Grand Robert 2019 Clairet Dry Rosé, Bordeaux AOC 13.5% (France) $14.00.
87 Chevalier du Grand Robert 2018 Haut-Médoc 13.5% (France) $17.99.
88 Chevalier du Grand Robert 2017 Bordeaux AOC 12.5% (France) $12.99.
85 Chevalier Du Grand Robert 2020 Rosé, Sancerre 13% (France) $29.00.
85 Chevalier Du Grand Robert 2019 Sancerre 13% (France) $29.00.
87 Chevalier Du Grand Robert 2019 Pinot Noir, France 13% (France) $13.00.
88 Chevalier Du Grand Robert 2020 Sauvignon Blanc, Loire Valley 12.5% (France) $13.00.
88 Chevalier du Grand Robert 2020 Flamant Dry Rosé, France 12.5% (France) $7.99.
87 Chevalier du Grand Robert 2019 Cabernet Franc, Pays d’Oc IGP 13% (France) $11.99.
90 Chevalier Du Grand Robert 2018 Haut-Médoc 13% (France) $17.00.
85 Chevalier Du Grand Robert 2020 Bordeaux Clairet 13% (France) $13.00.
89 Chevalier Du Grand Robert 2020 Côtes-du-Rhône Rouge 14% (France) $7.00.
87 Chevalier Du Grand Robert NV Brut Rosé, Cremant De Bordeaux 12% (France) $14.00.
89 Chevalier Du Grand Robert NV Cremant De Bordeaux 12% (France) $14.00.
87 Chevalier Du Grand Robert 2020 White Bordeaux Blend, Bordeaux Aoc 12% (USA) $13.00.
89 Chevalier Du Grand Robert 2018 Bordeaux Supèrieur 13% (France) $13.00.
87 Chevalier Du Grand Robert 2021 Sauvignon Blanc, Pays d’Oc IGP 12% (France) $13.00.
92 Chevalier Du Grand Robert 2021 Pinot Noir, Pays d’Oc IGP 13% (France) $13.00.
89 Chevalier Du Grand Robert 2021 Côtes-Du-Rhône Rouge 14% (France) $11.00.
94 Chevalier Du Grand Robert 2020 Cabernet Franc, Pays D’oc Igp 13.5% (France) $11.00.
87 Chevalier Du Grand Robert 2021 White Bordeaux, Bordeaux Blanc 11.5% (France) $12.00.
91 Chevalier Du Grand Robert 2021 Dry Rosé, Bordeaux Clairet 12% (France) $13.00.
87 Chevalier Du Grand Robert 2019 Haut-Médoc 13% (France) $17.00.
88 Chevalier Du Grand Robert 2018 Bordeaux Rouge 12.5% (France) $11.00.
88 Chevalier Du Grand Robert 2022 Bordeaux Blanc 11.5% (France) $12.00.
89 Chevalier Du Grand Robert 2018 Bordeaux, Entre-Deux-Mers Rouge 12.5% (France) $11.00.
BR Chevalier Du Grand Robert 2022 Dry Rosé, Bordeaux Clairet 12.5% (France) $13.00. - Bronze Medal
86 Chevalier Du Grand Robert 2019 Haut-Médoc 12.5% (France) $17.00.
BR Contempo 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Valley 13% (Chile) $10.00. - Bronze Medal
88 Contempo 2019 Inferno, Central Valley 13% (Chile) $10.00.
87 Contempo 2019 Pinot Noir, Cachapoal Valley 13% (Chile) $10.00.
89 Contempo 2020 Chardonnay, Cachapoal Valley 13% (Chile) $10.00.
87 Contempo 2020 Dry Rosé, Cachapoal Valley 12% (Chile) $10.00.
88 Contempo 2020 Sauvignon Blanc, Cachapoal Valley 12% (Chile) $10.00.
88 Contempo 2019 Pinot Grigio, Delle Venezie DOC 12% (Italy) $10.00.
88 Contempo 2019 Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC 13% (Italy) $10.00.
87 Contempo 2019 Barbera, Piemonte DOC 12.5% (Italy) $9.99.
85 Contempo 2020 Estate Grown, Malbec, Central Valley 13% (Chile) $9.00.
BR Contempo 2020 Estate Grown, Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Valley 13% (Chile) $9.00. - Bronze Medal
85 Contempo 2020 Pinot Grigio, Venezia IGP 12% (Italy) $10.00.
87 Contempo 2020 Barbera, Piemonte DOC 12.5% (Italy) $9.00.
87 Contempo 2021 Dry Rose, Cachapoal Valley 12.3% (Chile) $9.00.
85 Contempo 2021 Chardonnay, Cachapoal Valley 13% (Chile) $9.00.
87 Contempo 2021 Sauvignon Blanc, Cachapoal Valley 12% (Chile) $9.00.
88 Contempo NV Prosecco DOC 11% (Italy) $9.00.
88 Contempo 2021 Sauvignon Blanc, Cachapoal Valley 12% (Chile) $9.00.
87 Contempo 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, Cachapoal Valley 13.5% (Chile) $9.00.
87 Contempo 2021 Inferno Red Blend, Cachapoal Valley 13.5% (Chile) $9.00.
87 Contempo 2021 Malbec, Cachapoal Valley 13% (Chile) $9.00.
92 Contempo 2020 Montepulciano, Montepulciano D’Abruzzo DOC 13% (Italy) $9.00.
88 Contempo 2021 Estate Grown, Merlot, Cachapoal Valley 13.5% (Chile) $9.00.
85 Contempo 2021 Estate Grown, Pinot Noir, Cachapoal Valley 13.5% (Chile) $9.00.
93 Contempo NV White Moscato, Veneto IGT 8% (Italy) $9.00.
88 Contempo 2022 Pinot Grigio, Delle Venezie DOC 12% (Italy) $9.00.
89 Copper Cap 2021 Reserve Estate, Chardonnay, Monterey County 13.5% (USA) $14.00.
88 Currency 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, Lodi 13% (USA) $14.00.
85 Currency 2018 Reserve, Pinot Noir, Lodi 13% (USA) $13.99.
87 Currency 2020 Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon, California 13.5% (USA) $13.00.
87 Les Dauphins 2018 Côtes du Rhône Rouge 14% (France) $14.99.
BR Les Dauphins 2019 Rosé, Côtes du Rhône 12.5% (France) $11.99. - Bronze Medal
88 Pin Point 2018 Pinot Noir, Lodi 13% (USA) $14.99.
86 Pin Point 2019 Pinot Noir, Lodi 13% (USA) $14.00.
87 Pin Point 2020 Pinot Noir, Monterey 13.5% (USA) $14.00.
85 Quanta 2017 Crianza, Monastrell, Yecla 14.5% (Spain) $12.00.
BR Quanta 2018 Crianza, Yecla 14% (Spain) $11.00. - Bronze Medal
85 Raw Bar 2019 Vinho Verde 9.5% (Portugal) $10.00.
89 Raw Bar 2020 Vinho Verde 9.5% (Portugal) $9.00.
91 Raw Bar 2021 Vinho Verde 9.5% (Portugal) $9.00.
88 Raw Bar 2022 Vinho Verde 9.5% (Portugal) $9.00.
87 Sea Salt 2019 Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough 12.5% (New Zealand) $14.00.
86 Sea Salt 2019 Sparkling Dry Rosé, East Coast 12.5% (New Zealand) $14.00.
BR Sea Salt 2020 Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough 13% (New Zealand) $14.00. - Bronze Medal
87 Sea Salt 2020 Rosé, East Coast 12.5% (New Zealand) $14.00.
93 Sea Salt 2021 Dry Rosé, New Zealand 13% (New Zealand) $13.00.
92 Sea Salt 2022 Dry Rosé, East Coast 12.5% (New Zealand) $13.00.
87 Sea Salt 2022 Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough 12.5% (New Zealand) $13.00.
BR Sea Salt Unsalted NV Concord, Michigan 12% (USA) $10.00. - Bronze Medal
BR Sea Salt Unsalted NV Cherry, Michigan 12% (USA) $10.00. - Bronze Medal

Barbera

Wine Glass Zinfandel.jpg
Serve in a Zinfandel Wine Glass
Barbera is a hearty, spicy red, produced most notably in Italy's Piedmont region as well as in California, especially in Sonoma, where it was brought there by Italian immigrants in the 19th century.

Barbera is a distinctive red wine as it has very high acidity as well as very light tannins. Given the acidity, it is an ideal choice at lunch with salumi, as the acidity cuts through the fat of the meat.

It is the most widely planted red variety of Piedmont and most versions are straightforward, slightly rustic wines that are meant for simple foods such as pizza and lighter pastas. However over the past twenty years, producers- especially in the Asti province - have made more "serious" versions of Barbera d'Asti, aged in small oak barrels. These are riper and more weighty versions, light years away from the traditional style.

California has some representative examples, with ripe blackberry fruit and light spice, yet Barbera has yet to receive the same attention as many other red varieties in the state. Most are best consumed young with grilled meats.