Full Review

Shenandoah Vineyards

Shenandoah Vineyards
2018 ReZerve®, Barbera, Amador County

Pair this wine with:
Beef Cheese Pasta Pork

Category: Barbera

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 14.5%
87 Points
Silver Medal
Highly Recommended
$24

Shenandoah Vineyards
2018 ReZerve®, Barbera, Amador County

Pair this wine with:
Beef Cheese Pasta Pork

Category: Barbera

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 14.5%
Black violet color. Inviting aromas of black plum, palo santo, licorice, eucalyptus-mint tea, and honey with a slightly chewy, crisp, fruity medium-to-full body and a warming, interesting, medium-long shortbread finish with chewy tannins and moderate oak flavor. An atypically full-bodied Barbera with rich notes of plum and herbs.

Tasting Info

Wine Glass Style: Fruity, Juicy & Smooth, Oaky & Rich & Full
Aroma Aroma: black plum, palo santo, licorice, eucalyptus-mint tea, and honey
Taste Flavor: shortbread
Sweetness Sweetness: Fruity
Enjoy Enjoy: Now on its own and with food
Recipes Pairing: Baked Ham, Meat Loaf, Lasagna
Bottom Line Bottom Line: An atypically full-bodied Barbera with rich notes of plum and herbs.

The Producer

Sobon Wine Company, LLC

The Producer
12300 Steiner Rd.
Plymouth, CA 95669
USA
1 209-245-4455

Their Portfolio

90 Shenandoah Vineyards 2018 Special Reserve, Zinfandel, Amador County 14.5% (USA) $12.00.
87 Shenandoah Vineyards 2018 ReZerve®, Barbera, Amador County 14.5% (USA) $24.00.
85 Shenandoah Vineyards 2016 Vintage Port, Amador County 18% (USA) $18.00.
88 Shenandoah Vineyards 2018 Black Muscat, Fortified Muscat, Amador County 17% (USA) $12.00.
95 Shenandoah Vineyards 2018 Cabernet Franc, Amador County 14.5% (USA) $20.00.
86 Shenandoah Vineyards 2018 Rezerve®, Malbec, Amador County 14.2% (USA) $24.00.
88 Shenandoah Vineyards 2019 Special Reserve, Zinfandel, Amador County 14.5% (USA) $12.00.
85 Shenandoah Vineyards 2020 Special Reserve, Zinfandel, Amador County 15% (USA) $13.00.
88 Sobon Estate 2018 Old Vine, Zinfandel, Amador County 14.5% (USA) $14.00.
90 Sobon Estate 2018 Rocky Top, Zinfandel, Amador County 14.5% (USA) $18.00.
93 Sobon Estate 2018 ReZerve® Zin, Zinfandel, Amador County 15.4% (USA) $24.00.
91 Sobon Estate 2018 Cougar Hill, Zinfandel, Amador County 14.5% (USA) $18.00.
92 Sobon Estate 2018 Lubenko Vineyard, Zinfandel, Fiddletown 15.5% (USA) $22.00.
92 Sobon Estate 2018 Paul’s, Zinfandel, Amador County 15.2% (USA) $24.00.
88 Sobon Estate 2018 ReZerve®, Primitivo, Amador County 15.1% (USA) $24.00.
87 Sobon Estate 2018 Barbera, Amador County 14.8% (USA) $17.00.
87 Sobon Estate 2018 Zinfandel Port, Amador County 18% (USA) $16.00.
86 Sobon Estate 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, California 13.8% (USA) $18.00.
85 Sobon Estate 2020 Viognier, Amador County 13.8% (USA) $17.00.
90 Sobon Estate 2018 ReZerve, Petite Sirah, Amador County 15.2% (USA) $28.00.
93 Sobon Estate 2019 Barbera, Amador 14.8% (USA) $17.00.
93 Sobon Estate 2019 Rocky Top, Zinfandel, Amador County 14.5% (USA) $18.00.
93 Sobon Estate 2019 Cougar Hill, Zinfandel, Amador County 14.5% (USA) $18.00.
89 Sobon Estate 2019 Old Vine, Zinfandel, Amador County 15% (USA) $14.00.
92 Sobon Estate 2019 Syrah, Amador County 14.5% (USA) $18.00.
92 Sobon Estate 2019 Red A Premium Blend, Amador County 14.5% (USA) $17.00.
93 Sobon Estate 2019 ReZerve®, Primitivo, Amador County 15.1% (USA) $24.00.
89 Sobon Estate 2019 ReZerve®, Zinfandel, Amador County 15.5% (USA) $24.00.
87 Sobon Estate 2020 Cougar Hill, Zinfandel, Amador County 15% (USA) $20.00.
90 Sobon Estate 2020 Rocky Top, Zinfandel, Amador County 15% (USA) $20.00.
86 Sobon Estate 2020 Old Vine, Zinfandel, Amador County 15% (USA) $15.00.
89 Sobon Estate 2020 Zinfandel, Fiddletown 15% (USA) $23.00.
90 Sobon Estate 2020 ReZerve®, Zinfandel, Amador County 15% (USA) $26.00.
85 Sobon Estate 2022 Dry Rosé, Amador County 13.5% (USA) $15.00.

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.