2005 Barbera d'Alba Cascina Francia
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Tasting notes
The 2005 Barbera d’Alba Cascina Francia is forward, supple and silky, all of which make it an excellent choice for drinking now and over the next few years. I would not wait too long, as the 2005 is pretty much fully mature.
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2005 Barbera d'Alba Cascina Francia is another wine that is a bit compact and linear in style, with some resemblance to the 2008 in its tightly-wound personality. The 2005 can be enjoyed today for the purity of its fruit, but tertiary notes are still a ways off. Today, the 2005 stands out for its energy. This is a super-impressive showing from a vintage that is a bit overlooked relative to the surrounding years.
(bottled in July of '07) Deep ruby. Cassis, blackberry and licorice on the nose; gained a floral element with aeration. Less densely packed and obviously sweet than the '06 but still plenty fat, with flavors of dark berries and bitter chocolate complicated by an almost saline minerality. This conveys an impression of energy from limestone.
Conterno's 2005 Barbera d'Alba Cascina Francia is a terrific effort. Its silky aromas meld seamlessly onto the palate, where vibrant layers of dark fruit come to life. As it sits in the glass, licorice, tar, smoke and mineral notes become more prominent, adding further complexity to this irresistibly sensual wine. Long, sweet and pure, it continued to evolve beautifully over the day I followed it.
About the producer
Giacomo Conterno is arguably Barolo’s most celebrated estate. While most famous for its Monfortino Riserva, the quality found in every bottling of Nebbiolo and Barbera at this address makes them a benchmark producer for both varieties.