Freddy R. Troya

9.1

Macchia – “Delicious” Barbera – 2023
Heaven’s Vines, Lodi – USA 🇺🇸

Overview
100% Barbera from Lodi. an Italian indigenous grape known for its naturally high acidity, juicy fruit, and casual drinkability. Macchia Winery, celebrated for producing over 20 distinct styles of Zinfandel, also showcases its versatility with Italian varieties. Consistently recognized with domestic and international awards, the winery brings Barbera into the spotlight with this vibrant estate bottling.

Aromas & Flavors
Ripe red cherries, plum, blackberry compote, and a touch of vanilla and sweet spice. Fresh, fruity, and forward with that classic Barbera brightness.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with lively acidity and a smooth, easygoing finish. Juicy fruit drives the palate, making it approachable and highly sip-worthy.

Food Pairings
Perfect with pizza, pasta with tomato-based sauces, grilled sausages, roasted vegetables, or charcuterie. A true “any day, any time” red.

Verdict
A fun, approachable, and fruit-driven Barbera with Macchia’s signature Lodi generosity. Casual enough for weeknight sipping yet polished enough to show the quality behind this estate-grown wine.

Did You Know?
Barbera is one of Italy’s most widely planted red grapes, cherished for its fresh acidity and versatility. In California, Lodi’s warm days and cool delta breezes help the variety express generous fruit while maintaining balance. — 8 days ago

Robert Stackowiak

9.0

Cherry, tomato, espresso on the palate. Nice at 9 years old. September 2024. — a year ago

Thomas Nies

9.5

Rustic but refined. Served with homemade pasta and roasted tomato sauce. Exceptional! — 3 years ago

Dawn E.

9.1

Delicious! Presents with milk chocolate, tomato leaves, red raspberries, garrique, thyme, graham cracker crust, and pomegranate. Every time I pick up the glass, I discover something new! — 4 months ago

Will Stanley

9.1

This needs more time to knit together, but does show promise, even if I feel a shade less impressed than the first time trying a couple of years back. It’s initially very herbaceous, with tomato leaf and green pepper, eventually giving way to a svelte personality with plush oak and sweet fruit. Not perfect now, but should be great in four years’ time. — a year ago

Colin Cahoon

9.2

Tangy red fruit on the nose (intense nose). Bright tart cherry, raspberry, plum, cinnamon, clove, oak, blackberry, tomato, and white pepper on the palate. Medium tannin, body, and alcohol with high acid and a long finish. — 3 years ago

with Jennifer and Susan

Scott Kahn

9.0

Deep garnet, with volcanic mineralogy and black cherry on the nose. Mild tannins that provide structure supporting moderate alcohol (14%), medium acidity and some mild oak notes. Fantastically paired with tomato-based Napolian fried pizza. Aglianico is a varietal worthy of attention… — 8 months ago

Ted

9.0

Tasty. Put a little chill on it as well. Dusty cherry with a tiny splash of cinnamon and tomato leaf. — 9 months ago

with Jeni

Jakub Kalinowski

9.0

A nice CS/Sangiovese blend from around Pisa.
Very interesting how this evolves in the glass with the character of the two grapes coming out to shine and fading - sometimes this is very much reminiscent of a northern Medoc with gravelly black currants, a few minutes later the hallmark tomato leaf + some rusticity of Sangiovese emerges.
On the palate this is quite firm with a proper tannic frame filled with black cherry & black currant and juicy acidity.
Good depth & length and surprisingly youthful. — 3 years ago

Matthew Cohen

9.4

On open nose is cold smoke and pine.

Palate is perfect supple mid season cherries. Flashing cherry spice. Some sweet wood. Gorgeous old rose internal aromatics. What you expect from old Nebbiolo.

2 hours in nose is more gun smoke.

Palate is sweet cherry. Gorgeous. So elegant. So fresh. Interlaced sweet old wood. Wow. What you want.

Day 2 nose is a bit of tomato. Some cold smoke. Still elegant. Savory. Fresh. Grippy. Cherry flower rose. Still good. Long grippy finish. Still has 5-10 years to go. — 4 years ago