Firesteed - Barbara D'Asti D.O.C

1997 |1995

2000 BARBERA D'ASTI D.O.C.

Firesteed Wines Barbera grapes, ripe and in excellent condition were harvested from vineyards in the province of Asti in the Piedmont region of NW Italy in early October 2000. This was on of the best ever years for Barbera in Piemonte. There was plenty of autumn heat and the drier than usual conditions lead to full maturity. The grapes were de-stemmed and crushed, and were them pumped to tank for fermentation. The must was pumped over regularly to extract the tannin and color, and the wine was pressed at completion of fermentation. After racking from grape solids, the wine was aged in large oak barrels (botte) before it was blended and prepared for bottling.

The 2000 vintage was the fourth fine vintage in a row for Piemonte, which is unprecedented in recent times. There were drought conditions leading into harvest of the Barbera, and there was plenty of heat to bring the acidity down to manageable levels.

This wine has opulent fruit in the nose, with aromas of cherries and currents. The flavor is rich with vibrant acidity balancing the bright fruit flavors. It will be at its best between one and five years after the vintage date when the fruit flavors will be prominent and during which time it will become more complex and full.

WINE ANALYSIS

TA 5.9 g/l
pH 3.45
Alcohol 13.1%

1997 BARBERA D'ASTI D.O.C.

Our Barbera vineyards are spread around the steep slopes in the Monferrato Hills. This geography and the close vine spacing demands that the vines be tended entirely by hand.

1997 was the best vintage for Barbera. For the first time in the last thirty years the sun shone for the entire harvest, producing exceptional fruit with superb concentration. Grapes for the Firesteed Barbera were then hand selected at the crusher to maintain the highest possible quality.

The hand-harvested fruit is destemmed, crushed and pumped to stainless steel tanks for fermentation. Fruit aromas and flavor are preserved while color and body are extracted from the skins with twice daily manual pumping during fermentation. The grapes are then pressed and racked for malolactic fermentation. When this has completed, the wine is moved to traditional large oak barrels for a period of maturation prior to bottling.

The color of our 1997 Barbera d'Asti is ruby red with magenta tints. Warm aromas of plums, cherries and strawberries along with subtle spicy oak are well integrated. The palate is very soft but full, and finishes pleasantly warm with lingering savory flavors. This is a very drinkable style and it will complement most meat dishes, and will go particularly well with roasts, game and cheeses.

Our Barbera vineyards are spread around the steep slopes in the Monferrato Hills. This geography and the close vine spacing demands that the vines be tended entirely by hand.

WINE ANALYSIS

TA 6.35 g/l
pH 3.44
Alcohol 12.7%

1995 BARBERA D'ASTI D.O.C.

1995 was a good vintage for Barbera. Despite some early threatening weather that affected earlier varieties, the sun shone for the entire Barbera harvest, producing clean fruit with good concentration. Grapes for the Firesteed Barbera were then hand-selected at the crusher to maintain the highest possible quality.

The color of our 1995 Barbera d'Asti is garnet red. Warm aromas of plums and subtle spicy oak are well integrated. The palate is very soft but full, and finishes pleasantly warm with lingering savory flavors. This is a very drinkable style and it will complement most meat dishes, and will go particularly well with game and cheeses.

This wine should be readily available throughout the country at a retail price of $9.99 per bottle.

WINE ANALYSIS

TA 6.35 g/l
pH 3.44
Alcohol 12.4%