The Little Wine Company Barbera 2019
- 92
- $35
- Drink by: 2022-2032
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Another of Italy’s finest grapes finds a home in the Hunter Valley. The colour here is deep red. We have a nose exhibiting pleasing spice notes, most notably a whiff of pepper (of this, I know of what I speak – the dodgy old pepper grinder just broke and dumped several hundred peppercorns into tonight’s mince). There are darker fruits here, blackcurrants in particular, with an attractive supple palate and bright acidity. This is well structured and has everything in place to age for another decade, if you want, before finishing with excellent length and good grip. As a refreshing style with good intensity, it is most certainly a very fine food wine.
Ken was born and bred in Brisbane, Queensland. He had a non-trendy, perfectly happy childhood, in a family convinced alcohol meant instant condemnation to Hades. But a break fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, and some good wine, started a serious obsession that eventually took over. It did not stop Ken being chastised later for drinking Pol champagne, disgusted he’d drink anything made by a Cambodian dictator. Now, Ken mostly writes on wine, champagne and spirits for various newspapers, magazines and books, but is perhaps best known for his work in The Courier Mail. He also has a little sideline writing on cigars, fishing, travel and food. When not writing, fly-fishing for trout in NZ or bonefish on the flats of Cuba, travelling or smoking cigars, he is no doubt following a variety of sporting teams – the occasionally glorious Queensland Reds rugby, the dysfunctional Washington Redskins, the dodgy Arsenal and especially revels in the world restored to its proper axis with the return of the Ashes to their rightful home.
