WTN: 2001 Trinchero

[MichaelB]

We had biodynamic Trinchero 2001 Barbera d’Asti Superiore tonight. Pouring it right after uncorking, we were surprised at the big whiff of cherry cough syrup and alcohol (13.5). As the meal progressed, the scent was less overpowering and we got a bit of greenery, say Swiss chard.

The wine is tart, even sour, by itself. But it went great with a light meal of salad, shrimp tortillitas a la Mark Bittman, and cheese. This is a meal we usually eat with Txakoli or Vermentino or some other southern WHITE wine, though—so much for the old cliché.

This is the lesser of the two Trinchero barbera bottlings, and we got it for $13 from Garagiste in 2007. Based on tonight’s meal, I’d buy more of this and consider shelling out for Trinchero’s top wine—has anyone here tried it?

[Bob Parsons Alberta]

A name I am not familiar with, will look around!

[Hoke]

A name I am not familiar with, will look around!

Trinchero = Sutter Home. Trinchero family owns Sutter Home, Bob. They own several brands. Trinchero Family Estates, Folie a Deux, Montevina (Sierra Foothills), Soleo, Fre...

[MichaelB]

Hoke, are you sure? While there have certainly been Italians involved in the California wine business—Antinori / Atlas Peak comes to mind—I can’t find anything on the net about a connection between Trinchero Family Estates in California and Ezio Trinchero in Agliano Terme, Piedmont, Italy, and the Italian logo is not listed along with all the others (I didn’t know about Joel Gott) on the California Trinchero company website (http://www.tfewines.com). But then, neither is Soleo, and the site was last updated 4 years ago. Anyway, the Trinchero Barbera d’Asti we drank is worth searching for—Sutter Home, maybe not.

[Hoke]

My bad, Michael. Different Trinchero.

And I didn't read carefully enough.

[MichaelB]

Yeah, well, I should have been more precise in my TN label. And your post made me check out what seems to be the Rolls-Royce of Italian barbera producers. I had thought of barbera as plonk, but I will be ordering some more from this winery--several West Coast dealers stock Italian Trinchero wine--when the weather cools down. But I'd still like to hear what others have thought of this wine and its big bro!