Winemaker Notes
The wine shows an elegant aroma woven from the notes of cherry, blueberry, currant, and sweet spices. The taste of wine is rich and well-structured, with hints of ripe cherries and red berries, silky tannins, and a long finish.
The classic Barbera pairs perfectly with the rack of lamb, steak, sausages, grilled pork, and fragrant cheeses.
Professional Ratings
-
James Suckling
A rather firm barbera with berry, black olive and cedar undertones. A little subdued with a medium body, fresh finish.
-
Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2020 Tenute Neirano Barbera d'Asti Superiore Tirteo is flavorful and appealing. TASTING NOTES: This wine excels with aromas and flavors of black fruits, licorice, and oaky notes. Pair it with grilled pork kebabs. (Tasted: July 10, 2023, San Francisco, CA)
Tenute Neirano is a small estate in the heart of Monferrato in Piemonte. Giacomo Sperone founded the family winery in 1911. The 5th generation of the family has now joined Tenute Neirano to continue the vision and passion of sustainably farming their 60 acres of pristine vineyards. Tenute Neirano is located in a lovingly restored 17th century villa built on top of a hill in Casalotto di Mombaruzzo, near Asti, in the heart of Monferrato. It is surrounded by estate vineyards in the heart of the production of some of the top wines of the Piedmont region. The region is unique, it has a colder continental climate in winter, with low rainfall as a result of the rain shadow effect of the Alps, followed by warm dry summers.
Friendly and approachable, Barbera produces wines in a wide range of styles, from youthful, fresh and fruity to serious, structured and age-worthy. Piedmont is the most famous source of Barbera; those from Asti and Alba garner the most praise. Barbera actually can adapt to many climates and enjoys success in some New World regions. Somm Secret—In the past it wasn’t common or even accepted to age Barbera in oak but today both styles—oaked and unoaked—abound and in fact most Piedmontese producers today produce both styles.
Recognized as the source of the best Barbera in all of Italy, Asti is a province (as well as major city) in Piedmont, consisting of a gentle, rolling landscape with vineyards, farmland and forests alternating throughout.
Barbera d’Asti can be made in an array of styles from relatively straightforward, fruity and ready for consumption early, to the more concentrated, oak aged version with an ability to cellar impressively for 10-15 years and beyond. Some of the very best sites for Barbera in Asti are concentrated in the subzone of Nizza Monferrato. Other red varieties grown here include Freisa, Grignolino and Dolcetto, which can be bottled varietally or blended into Barbera.
Historically consumers commonly associated the Asti region with Asti Spumante and Moscato d’Asti, both playful, aromatic, sparkling wines made from the Muscat grape. Asti Spumante is less sweet, fully fizzy and more alcoholic (yet still clocking in at only around 9% alcohol) while Moscato d’Asti is sweeter, gently sparkling (“frizzante”) and closer to 5 or 6% alcohol. Each is produced in stainless steel tanks to preserve the fresh and fruity flavors of the grape, often including peach, apricot, lychee and rose petal. Asti is also the spot for the pink-hued Brachetto d'Acqui, a slightly sparkling wine ready to charm with its raspberry and rose flavors and aromas.