This is a big red Tuscan IGT wine. IGT wines are an Italian wine classification created after DOC, DOCG and VdT were shown to be inadequate for wines better than Vino da Tavola but using methods outside of the rules for a DOC rating. Barbi may be considered to be a Super Tuscan.
And if it's Tuscan, you can assume it's Sangiovese-based and Barbi is, but it's too Cabernet-like not to have a good amount of that variety in it. The wine is a bright ruby color, has a vivid red berry nose and shows supple fresh red berry flavors on the palate couched in soft tannins. It's fresh and fruity and structured with that familiar Cabernet-like grip. Barbi is a versatile red but accompanying anything on the grill would be ideal.
This wine has a pedigree. It comes from Giovanni Colombini of Fattoria dei Barbi in Montalcino, "where Brunello was born." Colombini studied modern winemaking extensively in the 1960's and 70's with an emphasis on cold fermentation and that shows in the indelibly fresh Barbi.
The Colombini family has a seven century history of winemaking. Their current winery was established in 1790 but the family has been in Montalcino since 1352. They are one of five today to have a one hundred year (continuous) winemaking history there where they remain a major Brunello producer today.
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