The Italy Wine Project

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Gabiano DOC

A one-estate DOC in practice: the Castello di Gabiano, owned by the Cattaneo Adorno family, makes nearly all of it. It's a barbera-based red (at least 90 percent) with freisa and grignolino allowed in, aged in large oak, and it comes out as a savory, medium-full Barbera with black cherry, dried plum, leather, balsamic notes and firm acid. The riserva can age a decade. Think of it as a Monferrato Barbera with a castle on the label.

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Bottles I'm chasing

ProducerWinePriceBuy
Castello di Gabiano
Gabiano Riserva A Matilde Giustiniani
The flagship riserva; barbera aged in botti, black cherry, tobacco, balsamic, needs food or five years.
$30 to $40Wine-Searcher
Castello di Gabiano
Gabiano
The younger, fresher base bottling of the same estate, plummy and savory, occasionally in US distribution.
$20 to $25Wine-Searcher