Barbera d'Asti Superiore 'Bionzo'

Score

92

"Bionzo is a vineyard site in Costigliole d'Asti planted to vines aged 80 years old or more. The La Spinetta 2016 Barbera d'Asti Superiore Bionzo is a bold wine that offers generous fruit, but then it pulls back with care to show elegance and complexity. The vibrant character of the fruit shines bright, as does the softness and textural richness of this vintage. Dried plum, blackberry and sweet cherry are backed by baking spice, tilled earth and cedar wood. Some 10,000 bottles were made."

Score

94

"The 2016 Barbera d'Asti Superiore Bionzo is a super-classic Asti Barbera with wonderfully delineated flavors and plenty of structure. Clean mineral notes, spice, dried flowers, menthol and graphite all run through this potent yet super-refined Barbera that cries for cold weather and bold, lusty food on the table. When I think about what Asti Barbera should be, the Bionzo often comes to mind."

Score

93

"The 2015 Barbera d'Asti Superiore Bionzo is dark, powerful and incredibly structured. Black cherry, gravel, smoke, chocolate, licorice and menthol are some of the many notes that run through this huge, concentrated Asti Barbera. Rich and also remarkably vivid, the 2015 has so much to offer. Crushed rocks, blackberry jam, menthol licorice and a whole range of dark spices build in this super-concentrated, dense Barbera from old vines in Costigliole d'Asti."