Casa Smith Barbera Jack's Vineyard 2017

The only varietally labeled Barbera from the Rocks District, this offers intriguing notes of currant, savory herb, pipe tobacco and moist earth. The palate is light in body, with a mix of fruit and savory flavors that carry through to the cranberry-inflected finish.

Cranberry, dried violets, raspberries and dried flowers all emerge from the 2014 Barbera Jack's Vineyard, and this beauty is medium to full-bodied, silky and elegant, with fine tannin and a great finish. It has terrific fruit intensity but never seems heavy or cloying. Beautiful stuff, I suspect it’s the best example of this variety made in the US. Drink it over the coming 2-3 years.