The 2015 Il Barbiglione Terre di Pisa Rosso is a diverse, Italian red blend approaching its peak drinking window…
Name: Il Barbiglione
Vintage: 2015
Producer: Usiglian del Vescovo
Region/Country: Tuscany, Italy; DOC Terre di Pisa
Grape Varietal(s): Predominantly Syrah, with small proportions of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot (percentages unknown)
Alcohol Level: 14% abv.
Consumed: At home
Recommended By: Received it as part of the Charlie’s Burgers (CB) Wine Program back in 2021
Cost: $64.95 CAD
For the more detailed wine review, read on…
Bottle Presentation
A classic, understated label with a hint of an artistic flair. The wine’s name, Il Barbiglione, appears in traditional, italic font above a caricatured depiction of three birds perched upon a vine, overlooking what appears to be a barren part of a vineyard.
Appearance
Medium garnet, with some haziness, suggesting the wine has not been fully filtered.
Nose
Clean, medium intensity nose, with cherry, raspberry, blackberry, blueberry, vanilla, milk chocolate, tomato leaf, cedar, hickory, and grilled meat notes. We also detected emerging tertiary notes of balsamic vinegar and leather. Lovely. The alcohol content (14% abv) was somewhat noticeable. We’d consider this a developing wine, though we feel it is close to its peak drinking window.
Palate
Dry, medium bodied red, with high acidity, medium, smooth tannins, and high alcohol. Similar to the nose, the palate offered more dark and red fruit, albeit of a sour nature. It also offered cedar, tomato leaf, black tea, and woodsy notes.
Finish
A medium finish, with enduring notes of black tea and wood.
Overall Impressions
We enjoyed this Italian red blend from Tuscany’s Terre di Pisa region. Although predominantly Syrah, it includes smaller proportions of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, which add to the flavour profile. Some tertiary notes (e.g., balsamic vinegar and leather) are starting to emerge, also adding to the wine’s complexity. We found the alcohol somewhat pronounced. For us, Il Barbiglione is approaching its peak drinking window, although you could still cellar it for a couple more years to enjoy more tertiary notes.
We paired this wine with margherita and pepperoni pizzas, and it definitely held its own. We then had the leftover wine (a couple of small glasses left) with with grilled filet mignon with blue cheese melted on top; the wine shone. The Il Barbiglione should also work with savoury pasta dishes.
Ratings
Overall Rating: 88/100.
E-Wine rating: 3/5. We would purchase two bottles, one to enjoy now and one to pour in a couple of years.
Value: 2/5. At $64.95 CAD, we find it a little on the expensive side given other comparable offerings.