Umbria Uncorked: Barberani Foresco Rosso Umbria 2009

Well you know how I've sometimes said you have to take the "rough" with the smooth? Well that has been my personal experience since I arrived on the shores of Italy, I flew into Rome to find out that my luggage did not accompany me on the trip. So for nearly three days, I was without any clothes, than what I had upon my back as I arrived in Rome.

So while yes I was in Rome, the eternal city and was set for another blogger trip with a fine cadre of other bloggers who've I only known my reputation, I had to eat my very own words. This time I was eating the "rough" and oh-my it was ugly. This misfortune was compounded my already full plate of a bad, with a cold, that I some how picked up just a week before the conference. Ugggh, something I've muttered under my breath a thousand times, but now with my luggage back in possession. I'm so very happy and of course everyone else with me, is very happy as well [wink].

But none-the-less I'm still happy to be here at the International Wine Tourism Conference & Workshop. I'm so happy for the opportunity to experience the great wines of Umbria and fantastic folks behind the labels. The folks [winemakers and producers] that I've met are very "passionate about experiencing life", they have a [don't miss this] "a history that ties together the present, giving a vision for the future". So all you Tuscany wine fans, do yourself a great big favor and check into Umbria. They have an abundant selection of food oriented wines, that dance on your palate, while playing nicely with the food on the table, wines that are very compelling. I've been here now a total of three days and not every wine works, but the ones that do, hit every cylinder, especially for you "slow-foods" fans and adherent's.

Just a quick note to all my blogger friends on the "bus" it has been great getting to know you better, you rock. But I will continue to measure this trip through my new ground Navarra lens. Those folks are some very large spectacles, so while that sounds like I'm just being obnoxious, just ask Mr. Wangbickler, he will help clue you in on just how "fab" it was.

So for the first wine in the "Umbrian" review spotlight will be the 2009 Barberani Rosso, a wine that sells for about $12 euros. A blend of  three grapes, including Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and rounded out by a bit of Merlot. In the glass a nice ruby-red color. On the nose you'll find a delicate boquet, a wine destined to make your lunch time much brighter. 

Its nicely balanced persistence of ripe cherry, dark plum, wrapped in a nice piece of fresh leather, just makes your food sing. I found this wine to have a silky mouth feel, although a bit dry, soft on a nearly bitter finish eroded by the accompaniment of a nice baguette and a few slices of prosciutto. Wow, what a nice body and a clean character, not a rough edge in sight. This wine could handle some grilled or spit-roasted red meats, but better with Umbrian boar in a tomato sauce and laid over some fresh made pasta. I highly recommend this wine for everyday drinking and award it 88 points. What are you waiting for, grab yourself some of the Umbrian experience to see what I'm talking about, cheers!

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