Guerila – Barbera selection, 2018

Today, we’re heading back to Vipava valley to indulge in a variety introduced to Slovenia in the sixties. We’ll have a look at Geuerila’s Barbera selection, a wine marked by oak ageing.

Now, if you follow my blog, you’ve read already that Guerila is a lifestyle. It was a choice to produce wine as the ancestors did, but bringing everything closer to nature and its forces. And such is the case with this Barbera.

Piedmont lovers are now looking here, as this is where Barbera is home, but it was introduced in Vipava in the sixties to add freshness to blends of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. It’s a variety that adapted well in Vipava valley, and it grew to be suggested as a variety giving great results there.

Guerila is following biodynamic principles in everything they do. So this barbera has been handpicked from accordingly farmed vineyards aged between 10 and 25 years; Preske – a southwest-facing vineyard at an altitude of approximately 360 meters above sea level and Zavrh – southwest-facing vineyard planted at an altitude of 330 meters above sea level. Both in flysch soil and well aerated by the Burja wind.

Grapes were handpicked with thorough selection in the vineyard. After destemming, berries were crushed and put to extended maceration with spontaneous fermentation. After gentle pressing, they were racked into the barrel with lees to mature for 18 months. There, it also did the malolactic conversion. Finally, it was bottled without filtration with minimum addition of Sulfite.

Barbera displays as a wine with a deep, ruby red colour and slight scarlet edge. Each twist leaves colour on the walls, with dense texture.

Aromas are accentuated and sophisticated. We detect ripe cherries, cranberries, plums, hints of cherry cake, butter, vanilla, red rose and violet. Finally, we perceive mint, black pepper, chocolate, dry tobacco, cloves, carob and a slight smoky note.

The palate is soft, reasonably warm, with well-incorporated alcohol. It shows crisp acidity with mineral saltiness and velvety tannins. As a matter of fact, freshness makes the gameplay, elevating the taste and presenting a lasting taste. It’s a Barbera with style, elegance and structure, with an intense and lasting taste.

A Barbera that strikes with ist freshness, delivering a pleasant, full-bodied and lasting taste with flavours of black fruit, spices and elegance. Especially the 2018 vintage shows even more style and finesse, putting it next to some of the greatest expressions out there. A bottle will cost you approximately 18 Eur, and you can get it at Koželj, TuamV, eVino, Vinoo.co and Meteri.