Ba-ba-ba, ba-barber-ann ...

[Mahmoud Ali]

Those who know me would say that I am too old to be thinking of making out with a girl barely over 21 years of age. Well, the other day I did, and her name was Barbra, and she was from Italy, more specifically from the northern region of Asti. Of course she spells her name differently in Italian, calling herself Barbera d'Asti. She was born in 1998 and didn't come of age till only recently. I first met her when she was only a wee lass. She told me she had a difficult childhood, made to suffer by her vintner parents, locked up, dehydrated, and forced to lose weight. She said that this kind of mistreatment is termed apassimento and that friends of hers called Corvina and Rondinela experienced the same thing when growing up in Valpollicella. Barbra was a sweet girl but under age so I thought it prudent to put her out of mind. Over the years I forgot about her but recently when rooting around the cellar I came across her again. She was now over 21 and looked quite alluring. Having led a sheltered life in a wooden box it wasn't too difficult to convince her to come home with me.

Passum1998.jpg

After bringing her home I allowed her a few days to relax and get comfortable before I finally got her to pop her cork.1998 Cascinacastelet 'Passum' Barbera D'Asti Superiore (14.5%). Fresh, fruity, exuberant, like a cross between a barbera and an ripassa/amarone, mineral and herbal elements crossed with fleshy, cherry fruit, and a long luxurious finish, the tannins almost non-existent. I cannot help but think she will get better with age, if you like that sort of thing.

She has an older sister, born in 1997, but I suspect she will be more stubborn.

Mahmoud.

[Ozzie W]

Bravo! Magnificent TN, Mahmoud.

[phillisc]

Hell Mahmoud...I was thinking Dennis Wilson and something from the Napa. Agree with Ozzie though...sharp tasting note.
Cheers Craig

[sjw_11]

[Dragzworthy]

Beautiful post Mahmoud . Never had an aged Barbera and now I pause to wonder why

[JDSJDS]

Apologies for the thread drift - I had a girlfriend named Barbara Anne as a teenager, and I'll never forget the time we went to a pizza place in Buffalo, NY. You ordered your pizza at the cashier, then they would call your name to go bring it back to your table. When they called her name, the whole place - about 30 people - immediately started singing the song with great gusto. She was bright red the whole time she had to walk across the restaurant, pizza in hand, everyone singing to her!

[Mahmoud Ali]

Apologies for the thread drift - I had a girlfriend named Barbara Anne as a teenager, and I'll never forget the time we went to a pizza place in Buffalo, NY. You ordered your pizza at the cashier, then they would call your name to go bring it back to your table. When they called her name, the whole place - about 30 people - immediately started singing the song with great gusto. She was bright red the whole time she had to walk across the restaurant, pizza in hand, everyone singing to her!

Great story (my other half said "How sweet"). Not a thread drift in my opinion, it plays along with the subject of this thread.

Cheers .......................... Mahmoud.

[Benchmark]

Great stuff Mahmoud.

[Rory]

Love the notes Mahmoud!! Well done!