2017 Lost Coast’s Dragon Vineyard Barbera - Terragena Vineyards

Bruised strawberry, wood smoke, cranberry juice. Smashed raspberry, fresh mint, tart red plum. Crushed rosemary and pine needle, red licorice and sweet cherry tomato. Fresh pomegranate, cherry, blueberry, and peach form a remarkably lean yet succulent core that is thoroughly lively and refreshing. Hydrangeas and simple florals gradually emerge to contribute a bit of lift while evergreen and anise complement pretty herbal nuance. Medium in body with mild tannin and elevated acidity; finishing with lightly saline minerality and an interesting smoky component. Tart, crunchy, and extremely drinkable. This 2017 Lost Coast's Dragon Vineyard Barbera by Terragena Vineyards is a unique and delicious Italian red from Humboldt County.

Humboldt County's identity as a wine producing region may still be in its infancy, but early signs suggest there is great potential for a wide range of cool to moderate climate grape varieties to thrive in this highly diverse and isolated landscape. This bottling, crafted by Terragena Vineyards using Barbera sourced from Lost Coast's Dragon Vineyard in Northern Humboldt County, makes a compelling case for the exploration of Northern Italian grape varieties in the region. While fruit driven and quite primary in character this wine expresses nice energy, tension, and complexity. It does show a subtle smoke note, perhaps caused by the wildfire-riddled 2017 growing season, but this works partially to its advantage and does not detract from a wonderful underlying sense of drinkability. A legitimately fun wine that is sure to spark conversation.