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The Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve Bersano Nizza Barbara 2019 is a $14.99 Trader Joe’s exclusive made by Bersano Estates, a 123-year-old family-run estate in the Piedmont district of Italy.
The Story
Nizza was once part of the DOCG Barbara D’Asti area and became a separate DOCG in 2014. The larger D’Asti DOCG comprises 160 villages with less stringent rules and regulations than Nizza. Nizza is made up of 18 villages.
Nizza wines must be 100% Barbara and need to be aged for 30 months in Barrel. Nizza Barbara, under the Bersano label, is aged for a minimum of 12 months in 80% large used oak barrels and 20% smaller barrels.
The Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve Bersano Nizza Barbara 2019 is not only a Trader Joe’s Reserve but also a Nizza Reserva wine. To e a Reserva, you need a named vineyard and local town on the label. This is on the back label and not the front, but the grapes came from the Generala vineyard near the town of Agliano Terme.
The Barbara grape is 1,000 years older than Cabernet Sauvignon. It shares the same general growing region as the Nebbiolo grape, which is used for Barolo. Barolo is the King of Italian Red wine, and Barbara is seen as the value-priced wine.
The Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve Bersano Nizza Barbara 2019 is a Reserve with all the bells and whistles, and Bersano’s own label, Nizza Barbara, sells list for $35.
With the typical trader Joe’s Reserve wine, you have to take their word that it is the equivalent to wines at this price or that. But here you know who made it, which vineyard they used, and what the actual price is. The alcohol content is 15%.
The Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve Bersano Nizza Barbara 2019 Tasting Notes
The color is strawberry Red with black highlights. The nose is dark berries, a little bit of herbs, spice, leather, plum, black pepper, and dark chocolate. The Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve Bersano Nizza Barbara 2019 is fairly bright and alive for a 2019 vintage being consumed in 2025.
This Barbara tastes like black cherry with a nice slap of spice. Followed by black pepper, herbs, plums, raspberry, bitter chocolate, tart cranberry, and blueberry. I named a lot of fruit, but this is no fruit bomb, it is balanced and little dark tasting. The tannins are sweet and the acidity is balanced.
The Summary
- The Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve Bersano Nizza Barbara 2019 is a top Nizza, Piedmont Barbara, that Trader Joe’s is selling for less than 50% of the retail price.
- Modern Barbara wines are light and breezy, and this aged Barbara is more dark and brooding. It sips well, but save it for a steak on the grill or a roast.
