Drink.  Learn.  Laugh.  Repeat.

Welcome Back!Sign in here:

Not Registered?Become one of our thirsty clan 333,186 strong:

Register Today!

Fontanafredda Raimonda Barbera D'alba 2015 Wine Review

Fontanafredda Raimonda Barbera D'alba 2015

Fontanafredda Raimonda Barbera D'alba 2015

Piedmont D.O.C., Italy

Community Score:90/100

Community Reviews: 14

  Add My Review


Price: $16.95

Drink: 2017-2021

Bottle size: 750 ml

Alcohol: 13.5%

Sweetness: Extra Dry

Wine Type: Red Wine


Winery: Fontanafredda

Agent: Philippe Dandurand Wines Ltd.

Natalie's Score: 91/100

Classic Italian red wine with racy acidity for many dishes. Complex and layered with dark spices and black fruit. An attractive scent of smoke on the nose of this full-bodied Italian red wine. Some grip on the palate from tannins, but this can be helped with 1-2 hours of decanting. Pair with a rare filet mignon.

Barbera D'alba food pairings: meat lovers pizza, pork tenderloin, Mexican dishes, grilled sausage.

Magnificent Meat Pizza Wine

This Fontanafredda Raimonda Barbera D'alba 2015 was reviewed on October 30, 2017 by Natalie MacLean

More Vintages: 2014  2013  2016  2012  2012 

  Add New Vintage

Pricing & Stock Information

Reviews and Ratings

Kristin Perrin rated this wine as 94/100 with the following review:

Nose: gorgeous ripe juicy bing cherry, earthy, red licorice & raspberries, slightly leathery notes
Palate: all of the above mentioned confirmed on the palate, medium plus body, some chocolate & notes, gripping elegant tannins, lengthy finish.
Perfect with harder aged cheeses, cured meats, any braised red meat dishes, tomato based pasta sauces! Excellent value.
Louise Boutin -Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

This Barbera d’Alba DOC from single vineyard is a remarquable value. The nose is generous with aromas of blackberry, ripe black plum combined with forest floor, mushroom and vanilla. The mouthfeel is surpringly very silky before the young tannins and acidity make their presence known to frame a black fruit and cocoa powder med-long dry finish. Partial ageing in large French and Slovanian oak casks and French small barrels before blending provides character and complexity to this delicious red.
Can be enjoyed now with 1-2 hours of aeration before service but an additional 2-5 years of cellaring should pay off. Pair with rare prime rib.

Tasted on Oct 29th, 2017
Melanie Lloyd - Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

This is a juicy wine that is loaded with aromas of blackberries and plums, followed by vanilla, floral notes, and a touch of oak.

Ripe dark fruit follows through on the palate as well as a touch of black pepper. The tannins are medium and there's fresh acidity as well as a nice long finish. Overall a very pleasant wine.

Pair with pepperoni pizza, pasta in a tomato or meat sauce, or with grilled or roasted meat.

Tasted October 2017.
John Masur WSET 3, Sommelier rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

This Barbara D'Alba DOC wine was matured in French and Slavonian oak casks and also a portion in French and American oak barrels for about 1 year before blending and bottling. The wine is nicely balanced showing depth of fruit and complexity of black pepper, spice, and graphite. Black cherry, currants and blackberries are the prominent fruit flavours right to the finish. This is a great value wine that would be a welcome addition to your red meats.
Andrea Shapiro rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Single Vineyard Barbera from Fontanafredda Stripes flagship wine series. A bright ruby red colour, aromas are fresh and earthy consisting of blackberry, cassis, tomato, leather and a hint of mineral and cigarbox. Illuminated flavours of tart cherries, cranberries and ground nutmeg spice notes. High acidity and rich refined tannins leave a prolonged finish echoing some dark chocolate and black fruit into the persistency. An outstanding value, available on limited release when it gets to market. Can drink now but will also be suitable for aging. Pair with rich cheese, sun dried tomato and fresh tomato dishes including lasagna, linguini marinara and bruschetta. Tasted with Fontanafredda brand ambassador, Alberto Frea - October 2017
Courtney Flood rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Tangy and earthy, a fantastic food pairing wine. Loads of juicy raspberry, cherry, and red currant with a touch of earthy mushroom and balsamic. There is a generous amount of freshly ground spicy black pepper and notes of grassy herb.

This wine is great pairing with traditional tomato-based Italian dishes such as margherita pizza, eggplant parmesan, or spaghetti with tomato sauce.
Cherie Cole rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

This wine shows up on the shelves of the LCBO only once per year, so when it arrives, it is wise to purchase several bottles! This Barbera is made more in the style of a Barolo, and is aged in French and Slavonian barrels. Plum preserves, vanilla, mushroom leather and dried floral notes are present in the flavour profile. It is full-bodied with medium-firm tannins and a long finish. Pair with rich, meaty dishes or aged cheese. Tasted with Alberto Frea, Brand Ambassador - Fontanafredda. October 29, 2017.
Lori Kilmartin WSET3 - WSET3 Sommelier rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

A classic Barbera that is a step up from the Briccotondo label. Black cherry, spice and more oak than it's baby sister! The fruit spent a year in medium-toasted French and American oak before being blended as is evident in the aromas. Plenty of fruit on the palate with a long cherry finish. The possibilities for food matching are endless; pizza, meatballs, braised beef, sausage, lamb... the list is endless! Tasted October 29/2017
Lynn Van Der Linde rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Aromas of vanilla, eucalyptus, and forest floor swirl in the glass, with balanced tannin and acidity, and a lingering peppery finish. Wonderful with braised beef and a variety of cheeses.
The striped label is a nod to the once striped buildings that housed the first kings of Italy in the mid-19th century.
Tasted October 2017.
Colin McKone - Sommelier rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Deep ruby with aromas of plum, vanilla, oak, blackberry, raspberry and violet. It is medium bodied with well integrated acidity and tannins. On the palate there are black cherry and black pepper flavours that lead in to a medium finish. This will pair nicely with grilled red meats or tomato based pasta dishes. Tasted on October 29, 2017.
Andrew Bernardo rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

A fleshier midpalate than the Briccotondo, this wine is is loaded with black plum, cherry and briar supported by spice, old wood and matchbox. Lovely for sipping or with pasta. 90 points. (www.ottawawinejournal.com)
Sean O'Regan - Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:

Deep ruby purple, the nose has deeper tones than the Briccotondo bottling, with dark cherry, spice, floral and raspberry. On the palate, dark cherry, blackberry and oak spice. Medium full body, fresh and balanced. Aged in large French and Slavonian oak casks and small French and American oak barrels prior to blending.
Pair with pork tenderloin with a cherry glaze.
Fontanafredda portfolio tasting - Oct, 2017
Fontanafredda Raimonda (2015) is am elegant, single-vineyard juicy red Barbera made with grapes from vines planted in the Langhe hills region of Italy. Well-balanced fruit to zesty acidity, this is a beautiful food wine with a perfect pairing to veal parmesan. - Community Wine Reviews

If you liked the Fontanafredda Raimonda Barbera D'alba 2015, you might also like these wines:

WANT TO LEARN HOW TO

PAIR WINE
& FOOD?

Join me in a free online video class to learn the secrets to perfect pairings.

Wine of the Week

As featured on  

CTV Wine of the Week!

Quilt Red Wine
Red Blend 2020,
Napa Valley, California ...

Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean offers North America's most popular online wine and food pairing classes. She was named the World's Best Drinks Writer at the World Food Media Awards in Australia.

Natalie has published two books with Random House, both selected as one of Amazon's Best Books of the Year.

Join 333,186 thirsty wine lovers who get access to all of her wine reviews by becoming a member of her site. Take a free online pairing class with her here.

FEEL LOST IN THE

LCBO?

Know the wines you want before you even get to the store with my wine reviews. Join now. It's free.

Red, White & Drunk All Over

  Best Books of the Year

Red, White & Drunk all over by Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean writes about wine with a sensuous obsession... and often laugh-out-loud funny... Terrific.

Rex Pickett, Sideways

Ms. MacLean is the disarming Everywoman. She loves wine, loves drinking ... ultimately, it's a winning formula.

Eric Asimov, The New York Times

GOT A SMARTPHONE?

Access my reviews on mobile with the bar code scanner.

GET NAT'S APP

Unquenchable: A Tipsy Search

  Best Books of the Year

Unquenchable by Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean is a new force in the wine writing world ‐ a feisty North American answer to Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson. She can write beautifully about wine.

The Financial Times of London

There are very few people in the wine world who "get it" and Natalie is one of those who brings more fun to a buttoned-up and stodgy game.

Gary Vaynerchuck, Wine Library TV

Starting a Wine Cellar?

Expert advice for all budgets

Insider tips on starting a wine cellar
From wine racks to underground caves, insider tips on size and space, number of bottles, ideal conditions and reputable resources.   learn more  
Winner World's Best Drink Writer
WFour-Time Winner James Beard Foundation
Five-Time Winner Association of Food Journalists
Six-Time Winner Bert Greene Award
Best Wine Literature Book Gourmand World Cookbook Awards
Online Writer of the Year Louis Roederer International Wine Writing Award