2022 Cascina San Michele Primevi Barbera d’Asti, Italy
Dark cherry, blackberry and plum, with accents of licorice, wild herbs and black pepper. Ripe and supple, yet bright on its feet; Barbera’s mouthwatering acidity cuts through the fruit and carries a lively, savory finish.
Place & Vintage
Marco farms organically in Costigliole d’Asti, where limestone-rich, clay-influenced Monferrato hills give Barbera its natural tension. The exceptionally hot and dry 2022 growing season brought concentrated fruit and early ripening. Here, the vintage’s ripe personality is lifted by Barbera’s unmistakable acidity.
Vineyard & Cellar
Site: Multiple Barbera vineyards within Costigliole d’Asti, with differing aspects and soils; predominantly sand, clay and silt. Farming: Organic methods; no chemical herbicides or fertilizers. Hand-harvested fruit in small crates.
Fermentation: Spontaneous, using native yeasts. Individual vineyard lots ferment separately in stainless steel, typically for 20–30 days, with one or two pump-overs daily.
Blending: Lots are assembled after fermentation.
Élevage: Stainless steel through bottling, without oak; the precise 2022 maturation period is not independently confirmed. Bottling: Unfined and unfiltered.
Intention
A deliberately uncomplicated Barbera: no oak imprint, no heavy-handed cellar signature—just the different facets of Costigliole brought together in one vividly drinkable wine.
At The Table
Beautiful with agnolotti, mushroom ragù, salumi, herb-roasted chicken or grilled sausage. Serve lightly cool, around 58–62°F (14–17°C).
Drinking Window
Open now for its youthful fruit and freshness; enjoy through approximately 2029, depending on cellar conditions.
Specs
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: 100% Barbera
Appellation: Costigliole d’Asti, Piemonte
Alcohol: 14.5%
Harvest: Hand-picked, small crates
Ferment: Native yeast / stainless steel
Maceration/Ferment: Typically 20–30 days
Cap Management: Pump-overs 1–2 times daily
Maturation: Stainless steel / no oak
Fining & Filtration: Neither
What’s Included
6-bottles:
6x - 2022 Cascina San Michele Primevi Barbera d’Asti, Italy
Case:
12x - 2022 Cascina San Michele Primevi Barbera d’Asti, Italy
There are cellars that ask you to admire the wine, and then there is Cascina San Michele, where Marco Minnucci would rather pour you a glass and start a conversation. Tucked into the hills of Costigliole d’Asti, between the Langhe and Monferrato, this old farmhouse is as full of personality as the man behind the bottles. Expect expressive Piedmontse grapes, delightfully unconventional labels, and not a trace of pretense.
Marco began making wine here in 2010 and established Cascina San Michele with his partners in 2015. The vineyards are all within Costigliole d’Asti, planted to Barbera, Dolcetto, Nebbiolo, Brachetto, Bonarda and Cortese. His approach begins with organic farming and restraint: let each growing season speak, ferment with native yeasts, avoid unnecessary cellar intervention, and bottle without filtration. The goal is not to make every vintage taste the same. It is to let the place come through.
Available States
AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations)
2022 Cascina San Michele Primevì Barbera d’Asti - $35 = 17.50%
I am lucky to be the rat for this enjoyable Italian wine. The bottle had a day to recover before being opened to celebrate national pasta day. My parents visited, and we opened it with my better half. Everyone enjoyed the wine as a smooth, easy-drinking, food-friendly pour, although it would benefit from some time in the bottle some aeration before consuming.
The bottle has a modern looking label in black and white save for the bright green of the wine name and the roosters comb. The paper has slight texture to be stained by an errant drop, and to provide contrast to the smooth glass. The back offers all the importers, legalese, etc. but no hint as to how the wine drinks. The origin label, of course, always adds a little class to a bottle.
The cork is synthetic, with no staining. The initial nose was bright red cherry and alcohol. Pretty significant alcohol presence. The glasses sat out for 20 minutes while dinner was finished.
The wine pours a deep, dark crimson. The legs were unremarkable. Cherry is still the dominant aroma. I won’t individualize the comments of the tasters, but here are the descriptors we got.
Smells of bright red cherries (everyone), sour cherry, red fruit, blackberry. With cherry being so dominant, perhaps the non-fruit flavors stood out more with licorice (everyone), camphor/eucalyptus, attic books, smoke, mushroom, leather, sage being described. Even if we didn’t find the descriptor, there was more complexity in the non-fruit smells that kept changing and emerging throughout the meal. The alcohol has dissipated from the initial pour, but it is still present and probably wanting more time to air out.
The wine is fuller to medium bodied, with a juicy acidity. I know Barbera isn’t a tannic wine, but we found them to be present here, and while not “chalky” there was a perceptible viscousness / presence that you could visibly see in the glass.
Speaking of the meal, we paired it with mushroom ravioli with homemade tomato sauce from our garden, garlic bread, and Pecorino. To no ones surprise, it paired lovely with the mushroom pasta, and red sauce. In all my years of drinking and reviewing, when people kind of stop talking about the wine and you see them reaching for it again and again, I consider it better praise than words. That happened with this one.
It seems a little young, and if you are going to drink it now I would recommend air. However, it is a great food wine with a bright cherry presence and lots of character beyond that. WD, Terry, etc. Thank you so much for the opportunity to rat!
Hey everyone! Brian here from Arretine Imports, we are fortunate to be the importer for Marco and his awesome Cascina San Michele wines! I’m here to answer any questions or share more info about the wine and the brand! Cheers!
Cascina San Michele Primevi Barbera d’Asti
2022 Cascina San Michele Primevi Barbera d’Asti, Italy
Place & Vintage
Vineyard & Cellar
Intention
At The Table
Drinking Window
Specs
What’s Included
6-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
$360/Case at Cascina San Michele for 12x 2022 Cascina San Michele Primevi Barbera d’Asti, Italy
About The Winery
Available States
AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Nov 9 - Tuesday, Nov 10
2022 Cascina San Michele Primevì Barbera d’Asti
6 bottles for $99.99 $16.67/bottle + $1.33/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $164.99 $13.75/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations)
2022 Cascina San Michele Primevì Barbera d’Asti - $35 = 17.50%
2022 Primevì Barbera D’Asti
I am lucky to be the rat for this enjoyable Italian wine. The bottle had a day to recover before being opened to celebrate national pasta day. My parents visited, and we opened it with my better half. Everyone enjoyed the wine as a smooth, easy-drinking, food-friendly pour, although it would benefit from some time in the bottle some aeration before consuming.
The bottle has a modern looking label in black and white save for the bright green of the wine name and the roosters comb. The paper has slight texture to be stained by an errant drop, and to provide contrast to the smooth glass. The back offers all the importers, legalese, etc. but no hint as to how the wine drinks. The origin label, of course, always adds a little class to a bottle.
The cork is synthetic, with no staining. The initial nose was bright red cherry and alcohol. Pretty significant alcohol presence. The glasses sat out for 20 minutes while dinner was finished.
The wine pours a deep, dark crimson. The legs were unremarkable. Cherry is still the dominant aroma. I won’t individualize the comments of the tasters, but here are the descriptors we got.
Smells of bright red cherries (everyone), sour cherry, red fruit, blackberry. With cherry being so dominant, perhaps the non-fruit flavors stood out more with licorice (everyone), camphor/eucalyptus, attic books, smoke, mushroom, leather, sage being described. Even if we didn’t find the descriptor, there was more complexity in the non-fruit smells that kept changing and emerging throughout the meal. The alcohol has dissipated from the initial pour, but it is still present and probably wanting more time to air out.
The wine is fuller to medium bodied, with a juicy acidity. I know Barbera isn’t a tannic wine, but we found them to be present here, and while not “chalky” there was a perceptible viscousness / presence that you could visibly see in the glass.
Speaking of the meal, we paired it with mushroom ravioli with homemade tomato sauce from our garden, garlic bread, and Pecorino. To no ones surprise, it paired lovely with the mushroom pasta, and red sauce. In all my years of drinking and reviewing, when people kind of stop talking about the wine and you see them reaching for it again and again, I consider it better praise than words. That happened with this one.
It seems a little young, and if you are going to drink it now I would recommend air. However, it is a great food wine with a bright cherry presence and lots of character beyond that. WD, Terry, etc. Thank you so much for the opportunity to rat!
@KNmeh7 Great review. You covered all that it takes to decide on purchasing, or not
Hey everyone! Brian here from Arretine Imports, we are fortunate to be the importer for Marco and his awesome Cascina San Michele wines! I’m here to answer any questions or share more info about the wine and the brand!
Cheers!
MEALS! DEALS! EELS! AWESOME!
@ArretineImports looks like good marketing to me! Ha!
@kaolis Marco loves his Barbera, and so do we!