2020 Marco Barba Barbarossa

Region: Veneto < Italy Grapes: Raboso, Merlot and Cabernet Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Biodynamic farming, fermentation and aging in concrete; bottled unfined/unfiltered with minimal added So2; 12.5% ABV Winemaker: Marco Barba Young gun winemaker and biodynamic farmer Marco Barba is the heart (and face - that's him on the labels) of the Marcobarba project.  After university, Marco moved to the Jura to work as a shepherd and farmer, inspired by biodynamic agriculture and the ideas of Rudolf Steiner. After honing his farming skills, he moved back home to Lonigo, in the Veneto, to start making wine.  His day job is assistant winemaker to Stefano Menti, the biodynamic Garganega whisperer in Gambellara.  He also makes his own wine, for the eponymous Marco Barba project, in the Menti cellars.  I had the pleasure of visiting Stefano and Marco last summer in Gambellara, where we walked the steep hillside vineyards on serious volcanic soils, the mystery element that gives the whites from here suc