Giornata Wines, El Pomar District – Paso Robles (Central Coast, California) 2021

 A relatively cool AVA, El Pomar, which benefits from the Templeton Gap’s marine air influence, contains about 2,000 acres of vines, mostly red varieties.  Giornata offers one of the few Barberas from the district and has the food-friendly Piedmonte style in mind.  The winemaker’s goal is to make “a light-bodied wine that is at once pleasurable but also intriguing.”  Stainless steel fermented and aged in neutral French and Slovenian oak, the wine is bottled a few months after harvest.  Very dark in color and medium-bodied, it emphasizes bright berry fruit with light spices in the background.  On the palate it delivers assertive black cherry and strawberry flavors and remains highly energized in its flavors and finish thanks to persistent acidity.  With little evidence of tannin or oak, it begs to be paired with hearty main courses.  352 cases.