2023 Billy Button The Affable Barbera

95 pts
A fresh, juicy Alpine Valleys Barbera from Jo Marsh that’s all charm, bright fruit and easy-drinking fun.
5.0
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars
6 Reviews

Price:
Sale price$32.00
Stock:
In stock, ready to ship
Rendering loop-subscriptions

Description

Barbera might be Italian at heart, but it’s fitting in just fine in Victoria’s Alpine Valleys. Plenty of sunny days here get the flavours ripe, and the cool nights keep that trademark zingy acidity in check. It’s a variety that pretty much demands another sip.

Jo Marsh keeps things simple in the winery – gentle ferment, soft tannin, and a quick rest in old oak to smooth the edges. Nothing heavy-handed, just letting the fruit do its thing.

The 2023 is bright, juicy and a little bit cheeky – packed with red berry flavour, a hint of spice and a refreshing tang that makes it dangerously easy to pour another glass. It’s the sort of wine that’s just as happy with a pizza as it is with a barbecue, or no food at all if we’re honest.

95 points
"A barbera that rocks! Year after year, this unassuming 'affable' grape knocks your socks off with its energy, its buoyant fruits and upfront honesty."
- Jeni Port (Halliday Wine Companion)

95 points - "A barbera that rocks! Year after year, this unassuming 'affable' grape knocks your socks off with its energy, its buoyant fruits and upfront honesty. Love the bright purple hues, the lifted aromas of red berries, morello cherry, mountain herbs, blackstrap licorice and the savoury hint of Dutch cocoa that translates effortlessly onto the palate. Sounds busy, but it melds together perfectly across a supple, textural base." - Jeni Port (Halliday Wine Companion)

Gold Medal - 2023 Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show

Trophy for Chief Judges Award for 'Most Exciting Wine' - 2024 Australian Italian Varieties Wine Show -

Customer Reviews

5.0
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars
Based on 6 reviews
Total 5 star reviews: 6 Total 4 star reviews: 0 Total 3 star reviews: 0 Total 2 star reviews: 0 Total 1 star reviews: 0
6 reviews
  • TG
    Talis G.
    Verified Buyer
    7 months ago
    Reviewing
    2022 Billy Button The Affable Barbera
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    BB consistent as always

    The aroma opens with dried cherries and a hint of olive tapenade, blending fruitiness with savoury depth. On the palate, bright red fruits shine, balanced by subtle dried herbs for a smooth, well-rounded finish.

  • NC
    Nigel C.
    Verified Buyer
    Wine Knowledge Level Enthusiast
    3 years ago
    Wine Knowledge Level Enthusiast
    Reviewing
    2022 Billy Button The Affable Barbera
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Why aren't we drinking more Barbera

    This was really smashable, juciy red fruit in abundance...more please

  • ZK
    Zachary K.
    Verified Buyer
    3 years ago
    Reviewing
    2022 Billy Button The Affable Barbera
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Quite affable indeed!

    Gorgeous color, an enduring nose, and a surprisingly put together finish combine to make this one of the best bargains around!

Jo has always liked the juicy vibrant style of Barbera from the Piedmont region in Northern Italy. So, in 2014 when Tony Ferraro asked, “would you like to take a look at my Barbera?” Jo jumped at the chance. Since then, Barbera has become one of the most popular wines in the Billy Button line-up.

Production Notes

Fruit sourced from the Ferraro’s vineyard on Whalleys Lane, Myrtleford, was harvested in late March.

The fruit was machine harvested and destemmed with some free run juice being bled off to concentrate fruit flavours. A cold soak prior to ferment was carried out to increase colour, aroma and flavour extraction. Inoculated with selected yeast. fermetation took place in a static fermenter which was pumped over twice per day. The ferments were pressed after reaching sugar dryness to Flexcubes, where they matured for 8 months prior to blending, crossflow filtration and bottling in January 2024.

Tasting Notes

Lifted aromas of bright red berries, morello cherry takes centre stage and is complimented with elements of dried herbs and brown liquorice that provide a provocative savoury edge that carries through to the palate. Generous fruit, beautifully textured, with refreshing acidity and lingering finish.

Optimal Drinking Window – now until 2035

Technical Details

Vineyards: Ferrarro’s Whalleys Lane Vineyard, Myrtleford

Region: Alpine Valleys

Alcohol: 13.5%

Volume Made: 430 dozen

Winemaker: Glenn James and Jo Marsh

Price Bracket $31 to $40
Type Red
Body Medium Bodied
Variety Barbera
Country Australia
Region Alpine Valleys
Australian State VIC
Reviewed By Halliday Wine Companion
Critic Score 95
Alcohol 13.5%
Size 750ml
Vintage 2023
Closure Screw Cap

Billy Button

Billy Button is the charming Alpine Valleys based project of ubertalented winemaker Jo Marsh, now helped by her winemaker husband Glenn James and young winemaker Alex Phillips.

Billy Button focuses primarily on producing small batches of alternative varieties from good local growers in their small patch of Victoria. The team explores varieties that are rarely seen in the Australian landscape - you can find anything from Schioppettino to Verduzzo in this eclectic range.

Jo's gentle touch in the winery makes for beautifully balanced wines that show great texture and vibrancy. The Billy Button range is a little gem of North East Victoria. It's one of the more unique wine ranges in the country and the perfect place to begin your exploration of alternative varieties.

Winemakers Glenn James, Jo Marsh & Alex Phillips Billy Button

Others also liked

Recently viewed

Common Questions

Delivery is free on orders of $150 or more.

For orders under this amount, delivery is calculated at checkout based on your postcode. You can order in any quantity or combination of wines you like. Straight dozens are not required.

We will dispatch your order the same or next business day.

Estimated delivery transit time varies depending on your location. Please review this page for specific estimates.

No sorry we do not have a store front and pickup is not available.

Yes, no problem. When placing your order select ‘Store at Different Drop and Delivery Later’ as your shipping method or reply to the order confirmation email after placing your order with additional instructions.

We stock three different sized gift boxes (single, three bottle and six), all are available for purchase for a flat rate of $8. They look great and make an awesome impression.

To add a gift box to your order, simply add at checkout. The special requests box is your friend, please give us as many details of what you are looking for and we will try our best, or get in contact to discuss it with you. 

If you want to bulk order gifts or if you have any trouble please email hello@differentdrop.com or call and we can try and help.

 

Our warehouse is automated so unless you tell us otherwise, we will ship your order. If you would like us to hold your order please reply to the order confirmation email after placing your order and we are happy to store your order for up to 6 months at no charge. You can review our heat policy here.

Yes, of course. We want Different Drop customers to always be getting the best price. You can see our price match policy here.

No, feel free to mix it up! There is no minimum requirement. You can order wines in any quantity or combination, 1 or 50+ bottles.

No, all prices are set at the full discounted dozen rate already.

If you can't add more wine to your cart it means we are low on stock of that wine. For example, if you are only able to 3 bottles and no more that means we only have 3 bottles left of that wine. If it's a must have, please contact us and we may be able to order more in for you.

Regular Enquiries

Urgent Enquiries

02 8376 8775