2024 Armour Wines Carbo Barbo

Grape Varietal: Barbera

Country: USA

Region: Wahluke Slope AVA, Washington State 

The Wine: Armour Wines is a lo-fi project founded by Tyler and Sarah Armour in Wenatchee, Washington — scrappy upstarts in a state where land is expensive, largely claimed by generational estates, and natural winemaking remains rare. They source from select Washington vineyards, ferment whole-cluster on native yeast, age in neutral French oak, and bottle unfined and unfiltered with minimal sulfur.

Carbo Barbo is made from 100% Barbera, put through two weeks of carbonic maceration, basket-pressed, and aged six months in neutral French oak. It is a juicy, chillable expression of Washington Barbera that drinks like the Pacific Northwest's answer to Lambrusco. It opens with aromas of blackberry syrup, cocoa powder, and fresh herbs, lifted by a note of ripe blueberry. On the palate, it is bright and pulse-driven, with Luxardo cherry fruit, snappy acidity, and a faint prickle on the finish that keeps every sip honest.

Pairing: A cold-cut and salumi spread with sharp provolone, wood-fired pizza with fennel sausage and roasted peppers, pork ribs off a charcoal grill, or a backyard table in July with whatever just came off the fire.