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Babo

Deliciousness and Great Value from Our Man in Italia

It’s hard not to get over-excited about the wines from this talented producer—they offer such deliciousness, value and drinkability. The Babo range delivers the afore-mentioned qualities in spades, while still maintaining superb classicism. They taste like the places they come from, but with a purity and balance that is a rare find at these price levels.

The man behind the label is the talented Justin Bubb (today also known for his work in Tasmania, with his wife Anna Pooley at Pooley Vineyards). Justin cut his winemaking teeth working in Chianti and it was during his time in this region, working for a large company, that he realised he had an opportunity to produce some great value Italian wine for his home market. And so, Babo was born. 

The Chianti captures plenty of the region’s trademark sour cherry tang: it’s just a delicious, fresh red that Justin aptly describes as a “Beaujolais from Italy”.  

But really, the story is just that, a story. The key here is the quality that we find in the glass. They are simply terrific and unbelievably fairly priced. While every wine in the range over-delivers in terms of quality and value, three key wines deserve a callout.  

With just 10 g/L residual—the lowest possible for Extra Dry—we’ve seen Babo’s Prosecco go from strength to strength in recent years. Most Prosecco consumed in Australia clocks in at around 17 g/L, making this both drier and more intense than many other examples out there. The Pinot Grigio is sourced from San Martino al Tagliamento in Friuli. Pinot Grigio from Friuli generally has more fleshy layers than, say, those from Veneto and Trentino, a feature Justin Bubb underscores by allowing some skin contact in the press. Then there’s a delightful, vibrant Chianti. Quality fruit—sourced from Vinci (near Empoli) from a south-west facing vineyard—and partial carbonic maceration elevate this to a status that far exceeds what you’d normally expect at this price point. It was also the first Chianti, as far as we know, to be bottled under screwcap and to be offered in a Burgundy-shaped bottle. 

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Babo Prosecco DOC NV

Babo Prosecco DOC NV

This Bibendum favourite comes from a young vineyard in Friuli’s San Martino al Tagliamento, a village that has only recently been granted Prosecco status. Now with just 10 g/L residual sugar, we’ve seen Babo’s Prosecco go from strength to strength. Most Prosecco consumed in Australia clocks in at around 17 g/L, making this drier and more intense than many other examples. Abiding by the DOC regulations, this has to be labelled as a non-vintage, although the wine comes from a single vintage.Made from 100% Glera using the Charmat method, this is attractive and fresh. It has a stone fruit and floral fragrance with creamy mouthfeel centred around a pithy, citrusy core offset by hints of almond biscuits and an ebullient, buoyant texture. As always, it is one of the best-value Proseccos around.

It has fresh, peachy/floral fragrance and a creamy mouthfeel centred around a core of pear skin, citrus and melon fruits, offset by substantial yeasty, creamy depths. As always, one of the best value Proseccos going around.

Babo Prosecco DOC NV
Babo Chianti 2022

Babo Chianti 2022

Cheap Chianti can be all kinds of wrong, but this deliciously juicy, medium-bodied Tuscan red is crazy good value. As far as we know, this was the first Chianti to be bottled under screwcap and offered in a Burgundy-shaped bottle (of course, others have now followed). Quality fruit from a southwest-facing vineyard on alberese soils in Vinci (near Empoli) elevates this to a status far exceeding what you’d typically expect at this price point. The winemaking takes two paths. The first parcel ferments as bunches (fully carbonic) and is raised in concrete vats for six months. The second parcel is destemmed and matures in concrete for eight months. The approach captures plenty of Chianti’s trademark sour cherry tang combined with vibrant floral notes and dried-herb savouriness. Fine, juicy and eminently drinkable, it’s another brilliant release that fits winemaker Justin Bubb’s favoured description for this wine: “Beaujolais from Italy”.

Babo Chianti 2022
Babo Prosecco Rosé DOC 2020

Babo Prosecco Rosé DOC 2020

This is 89% Glera and 11% Pinot Noir from vineyards on the alluvial soils of San Martino al Tagliamento near Pordenone in Fruili. Justin Bubb crafts his Prosecco rosé in the regionally traditional Charmat method and leaves the blend on lees to build further complexity. The wine is bright and perfumed with big summer berry flavours, a soft, fleshy, zesty weight, and a cranberry-fresh finish. This will be right at home at any summer barbeque. 

The resultant wine has a persistent perlage, with a bouquet full of red and black berries and a fruity-fresh finish.

Babo Prosecco Rosé DOC 2020
Babo Nero d'Avola 2020

Babo Nero d'Avola 2020

Nero d’Avola’s reputation might have tracked Sicily’s wine renaissance, but this wasn’t always the case. Historically, this grape was considered rustic, thanks to the many chunky, musclebound wines it produced. As Justin Bubb states: “Most of the time, I found that Nero d'Avola in Sicilia was made in this really ripe, high-octane style and the wines lacked freshness and punch.” Hence, Babo’s Nero is sourced from Sambuca di Sicilia, near Menfi, where the north-facing, fossil-rich soils and cooling influence of the sea and nearby Lake Arancio tend to produce a more subtle, spicy style of Nero d'Avola—without betraying the wine’s traditional Mediterranean generosity. Picked around 13 Baumé, the fruit was destemmed—with lots of whole berries remaining in the ferment—and fermented in small one-tonne fermenters. Extraction was gentle, and the wine was pressed off skins after 12 days to mature for 10 months in large-format French oak (2,000-litre) before bottling. Despite the warm conditions, Justin Bubb has stayed true to the Babo style and delivered a Nero of depth and spice buoyed by fresh fruit and flowers and framed by vibrant structure. Sold.

Babo Nero d'Avola 2020
Babo Langhe Nebbiolo 2021

Babo Langhe Nebbiolo 2021

The latest wine from Justin Bubb and the Babo team is a Langhe Nebbiolo, sourced from vineyards near the famed town of Castiglione Falletto. The sites mainly face southwest between 300 and 400 metres above sea level. The 2021 vintage came with challenges: spring frosts affected yields, and the summer months were warm, but the fruit quality at the end of the season was fantastic. The fruit was handpicked, destemmed and macerated for about a week with twice-daily pumpovers. To preserve freshness and bright red-fruit appeal, the wine matured in concrete tanks for just a short period.Babo’s knack for wines of bright, easy-going charm is writ large over this Langhe Nebbiolo. It’s a fantastic addition to this brilliant range. Dusty floral notes and bright, pure red berry fruits join subtle earth and spice notes on the complex nose. The palate is just as good: juicy with firm but open tannins and an easy, drink-me-now appeal.

“Red fruits, and really quite dusty and peppery, along with some floral notes. It’s medium-bodied, tannin has a gentle chew to it, and a whole lot of dusty spice cupboard character, but it’s fresh ,with some cranberry crunch to acidity, and a dry and gently ferrous finish of solid length. It’s maybe picked on the cusp of ripeness, though it does have energy and plenty of character. Lively. Good to drink. Frisky!”
90 points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front
Babo Langhe Nebbiolo 2021
Babo Rosato 2021

Babo Rosato 2021

This Tuscan Rosato is crafted from 100% Sangiovese sourced from a vineyard near Vinci on the western flank of the Chianti region. The soils are compact clay and limestone, alberese in the local vernacular. Winemaker Justin Bubb prefers the Sangiovese Grosso clone for his Rosato, favouring its more restrained fruit profile and savoury nuance. The fruit spends two to four hours on skins before fermenting and six months’ maturation on fine lees in concrete tanks.Expect a textural, punchy, crisp Italian rosé with a delightful palate of silky berries and a dab of spice, with lovely savoury support and closing with a mouth-watering cherry skin bite. If you can get your hands on some Finocchiona, all the better.

Babo Rosato 2021
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Country

Italy

Primary Region

Multi-Regional

People

Winemaker: Justin Bubb

Availability

National

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