In Italy's prominent wine growing region Piedmont the most famous and expensive wines, Barolos and Barbarescos, are made with the big powerful Nebbiolo grape. If you are a Cabernet fan or just like big tannic wines you will probably love those wines.
But if you are fond of Pinot Noir you will probably love Dolcetto. I do.
Roughly translated, Dolcetto means "little sweet one." While not "sweet," the wines made from the Dolcetto grape are usually light and fruity.
The wine is made to be drunk now and is usually very affordable.
I enjoyed these two very good Dolcetto wines recently.
Magna Dolcetto D' Alba, 2007, from Amanti Vino. I got this wine with my January installment of the Amanti Vino Goda monthly wine club.
Produced by Paolo Manzone on his family's estate in the D'alba villages of Sinio, Roddino and in the "Meriame" cru of Serralunga he produces extrodinary wines.
It has deep ruby red and purple color with a vivid nose of floral violet and wild berries scents on the mouth it has a very fresh, smooth medium-bodied yet persistent dry berry flavor ending with a touch of almond.
"They say Manzone is among the new wave of Piemonte producers: 'The Innovators'. At his 'azienda', spread across Serralunga d'Alba, Sinio and Roddino, he insists on all vineyard operations and picking being carried out by hand, guaranteeing crops one-third less than the average and richly-concentrated grapes. Youthfully deep, vivid purple Dolcetto with juicy, silky flavours of sloes and other wild hedgerow fruits." UK
"Typically dry (ducet in the Piedmontese language) this wine is produced in the villages of Sinio and Serralunga from 25 years old wines with a production limited by reducing in green. Rich of fiorai lines and yielded that remember small fruits of the brushwood, red intense ruby with purplish reflexes, wine for a whole meal of meats, first courses and meats of the Piedmontese traditiop, as rice, meat sauces, truffled warm appetizers." Wine Maker
Another very fine Dolcetto is one by Alario Claudio whose vineyard is "Steeped in history and character, this has been an active vineyard since 1900. Located in the rural country of Diano d'Alba, the vines are situated in beautiful green hills. Representing the third generation of winemakers, Claudio dedicates his energy and spirit to expert cultivation and vinification" Il Pioppo
The wine is Dolcetto Di Diano D'Alba Montagrillo, 2005, which I found at Liquor Outlet Wine Cellars in Boonton, NJ.
"Wine Advocate Readers who want to experience top-notch Dolcettos need look no further than to the wines of Claudio Alario. His 2005 Dolcetto di Diano d'Alba Montagrillo is just beautiful. Rich and expansive on the nose, it presents a complex array of scorched earth, tar, violets, mint and black cherries. Made in a wild, unrestrained style, it is a big, powerful Dolcetto that will provide much pleasure over the next few years. Although I tend to prefer Dolcettos on the young side, there is little doubt that this wine has the stuffing to age. I typically find that Alario's wines benefit from several hours of air, and this particular bottle was even more expressive on the second day. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2011." Score: 90. —Antonio Galloni, April 2007.
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