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Dolcetto tasted in 2017

2012 Dolcetto

2012 Flavio Roddolo Dolcetto d'Alba Superiore 14%
Rather ethereal on the nose with aromas of old wood, certainly purer on the nose than the base Dolcetto and very violet extract driven. Supple, almost loose in the mouth, but it has plenty of acidity,. A rather lean effort, in light of the vintage it is a success but it's dominated by bitter almond and slightly vegetal flavors though it does have fine depth and impressive minerality in the mouth. Long and a bit firm on the finish. 87pts

2013 Dolcetto

2013 Flavio Roddolo Dolcetto d'Alba 13.5
Vinous on the nose, not fruity in style, though rich with perfumes of iris, violet, and bitter almond, all lifted with a touch of va. This is what Dolcetto was, round and supple in the mouth,slightly dried plummy fruit with balanced acids keeping this juicy, and deep with a hint of Monforte vegetal. There's a nice clay mineral note here and dusty tannins that drive the rather long and savory finish. 88pts

2013 Claudio Fenocchio Dolcetto d’Alba 13%
Only inox, 10 day
A touch low keyed on the nose, with classic aromas of earth, violet, and crushed slightly exotic, almost salty berry fruit. Soft on entry with a supple quality but remains a bit tense in the mouth with lacy acid/tannin structure, good length finishing with a touch of muskiness and forest floor. Very drinkable, if a bit short. 87pts

2013 Fracassi Ratti Mentone Dolcetto
Smells deeply of violets and dark fruits, shows a hint of reduction Though. In the mouth it is light, and juicy while  showing a modest evolution and just a hint of youthful richness still present. . Clean and still fresh with fine plum skin fruit though  almost no tannin, this is  gulpable, and fun 86pts

2014 Dolcetto

2014 Marcarini Dolcetto Boschi di Berri
Vines are roughly 120 years old, 2,000 vines per hectare, this has seen roughly two to three months in botti since the 1990 vintage.
Gorgeous nose with old vine depth, dried floral notes, hints of dried strawberry, and dried frutti del bosco come together with seductive intensity. While light on the palate, and lacking the sheen of fruit one finds in it’s younger sibling, this does show more depth and better definition on the palate with fine lacy structural elegance laid bare. A stunningly precise rendering of Dolcetto, long with fine strawberry and raspberry fruit on the fresh, clean finish with hints of violet on the finale. Lacks the depth and nuance of the best vintages but is a fabulous example nonetheless, particularly in light of the vintage. 91pts

2014 Fracassi Ratti Mentone Dolcetto
Just a hint of old wood gracing the nose along with the same violets and plum skin as with the 2013 There’s a nice roundness on the palate here, more darkly fruited though remaining bright and zesty. It lacks some depth but remains quite a solid effort considering the vintage. Finishing long with fine purity to the fruit and a clean, elegant, and steely finale. 87pts

2015 Dolcetto

2015 Bartolo Mascarello Dolcetto 14%
Wow this is sweet in a wild cherry and foxy grape register with bitter almond notes adding accents to the slightly tarry and dark nose. Sweet yet serious, this is intense stuff, really palate staining but not heavy, perfumed in the mouth, bright, juicy, and long, with mineral inflected, liquory, incredibly bright fruit but at the same time the terroir signature here is incredibly vibrant. As good as Dolcetto gets in an intense and fruity style. 94pts

2015 Francesco Clerico Dolcetto d’Alba 12.5%
48 hours on the skins
Lean and much more vinous and mineral on the nose than any other Dolcetto on this trip. This has a sweetness and freshness with no sloppy black fruit. High acid with blazing acid in fact that etches the flavors into the palate with beautiful purity and fine length. Not too complex but wow is this pure and just an amazing expression of a vinous Dolcetto. The true and classic Dolcetto that can go with any food. This is it, it’s not a fruity wine but rather a winy wine that is so sapid and clean. Like tasting history no doubt. 93pts

2015 G.B. Burlotto Dolcetto d’Alba
Floral with gentle spice notes on the nose, but also obviously fruity, oily and intensity to the violet and violet pastille aromas. Really quite cmplex on the nose. A bit broad in the mouth though this remains fairly firm and surprisingly light on the palate. It’s really quite elegant though with excellent depth and intensity of flavor. A touch of seriousness here but not too much, with an intensity and vibrancy on the finish that I've never seen from this wine. 92pts

2015 Elio Sandri Dolcetto d’Alba 12.5%
Quite ripe with a little cocoa on the nose, this  seems a little oxidized and lacks freshness of perfume. Ample air refreshes this revealing violets, almonds and dandelion along with small berry fruit.  In the mouth one finds cut and polish, very vinous through it doesn't lack fruit, with a little blackberry toned flavors that are taut and clear across the palate. There’s really terrific tension in the mouth for 15 Dolcetto with a long mineral finish, and acidity that keeps this vibrant and clear. This is really quite long and rather sophisticated for Dolcetto. 92pts

2015 Brovia Dolcetto d'Alba Vignavillej 13.5%
Cast Ser SS bottled in arch
Tight on the nose, just a little musky, stony, dry mulberry blackberry fruit, with a ragu thing going on, showing some tomato and some braised meat. Airing brings out the more typical violet and almond aromas.  Brighter than expected in the mouth, medium bodied, with lovely richness here but it doesn't sacrifice any elegance. A little transparent on the center of the palate but a dark and slightly earthy example of dolcetto with a dusty toned finish. Developing quite fine and typical inner mouth perfumes, a touch clipped in the mouth due to the richness then finishing with a fairly intense wild berry blackberry note. 91pts

2015 Luigi Oddero Dolcetto d’Alba 13%
estate fruit, in concrete
Very fruity and gently candied on the nose with a nice green streak that runs through this with a little potting soil and geranium note. Playful on entry, then showing good cut in the mouth. Fruit is fresh but a bit bitter though very perfumed in the mouth with  jasmine and violet floral notes. Real cut on the back end, no fat but no lack of richness, either. This is surprisingly taut and tense. 91pts

2015 Poderi Luigi Einaudi Dogliani 14%
4-5 days of maceration followed by ageing in inox
From vineyards surrounding the winery in Dogliani
Spicy nose, gentle and fruity with that lovely hint of bitter almond lending complexity. Offering big,  intense fruit on the palate, though in a light style. This really is very successful, clean and fresh with fine light tannins and particularly bright acids that support and drives the gorgeous sour black cherry and almost blackberry fruit across the palate. Simply delicious. 90pts

2015 Cordero di Montezemolo Dolcetto d’Alba 13.5%
Only SS
Classic spicy nose of flowers, crushed berry fruit, crushed black raspberry, this smells mouthwatering. Fresh, if a touch fleshy in the mouth with a juicy feel, if a bit simple but quite well done, with lots of not exaggerated fresh fruit that lends this a sweet Character though it's not sweet. A fair bit of tannin emerges on the finish, which shows good length, not heavy but with a certain density and palate staining feel, the nose though is really terrific, needs some food, this would be hugely popular, great mass market appeal in a very typical product. 89pts

2015 Aldo Clerico Dogliani 14.5%
SS 5 days
More complex but at the same time more animale on the  nose with a strong floral extract top note. Very elegant and fresh in the mouth in an easy going style with nice depth and impressive freshness. This is delicious, so fresh intense and light if a  little inky, but this has more energy than the Dolcetto d’Alba  87pts

2015 Elena Giuseppe Dolcetto d’Alba 13.5%
Five day fermentation, then nine months in inox
Organic, sponti nose, this is super fresh with aromas of crushed fruit and flowers with just a hint of tomato sauce. Bright juicy, lacy and finely textured in the mouth which shows real  mineral tension with a fine edge of bitterness. Just clean, vibrant,and totally transparent, gulpable and joyful. A perfect pasta wine. 87pts

2015 Ettore Germano Lorenzino Dolcetto 12.5%

Ferments for 4-5 days at 25C in inox

Still has fermentation aromas,along with bitter almond, soil tones, and jammy frutti del Bosco notes. Light but fruity in style, very classic, not too acidic but bright with a nice earthy base, plummy fruit, a bit of tannin,  particularly on the finish. This is darker in profile and slightly more tannic, and denser than one might expect from the nose but that might just be the strength of the vintage showing through. The nose gains a lovely floral component, though in the mouth this remains just a little less bright than I prefer. 87pts

2015 Fratelli Manzone Dolcetto d'Alba 13.5%
Very dark color. Earthy on the nose with rich aromas of African violet, a bit spicy a bit floral and quite pretty with a bitter almond top note. . Smooth, really quite silky in the mouth with a juicy quality to the very pretty slightly purple plummy fruit. This lacks a bit of inner mouth perfume but is really very pleasant; well balanced, easy drinking in style with a bit of fat on the plate, and fairly significant tannins for Dolcetto tannins on the long slightly rich finish, which shows the classic slightly bitter almond note on the finale.  A bit bigger than I would prefer but this is again quite nice, people would love this. 87pts

2015 Rizieri Dolcetto d’Alba Arvin 13.5%
Just a whisper of cheesiness, more, purple toned wild berry fruit here with a nice mineral accent.  Silky and smaller scaled, if a bit richer and broader in the mouth with fine grained dusty tannins and lovely strawberry and sour cherry skin fruit. Bright and juicy, with great acid cut here though less aggressive than the 2016. Offering good length, this is classic in a leaner more mineral driven style, a bit spicy with less almond than the 16. The finish is lovely, tight, slightly tannic, and bright with real freshness. 87pts


2015 Alessandro Veglio Dolcetto d'Alba 13.5%
From vineyards in Roddino, aged in inox
Very fruity and floral on the nose with just a little spicy hint.  Supple with just a hint of chewiness in the mouth, though this remains transparent, bright and vibrant. Lacy even with a lovely rounded tannin supporting classic simple, and fresh Dolcetto flavors with an added layer of fruit. It is gulpable.  This should be available bag in box or extra-large format for daily use. Great by the glass option. 87pts

2015 Viberti Dolcetto d’Alba 14%
current vintage, SS and malo in concrete with delayed harvest
Dark color, very almond, amaretti toned nose with a hint of baked goods yeastiness. In the mouth this starts off as a bit sweet with slightly jammy raspberry fruit. A polished, round wine with big fruit, a little chewy, decidedly powerful Dolcetto, with depth of fruit that is impressive, very full on the palate, all of which makes this a more special occasion Dolcetto than the more typical every day every meal style. Clean and fresh if not zingy notwithstanding the fine acidity. Finishes with pleasant almond notes. This needs air to open and thin out just a bit, as it brightens up nicely and becomes a bit more tannic and easier to drink. Still, it’s a big dolcetto. 87pts

2015 Nicolas Altare Dogliani 13.5%
Still has animals I be stalls, sotto briccolette di quinietti, in San Luigi but can't
60 yo always bio, 1000 bottles this first vintage, same vinificTion as his,
Big blackberry nose, floral, complex and nuanced, with plummy fruit in a dark and powerful style with an underlay of tariness. A bit chewy in the mouth and rich with sweet tannins and bright acids. Darkly fruity but fresh, if a bit flannely in the mouth. A bit chunky but with nice freshness on the backend and a modest finish. 86pts

2015 Brezza Dolcetto d’Alba 13%
Since 2010 bottling only this no more Fossati and San Lorenzo
Textbook nose, crude fruit, fresh almond and spicy violet accents. In the mouth this a touch softer than the nose promises, broad and juicy though with very pretty fruit that's light on the palate and on the, a bit abrupt finish. 86pts

2015 Ciabot Berton Dolcetto d’Alba Rutuin 13%
Aged in inox
Very floral and sweetly fruited on the nose, this smells bright and salty. A touch soft perhaps but fresh and easy going with lots of violet laced fruit in the mouth leading to a fruity, easy finish of intense crushed berry fruit. 86pts

2015 Tenuta Montanello Dolcetto d'Alba 13%
Aged in inox
Lovely nose, lean and tart with floral top notes and intensity with a decidedly red fruit tone, evergreen and a little balsamic shadings. It's really interesting, not terribly fruit driven, though more red than purple fruit with lots of acid, making for a fresh, balanced and juicy example of Dolcetto that’s a bit rustic, a bit short, not terribly fruity, but has the sweetness of ripeness. 86pts


2015 RIzzi Dolcetto d’Alba
Floral and citrus on the nose with big orange rind notes. Easy in a fruity style with lots of of fleshy, clean, pure finish supported by  fine grained tannins. Really very well balanced and fresh if not complex. 86pts

2015 Amelia Dolcetto d’Alba 14 5%
5-6 days on the skins then only inox
Shows lots of ripeness on the nose, dark plummy fruit with exotic hints of tropical fruit and tropical flowers,all with a candied quality,. Soft, intense, and dark wild cherry fruit in the mouth offers some attractive flavors though this lacks some energy in the mouth, gaining dark mineral not on the dusty finish. Too fruity and big for me but remaining pretty fresh. 85pts

2015 Aldo Clerico Dolcetto d’Alba 14.5%
A bit of ash on the nose and still showing a bit of fermentation aromas under the aromas of fresh violet. Ashy with a hint of incipient bitterness onentry then this turns soft, broad and intense in the mouth. This has a little sweetness, to it but retain lightness and attractive freshness. Simple but long. 85pts

2015 Le Ginestre Dolcetto d’Alba 13.5%
7-8 days ferment with selected yeasts, aged only in inox
From a vineyard in Monforte
A bit spicy and earthy on the nose but driven by fruit, if a bit bricky. Lots of fruit in the mouth medium weight but a fleshy feel to the juicy black cherry and boysenberry fruit,.  Clean, fresh style if  a little jammy but easy drinking and juicy with a modest finish. 85pts

2015 Marcarini Dolcetto Fontanazza 12.5%
From vines planted in 2002, 16,000 bottles produced
Very floral on the nose and primary with high toned light purple fruit aromas. This is decidedly lively in the mouth, a nice tight sheen of slightly bitter plum skin fruit, wraps around pleasantly ripe, fine grained tannins leading to a juicy finish, driven by acidity. A touch chunky, but fresh and lively. 85pts

2015 Diego Morra Dolcetto d’Alba 13%
Fresh with spicy, slightly balsamic aromas, rather intense with floral and mineral highlights. Light in body, fresh, easy going style, with really attractive freshness. There’s some cut here, though this is a little pasty and sticky on the palate it offers a nice cleansing back end with fine tannins and a juicy, almost citrusy finale. Pleasant with good acidity and lift in the mouth and a lightly peppery finale. 85pts

2015 Le Strette Dolcetto Bergera 14%
5-6 days fermet
Still has all the ferment perfumes,  so young and tight, with violets emerging on the nose. A touch soft on the entry, and a bit chewy but really quite lean and fresh, in a fruity, slightly dense style, that is supple and easy going. There’s a gentle mineral cast to the flavors with a hint of green herb on the modest finish. 84pts  

2015 La Spinona Dolcetto d’Alba 12.5%
Really nice in a fruity style, just crushed fruit on the nose. A touch opulent on the palate but finely textured with supple fruit tannins lending support and integrated acids that are mouth cleansing on the finish, which is a bit short. Fun and easy going. 84pts

2016 Dolcetto

2016 Cascina delle Rose Dolcetto d’Alba 13.5%
All SS, bottled today
Wow. what a vivid violet color. Classic, blueberry,bitter almond, salted plum, and light mineral accents grace the nose. No doubt that this is in a fruity style, but with a delicacy to the fruit, and no stickiness here. Instead one finds a transparent, intense,  fine mineral core, leading to a tight, slightly tannic finish that has real cut and nerve to it. Not nervous, but a snap of tension, second only to Francesco Clerico’s on this trip with real salinity on the finish and some musky floral tones emerging with air. Real solid potential. 93pts

2016 Le Cecche Diano d'Alba 14.5%
Vines planted in 1948, no green harvest, only aged in inox
Real mineral and dried floral nose with lots of underlying fruit and  a little cocoa note well covered on the nose. A little big in the mouth but bright and well balanced, juicy yet edgy with fine mineral laced purple and almost blue fruit flavors. A really refined blend of power and cut with excellent depth in the mouth and wonderful length. This has real vibrancy paired with about as much richness as one can find in Dolcetto. The balance, depth and complexity is compelling. 93pts

2016 Ferdinando Principiano Dolcetto d'Alba Sant'Anna. 12.5%
South of monforte in direction dogliani, 500m, 40yo, two weeks on skin, only SS,  just bottled, used to bottle in August but now prefers to give it four months in the bottle before market, not filtered
Lipstick, waxiness greets the nose followed by very fruity aromas, but not the usual purple fruit, more woodland fruit with a hint of Monforte herbaceousness and a nice tree bark note. There's a sweetness here on the nose. In the mouth this is classic, bright, focused, juicy and fine, with considerable depth to the wild blackberry flavors, real finesse and transparency for Dolcetto with fine mineral and savory woodland notes on the long finish. 92pts

2016 Chiara Boschis Dolcetto d'Alba 13%
Fruity and floral but with a sweet overlay, this is very fresh and complex very perfumey with a big lilac tone along with lots of soapy floral aromas. Acid drives a thin layer of richness across the palate. A lusty wine really rich in fruit in the mouth though remaining tense and impressively vibrant, with nice tannins on the finish laced with violets and hints of bitter almond. Very nice with a gentle richness on the backend that flows through the finish. A lovely fruit driven fresh dolcetto. 91pts

2016 Elvio Cogno Dolcetto d’Alba 14%
3-4 days on the skins
A little subdued but complex on the nose with nuanced violet, earth, and fine black berry fruit undertones on the nose. Lots of acid and  supple tannins lands this a restrained and elegant feel. A real Dolcetto made in a. fresh style with a slightly modern character. Great purity and cut on the palate with lovely ripe fruit that is quite pretty, which is rare for Dolcetto. With fine inner mouth perfumes, plum and blueberry come together on the palate in a very delicate way with no sign of extra ripeness or alcohol. This is acid driven with the finest of tannins, fairly long and slightly earthy. 91pts

2016 Boasso Dolcetto d’Alba 13.5%
Only inox
Young, spicy, and hightoned in style with lots of underlying sweet fruit on the slightly astringent nose It's floral but more savory carnation and nettle than violet. Lighter and fresher in the mouth than the nose suggests, this has a bit of tannin on the palate, but a bright fresh linear style with very good energy. There’s some youthful fruit to lose perhaps but this is your classic wine for every plate Dolcetto with just the right rustic edge. 90pts

2016 Massolino Dolcetto d’Alba 14%
Spicy on the nose, this smells like a barrel sample with  beautiful, pure floral driven fruit tones on the nose with some mineral and mouth watering sapidity. This is really focused in the mouth with no extra fat here. A vibrant, vivid wine that is fruit driven but not dependent on the fruit for flavor showing relatively strong mineral and floral characteristics. A little compressed still on the finish with modest but firm tannins. A pretty wine that is not simple. 89pts

2016 Barale Dolcetto d'Alba Le Rose 12.5%
Made in barrels, 3 monthes in 10hl old wood
First vintage of dolcetto from Sant'Anna they took over the lease after the 2015 vintage 400 m between monforte and roddino. Very old vines, forty to 50 years, decided to rent in order to produce the same amount of dolcetto as before the split of the vineyards with her cousin, for five years to test the quality, less calcaire, more clay, 3 h with a production of only 8k, prone to hail as well so they are taking it slow before buying
Intensely violet colored.  Perfumed with gorgeously pure and vibrant violet aromas over a very balsamic, and sandalwood supported core with almost blackberry fruit. This is lovely, very ripe but transparent, juicy with small angular tannins, with woodsy accent notes and a lovely texture, almost velvety. A fine blend of fun and seriousness, though definitely with a musky, balsamic, woodland undertone throughout. Really lovely if a slightly rustic, fruit driven interpretation. 88pts

2016 Rizieri Dolcetto d’Alba Arvin 13%
7-10 days, all SS
Transparent wine,  also shows a cheesiness on the nose, bright dark fruit, has a bit of the almond note on the nose with a more mineral than fruit driven aspect. Fresh, mineral driven, and transparent on the palate, this has some fruit skin tannin, and is slightly bracing with a very interesting fruit profile, blueberry skin. Tense in a very drinkable yet structured style, this is delicious if youthful, and very well done, would love this with pasta. 88pts

2016 Francesco Rinaldi Dolcetto d’Alba  Roussot 13.5%
5-10 day fermentation
Fruity bright and fresh as barrel sample and still showing some fermentation aromas. As the nose opens it does reveal spicy violet aromas along with jammy raspberry fruit, and inky, bitter almond nuance.  Slightly jammy and musky raspberry fruit fills the mouth with subtle edges of bitter almond and earth adding a bit of complexity.  Easy going in a bistro style sort of way with slightly astringent tannins and a finely minerally finish lending this a lean and certainly austere feel within the paradigm of Dolcetto. Needs food but should be a great food wine. 87pts

2016 Broccardo Dolcetto d’Alba 13%
5 days maceration
A little wild with some dandelion green notes lending freshness and layered in a fairly complex smoky, and darkly fruited nose. Much fresher in the mouth than on the nose, juicy, complex, a bit mineral with dark fruit flavors, very light tannins, juicy, very nice, squeaky clean in the mouth with a little mineral cut and good length. 86pts

2016 G.D. Vajra Dolcetto d’Alba 13.5%
Very yeasty nose, peppery and spicy: this smells like a tank sample. Tight on entry but very juicy with a slightly opaque midpalate. It’s balanced and fine, a bit chewy today but with tangy boysenberry fruit on the finish, but it is also sort of painfully young and awkward. 86pts

2016 Ferdinando Principiano Dosset Vino Rosso 0.5%
Early harvest, two week before the usual harvest fro dolcetto Classico, 10.5% the classic interpretation of dolcetto, one week on skins, bottled first week of December, bottled without sulfite
Lovely perfumed nose perhaps more immediate than last year, with a hint of ink and musky violet undertones. Bright and juicy, a playful wine offering lovely fruit with a core of gentle sweet/tartness. Has a bit of tannin this year, tart lingonberry and almost red plum fruit. Eminently drinkable, short of course but fresh and juicy. 85pts

2016 Bovio Dolcetto d’Alba Dabenne 13%
Montalupo
A bit of carob greets the nose along with scents of tea and flowers, as well as retained fermentation aromas. Opening a bit on the soft side perhaps but with a nice flush of slightly dark and plummy fruit. Easy to drink, very pleasant with a round texture in the mouth, and enough flesh to cover the light structure but not too much. The finish starts of with decent cut but reveals a bit of stickiness on the finale. Not that well balanced. 83pts

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