Dolcetto is an underappreciate grape. Grown in the northwest Piemonte region of Italy, it is often forgotten, with Barolo and Barbaresco stealing the show. However, Dolcetto is a supremely food friendly wine that should not be overlooked, especially with the right pairing.
This Dolcetto was extremely small production (350 cases) and boasted a nose of light red berries and earth. The palate expanded the earthy component, which was quite rich, to add mushroomy flavours. Not at all tannic, this was very structured, with a tight acidity that paired perfectly with a Bechemel, morrel, prosciutto linguine. With such a fantastically smooth texture in the mouth and such potential for food pairing, this particlar Dolcetto outshines other solid examples of the grape. A very very strong expression. Not having a picture of the bottle, I opted for one of the grape itself. If you haven't yet had a Dolcetto, it is worth checking one out.
Very Good+ to Excellent (with proper pairing)
~$38 at Steamworks Liquor Store
7 comments:
Love the Dolcettos, having a Barbera tonight - they are both food friendly (in different ways) and frequently overlooked. Veglio is a great producer, from what I've heard, but never tasted it.
Barberas can certainly be great as well. Seek out the Veglio, it is certainly worth the effort.
I agree that Dolcetto is under-appreciated. Try one called Pecchenino. As I write this I am enjoying seared seabass, served with almond infused jasmine rice, asparagus, and a rustic marinara sauce, consisting of diced semi-dried tomatoes, capers, black olives, and a touch of anchovy paste. It's the sauce that makes the pairing, but the nuttiness of the wine along with that from the bass and rice should not be overlooked either.
Anon,
Sounds great!
Shea...It was! Thanks for the reply. I realized after posting that I mentioned a favorite, but not the one I had the meal with. Had it with Conterno Fantino Dolcetto D'Alba Bricco Bastia, 2006. I am in Salt Lake, where wine is a bit more costly than most locales, but apparently not as pricey as in BC. I like what I have seen of your blog, and might subscribe.
I will have to look out for that one. Yes, our prices here are ridiculous. Although if you are very savvy you can find good bargains.
I'll be in California for 4 months as of January and am very much looking forward to the lower wine prices and greater selection!
For those of you who are interested, the VonAlbrecht and Associates agency recently introduced a the line up from the Veglio winery to the BC market as a specialty listing. This includes the Dolcetto ($19.90) Barbera (19.95), Baric (23.65). Currently they are available at Liberty wine merchants.
www.vonalbrecht.com
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