Despite the name, which translates as little sweet one, Dolcetto is a dry red wine, with characteristic bitter almond and berry fruit aromas on the nose, and rich lively fruit on the palate; by comparison with many other Italian red wines, especially Barbera, it is low in acidity, and were it not for its lively tannic bitterness it would be rather flat. But there is that bitterness, and the end result is the perfect wine to complement all sorts of foods.
Pecchenino San Luigi Dolcetto di Dogliani DOC 2006
Impenetrable pyrope with cherry rim. Elegant bouquet with rich cherry fruit supported by clean cherry acidity and almond blossoms that add bitter accents and depth. Quite refreshing, and very pleasant to sniff. On the palate rich, with powerful cherry fruit supported by almost raspberry acidity and smooth sweet tannins that have bitter almond overtones and flow into a clean berry fruit finish that gains depth from bitter accents. Quite pleasant, and will contribute mightily to a meal built around a steak or lamb chops, or to tasty stews, or even a steaming chicken pot pie. In short, a versatile food wine that will contribute beautifully to what it's served with. Worth seeking out.Score: 88-90
Elvio Cogno Vigna del Mandorlo Dolcetto D'Alba DOC 2006
Deep black cherry ruby with black reflections and cherry rim. The bouquet is fairly intense, with red berry fruit mingled with hints of hardwood ash and savory accents, also some fresh sage. On the palate it's rich, with clean slightly sour berry fruit supported by deft bitter tannins and sufficient acidity to keep it from flagging, flowing all into a clean slightly bitter berry fruit finish. Pleasant, and graceful; it will drink very well with foods, especially grilled meats or light stews, and also has the wherewithal to stand up to simple succulent roasts. A second bottle will come in handy.Score: 87-9
Marchesi Di Gresy Monte Aribaldo Dolcetto D'Alba DOC 2007
Deep pigeon blood ruby with black reflections and cherry rim. The bouquet is bright, with lively slightly sour cherry ftt hat has mentholated and bitter almond overtones, and gains depth from bitter accents that add a refreshing coolness. On the palate it's medium bodied, with bright jammy berry fruit supported by moderate acidity and by clean slightly greenish tannins that flow into a clean bitter finish. Graceful, and will drink very well with foods, especially grilled meats and light stews, though one could also press it into service with roasted white meats.Score: 87-9
Voerzio Gianni Rocchettevino Dolcetto D'Alba DOC 2006
Impenetrable pyrope ruby with cherry rim. The bouquet is delicate, and rich, with beautiful floral accents laced with spice and red berry fruit. On the palate it's medium bodied and bright, with lively sour cherry and blackberry fruit supported that gains direction from deft sour berry fruit acidity, and is supported by clean greenish bitter tannins that flow into a clean rather bitter finish. Graceful, in a tannic key, and is one of those wines that you'll be drinking happily at a meal, thinking how good everything is, and suddenly realize how much the wine is contributing. In terms of accompaniments, it's versatile, and will work well with meat or vegetable-based first course dishes, simple grilled meats, and light stews.Score 87
Rivetto dal 1902 Frach Dolcetto D'Alba DOC 2006
Deep black cherry ruby with black reflections and cherry rim. The bouquet is fairly rich, with bright cherry and fb fruit supported by underbrush and bitter accents, with some sea salt as well. Pleasant. On the palate it's fairly rich, with bright slightly sour cherry plum fruit supported by clean sour plum acidity and by tannins that have some bitter oak leaf overtones, and flow into a clean fairly bitter finish. Graceful, and will drink quite well with foods, in particular grilled meats or light stews, though one could press it into service with meaty pasta dishes or risotti as well. Well worth seeking out.Score: 87
Cà Viola Barturot Dolcetto D'Alba DOC 2006
Deep black cherry ruby with black reflections and cherry rim. The bouquet is bright, with cherry plum fruit supported by bitter almond blossoms, irises, and wet leafy underbrush. Nice balance. On the palate it's ample and smooth, with fairly rich cherry plum fruit; the acidity is moderate, but it all gains direction and supported from tannins that have bitter chalky accents and flow into a clean tannic finish that leaves the tongue quite dry. A pleasant food wine that will drink quite well with hearty pasta dishes or legume based soups and also do well with simple grilled meats or light stews. A second bottle will likely come in handy.Score: 86-8
Cavallero Lorenzo Dolcetto D'Asti DOC 2006
Deep pigeon blood ruby with cherry rim and black reflections. The bouquet is rich, and quite young, with floral accents, a mixture of violets and almond blossoms, mingled with jammy plum blackberry fruit. On the palate it's bright, with lively red currant and cherry fruit with some plum accents supported by clean acidity and by tannins that have a slight greenish burr and flow into a clean bright finish that gains depth from tannic bitterness. Pleasant in a cheeky sort of way, and will drink very well with hearty meat based pasta dishes, grilled meats, or light stews, and will go quickly. Perfect for a cookout, too. Worth seeking out.Score: 86-8
San Fereolo San Fereolo Dolcetto di Dogliani Superiore DOC 2004
Impenetrable black cherry ruby with black reflections and cherry rim. Rich bouquet with warm balsamic notes mingled with acidity and a fair amount of alcohol, with underlying cherry and plum fruit. Bright palate, with cherry plum fruit supported by fairly intense cherry plum acidity and by decidedly bitter tannins that lay a graphite shaving trail over the tongue and flow into a distinctly bitter finish. As it oxygenates the balsamic notes fade, while berry fruit with slight greenish almond accents comes more to the fore. In other words, it will benefit from decanting, and in terms of accompaniments will drink nicely with succulent red meats off the grill or light stews, and you may find yourself wanting a second bottle.Score: 85-6
Accomo F.lli Dolcetto di Diano D'Alba DOC 2006
Deep pigeon blood ruby with slightly cloudy cherry rim. The bouquet is pungent, with wet leafy underbrush mingled with red berry fruit and some fairly bright berry fruit acidity, also bitter accents. On the palate it's bright, with fairly lively red berry fruit supported by moderate sour berry fruit acidity and by tannins that are slightly greenish and lay a bitter oak leaf trail over the tongue as they flow into a fairly bitter finish. It's pleasant in a fairly direct, up front key, and is a classic food wine that will complement what it's served with -- grilled meats and light stews, but also fried meats and vegetables --without hogging the limelight. Expect the bottle to go quickly.Score: 84-6
Tacchino Luigi Dolcetto D'Ovada DOC 2006
Deep pigeon blood ruby with cherry rim. The bouquet is bright, with cherry fruit supported by some bitter almond accents and slightly greenish leafy notes, with underlying berry fruit jam. On the palate it's bright, with moderately intense cherry plum fruit supported by bitter accents and tannins that flow into a clean bitter finish. It's pleasant, and will drink well with foods, ranging from hearty pasta dishes through quickly cooked grilled meats or light stews. A nice day-to-day wine that you will likely want a second bottle of.Score: 84
Fontanafredda Treiso Dolcetto D'Alba DOC 2006
Deep black cherry ruby with black reflections and ruby rim. The bouquet is a bit tarter than I might have expected, with hints of spice mingled with red berry fruit and some greenish accents. On the palate it's bright, with clean red berry fruit supported by tart slightly greenish acidity and by tannins that have clean greenish accents. It's quite direct, and will drink well with simple meats, including, because of its tartness, fried foods. It will also work well at a cookout, and in the proper setting will go quite quickly. In short, I'd like drinking it day-to-day.Score: 80
