Tag Archives: dolcetto

Summer Wine 

Posted on by
Reply

Summer came and went in Norway already, but here’s to hoping it makes a comeback soon so we can start drinking some summer wine! Disclaimer: you’re allowed to drink a so called “summer wine” anytime. Don’t let the rain and cold discourage you. I’m sure you can find an occasion to open an Arneis regardless of the weather.  

Speaking of Arneis, if you haven’t already tried the ones from Ghiomo, you definitely should! He likes Arneis so much, he makes two different ones! The Fussot is a more “everyday” white wine, while the Inprimis is more of a “food wine”. Don’t get me wrong, they both pair well with foods like fish, shellfish, salads and white meat. But if you’re looking for a wine to just sip on the terrace on a hot summer day, or on the couch while watching the newest Netflix flick, the Fussot is the wine to go for. 

While we’re on the white wines from Piemonte, I want to recommend the Le Strette Nascetta. Most of you have probably never heard of Nascetta, but that’s because there haven’t been that many around the past years. Thankfully both Elvio Cogno and Le Strette have continued to make this wine! It was long thought that this wine didn’t have any aging potential at all, but in 1993 Elvio Cogno opened a 1986 Nascetta with Valter Fissore and a journalist named Armando Gambera, and the 7 year old wine had help up nicely! I mean, it hadn’t aged for 50 years like a Bordeaux, but who knows, maybe it has potential to age way longer than 7 years!  

Another grape that quite recently made a sort of comeback is Timorasso. But although it has become popular recently, there are some who have been making Timorasso for a while already. If you’re ever in Tortona, give Elisa a call. She makes really good Timorasso, like the Derthona. And she’s very fun to visit!  

Now, I have to ask: did you know that Elena and Luca have started up a new winery and released 3 new wines?! No? Well, now you do! And yes, they are available in Norway! While I haven’t been to visit the new winery, I have tried the wines. Unsurprisingly, they are very good! The Barbera is super fresh and quite aromatic, and the Langhe Nebbiolo is fruity, balanced with a long finish. And the Dolcetto tastes just like a Dolcetto should taste and has hereby been added to the list of my favorite Dolcetto’s! 

Speaking of Dolcetto, Nadia Curto Dolcetto d’Alba and Cascina Fontana Dolcetto D’Alba are also high on my list of favorites. And while Dolcetto is my go-to Pizza Wine, it’s also perfect to enjoy on a warm summer day. Maybe while wearing Entoteca del Ponte’s “Make Dolcetto Great Again” t-shirt!  

If you’ve read this far, you’re clearly dedicated. So, the last three wines are suggested especially for you. Because you deserve only the best. That’s why I think you should try the La Vedetta Barbaresco. I also think you deserve some Champagne, so if you want to treat yourself, go for the Domaine Les Monts Fournois Valleé or Ouditette x Filles Les Sablonnières. The latter needs to be ordered via e-mail, by phone or in-store, but I have faith that you can manage. It’s worth it. I promise.  

And with that, I wish you a wonderful summer with lots of summer wine! 

summer wine

Dolcetto 2019

Posted on by
1

Dolcetto 2019

The Dolcetto 2019 are quite structured with lots of fruit. I find them to be a bit more complex, especially compared to 2018, giving the wine a little more “oomph”. One could argue that the Dolcetto from 2017 also had “oomph” but perhaps not complex. The warm temperature of the 2017 vintage gave the wines a bigger character, but also a lack of balance when it came to acidity and alcohol. Keep in mind, this is one person’s opinion and taste, opinions and tastes which might differ from yours.

I really like Dolcetto 2019. I know that is a general statement, but after tasting quite a few Dolcetto from 2019, I feel like I can be fairly general. Everything is relative, and my opinion may stem from the fact that I was not as impressed by Dolcetto in 2017 and 2018 as I am by 2019. Below are some of my tasting notes in alphabetical order. Enjoy!

Dolcetto 2019

Burlotto Dolcetto

Concentrated nose with aromas of cherry and red fruits. Also quite concentrated in the mouth. A beautiful Dolcetto!

Cascina Fontana Dolcetto

A perfect Dolcetto nose. Elegant and rich with good structure. The grapes come from a vineyard in Sinio where the soil is composed of limestone with some clay. Mario vinifies his Dolcetto in stainless steel tanks.

Diego e Damiano Barale Dolcetto

Fruity and fresh, yet complex, both on the nose and in the mouth. Violets and dark berries on the nose. The vines, grown in San Giovanni, are 50 years old.

Diego Morra Dolcetto

The 2019 is more intense and structured than 2018. Aromas of dark berries and spices. Good minerality Long finish.  

Elio Grasso Dolcetto

The Elio Grasso Dolcetto was concentrated, but also light (if that makes sense?). Aromas of blackcurrant and other wild berries.

Emilio Vada Dolcetto

Concentrated on the nose with subtle aromas of red and dark fruit. There are some floral notes as well. A very drinkable Dolcetto!

Francesco Borgogno Dolcetto

Typical dolcetto nose with lots of fruit and dark berries. More powerful and structured than 2018. A very balanced wine!

Luigi Pira Dolcetto

A powerful wine with a crisp nose. Fresh and fruity with good acidity. Aromas of blackcurrant, dark fruit and berries.

Marengo Dolcetto

Powerful aromas of dark berries. A good wine that’s easy to drink. Fruity. More structure than 2018

Nadia Curto Dolcetto

Nadia had an issue with storms in her Gattera vineyard where the Dolcetto grows. Maturation of the grapes was blocked due to the storm which resulted in a Dolcetto with a higher acidity. Aromas of blackcurrant, cherry and other dark berries.

Paolo Scavino Dolcetto

As with most of the 2019 Dolcetto’s, the Paolo Scavino Dolcetto is quite structured. I really like it. Concentrated and explosive. Fruity with good length.

Trediberri Dogliani Bricco Mollea

The Bricco Mollea vineyard is located in Vicoforte, far south in Langhe. Dolcetto’s from Dogliani tend to be more intense than Dolcetto’s from La Morra, and if you combine the terroir with the 62 year old plants, you get a complex and intense Dolcetto.

Trediberri Dogliani Dolcetto 2019

Cascina Fontana Dolcetto

Posted on by
Reply

Cascina Fontana

I bet you didn’t know that the Cascina Fontana Dolcetto holds a special place in Mario’s heart! Personally, I think Dolcetto is quite underrated. We don’t give it enough attention. And, as it turns out, the Dolcetto grape is not the easiest to deal with. But that doesn’t stop Mario! During my last visit we spent quite a bit of time talking about Dolcetto. Turns out it’s one of Mario’s favorite to grow. Even if it can be a pain in the a**!

Winemaking

The Cascina Fontana Dolcetto is aged in stainless steel tanks. The grapes come from a vineyard in Sinio, which is outside the DOCG area. The vineyard has soil composed of limestone with some clay. Something that is very important to Mario is the fact that the wine must reflect the vintage. He said this when talking about the 2014 vintage, but it also applies to any other vintage. As you can see below, the Dolcetto has quite different expressions in the separate vintages and I like all of them!

Cascina Fontana Dolcetto Tasting Notes

Cascina Fontana Dolcetto 2019

Dolcetto 2019 

In the words of Mario Fontana: “2019 is a great vintage.” You have this perfect Dolcetto nose, good structure and wonderful freshness. I think the 2019 Dolcetto’s are elegant and rich, with more power than 2018.

Dolcetto 2018

As Nicola from Trediberri once said, the 2018 vintage is skinny just like Miley Cyrus. The 2018 Dolcetto is light and fruity – a very drinkable Dolcetto. Lacks the structure you find in 2017 and 2019, but structure isn’t always something you strive for in a Dolcetto.

Dolcetto 2017

Compared to 2019, 207 was a warm vintage, and so the alcohol is a little higher. The 2017 has 13.5% alcohol, but because Mario is such a wonderful winemaker, you cannot taste it!

Cascina Fontana Barolo 2016

You can find tasting notes on the Cascina Fontana 2016 Barolo’s here.

Trediberri Bricco Mollea

Posted on by
Reply

Trediberri Bricco Mollea

Introducing: Trediberri Bricco Mollea & the new vintages! It’s always exciting when the new vintages are released, and we are all eagerly anticipating the 2016 Barolo’s. But I have to say I am also really excited for the new addition to the Trediberri family – a Dogliani Dolcetto!

The Bricco Mollea vineyard is located in Vicoforte, far south in Langhe. Dolcetto’s from Dogliani tend to be more intense than Dolcetto’s from La Morra, and if you combine the terroir with the 62 year old plants, you get a complex and intense Dolcetto. Note, when I say intense it’s not intense in a bad way. Quite the opposite actually. The Trediberri Bricco Mollea Dolcetto is fruity and rich; a beautiful expression of the grape variety.

Please, every sip you drink, be happy

Nicola
Trediberri Lineup, including the Trediberri Bricco Mollea

Trediberri Bricco Mollea Dolcetto 2019

The Dolcetto grapes grow in Vicoforte, near Mondovi, in the southern part of Langhe. The vines were  planted in 1958, which mean the plants are about 60 years old. It’s a 100% Dolcetto, fermented in concrete.

The first thing I notice is that beautiful Dolcetto nose. And explosion of dark berries. The 2019 vintage seems to be a bit more intense than 2018, and the intensity continues in the mouth. It’s still a fresh and fruity Dolcetto, with a pure expression. A wonderful first edition of this wine.

Barbera d’Alba 2019

Trediberri’s Barbera is 100% Barbera, fermented in concrete tanks. Barbera is known for being lush and bold – it likes hot weather, it likes concentration, it likes being big. But the Trediberri Barbera is more pure. It’s less bold, with a fresh fruitiness. There’s also a very good acidity.

Langhe Nebbiolo 2019

The grapes in the Trediberri Langhe Nebbiolo come from the Berri vineyard, from a vineyard in Alta Langa, and 10% of grapes from Roero to give a hint of perfume.

Consistent with other 2019’s I’ve tasted, the Langhe Nebbiolo has an explosive nose. Very fruity, floral and fresh. Red fruit dominated, but there are notes of roses and tobacco. Firm but elegant tannins that disappear quickly.

Barolo 2016

The Nebbiolo grapes go through a 3 week maceration in concrete tanks. Trediberri Barolo 2016 has a typical Barolo nose: tobacco, tar, roses. It’s a little subtle at first, and needs time to open up. A big wine  yet elegant at the same time. As Antonio Galloni said, “This is an especially potent vintage for the straight Barolo, and there is clearly so much going on in the glass; it is a superb wine in the making.”

Pizza Wine

Posted on by
Reply

Dolcetto = Pizza Wine

My favorite pizza wine is dolcetto. Obviously depends on the type of pizza, but as a general rule of thumb dolcetto works very well! I’d try the dolcetto from Nadia Curto or the one from Alessandro Veglio!

Need a recipe? Check out this one.

Friday Pizza and Pizza Wine

Barbera also works well as Pizza Wine

If your pizza has some meat, like salami or prosiutto, the acidity of a barbera will pair really well. The same goes for extra cheesy pizza, like Quatro Fromaggio. The ones are some of my favorites these days:
Diego Morra Barbera d’Alba
Ghiomo Barbera Lavai
Cigliuti Barbera

Other wines to try

Nadia Curto Freisa is another wine you can pair with pizza. Haven’t heard of Freisa? I’m not surprised. Freisa is a lesser known grape varietal from Piemonte. With the acidity like a barbera and tannins of nebbiolo, it’s a perfect combination! And it pairs well with pizza!

Nebbiolo is also a good alternative, instead of dolcetto or barbera. Try the one from Giovanni Corino or Elio Altare.

Modern Pizza

Tandoori Pizza from Vinoteket

Noawdays you can put anything on a pizza. There’s Pizza Carbonara, pizza with king crab and chicken tandoori. With modern twists like this, wine pairing can be challenging. But, if you try to pair the wine with the topping, you should find something that fits. So, with seafood pizza, try Vietti Arneis or Matrot Chardonnay.

Roberto Voerzio Dolcetto

Posted on by
Reply

Dolcetto back in Norway

Norwegians rejoice! The Roberto Voerzio Dolcetto finally came back to the Norwegian market last month! It had been a while since I’d seen his wines here. And if you haven’t already, it’s still possible to order it at Vinmonopolet.

A myriad of Roberto’s other wines are also available. My personal favorite of his is the Barbera Pozzo. It only exists in Magnum bottles and since I can’t afford it, I hope to try it at the winery again this March. Or hope that someone will buy it for me. HINT: my birthday is coming up… haha

A gift from Roberto

Roberto Voerzio

Roberto’s winemaking style stands out. A “modernist”, just like Elio Altare, using small oak barrels and long maceration time. But what he is know for, is his work in the vineyard. Roberto chooses to do a very aggressive green harvest, reducing the number of grapes per plant, which results in more concentrated wine.

Voerzio Dolcetto 2018

In a blind tasting, this wine can be hard to figure out. Since Roberto doesn’t make wines that are “typical”, his Dolcetto doesn’t really seem like a Dolcetto. It could almost be mistaken for a Barbera, apart from the lack of acidity.

The first notes that hit are spices. Herbs. Licorice. Concentrated fruit in the mouth, typical of a Roberto Voerzio Dolcetto. Juicy, almost sweet. Predominantly ripe cherries, but also other ripe dark fruits. An impressive wine!

News @ Vinmonopolet

Posted on by
Reply

New Year, New Wines

The year has just begun, and with a new year comes new vintages. And new wines. Friday January 10th you’ll find many new releases at Vinmonopolet. If you’re a Piemonte fan like me, look out for both Giacomo Conterno and Roberto Voerzio. But we will have to wait a little while longer for the 2016 Barolo’s.

Some of my favorites

Roberto Voerzio Dolcetto d’Alba Priavino 2018 289,-
289 NOK is a bit steep for a Dolcetto, but if you’re a Voerzio fan, this is the most “approachable” at least price wise. I know many think he makes wine in a particular way, but I quite like his wines. Haven’t tried the new vintages, so looking forward to that!

Matrot Bourgogne Blanc 2017 239,-
As far as white burgundy goes, I think this one has a good price/quality ratio. A fairly simple Chardonnay, not a ton of oak, very fresh – one of my favorites.

Lamy Saint-Aubin 1er Cru En Remilly 2017 608,-
Jumping quite a bit in price, but had to mention this one! A beautiful wine that put a huge smile on my face. Mineral with a hint of toast, perfect amount of oak for me. Long finish. Did not want to put my glass down.

Favorites

Posted on by
2

We all have our favorite wines or winemakers, and here are some of my favorites at the moment.

For Fun

Cascina Fontana Dolcetto 225,-
Looking for a wine to drink on a Tuesday night along with a bowl of pasta? Then this is your guy! And it the summer, chilling it a little may help cool you down in the hot summer months!

Trediberri Barbera 189,-
Trediberri’s first vintage was 2011 and his wines quality has skyrocketed! And at this price, this barbera is fricking steal!

Azelia Dolcetto 2013 179,-
A very interesting dolcetto, with grapes grown outside the Barolo area. This means that some of the best vineyards are actually used for Dolcetto instead of Nebbiolo, giving the grapes the best circumstances, making this Dolcetto extraordinary!

For Summer

Vietti Moscato 199,-
Get a bowl of strawberries and pop open this – it’s like you died and went to heaven. I love moscato, and I don’t even need a dessert. So good!

Trediberri Langhe Rosato 139,-
I am not a huge rose person, but if I had to pick one it’s for sure Trediberri’s Langhe Rosato. Fresh, not super sweet and made with love.

Agrapart Blanc de Blanc 508,-
Champagne is growing on me, and I really like this one. And as for Champagne, this is not super expensive. Blanc de blanc typically suits me best, and Agrapart makes a really good one!

Buy & Drink in 10 years

Marengo Barolo Brunate 599,-
Cavallotto Barolo Bricco Boschis 507,-
Corino Barolo 379,-

Piemontegirl Tasting

Posted on by
Reply

Piemontegirl tasting 2 Table

As you probably already know, I’ve started to host some wine tastings! Mostly basic tastings, differentiating between 3 grapes: dolcetto, barbera and nebbiolo. I think it is a good way to learn the difference between the 3 main grapes in Piemonte.

The dolcetto from Andrea Oberto had the typical purple color of dolcetto. On the nose it had kind of a strange smell. I think there might have been something strange with this bottle, maybe some reduction, because I’ve had this wine many times before and it did not smell like that. In the mouth it was as it should be – fresh, fruity, light.

Alessandro Veglio’s barbera had a ruby red color, slightly opaque. The nose was a little closed at the beginning, but came to after a while in the glass. It was fresh, fruity and had a good amount of acidity.

Lastly, the Perbacco. Color was brownish red, typical of the nebbiolo grape. On the nose there was roses, violets and earth tones. As Vietti makes their nebbiolo quite similar to their barolo, there were tannins present, as there should be with nebbiolo.

Piemontegirl tasting 2

Favorite Friday Pizza Wine

Posted on by
Reply

As most of you know, I make pizza on Fridays. And along with my pizza, I usually have a glass of wine (or three). Here are some of my favorite wines to drink with my pizza (or honestly just any time).

Burlotto Barbera & Barbera Aves
Marengo Barbera
Cavallotto Dolcetto
Andrea Oberto Dolcetto
Trediberri Langhe Nebbiolo

Some of these wines are available at Vinmonopolet! If you can’t find the wine you like, let me know and I can help you track it down. If you want more suggestions, you can subscribe to my Newsletter!