As a I am from Piedmonte region, I can’t miss a bottle of Dolcetto in my cellar. But who says Dolcetto says Dolcetto d’Alba, Dolcetto of Diano d’Alba, Dolcetto of Asti, Dolcetto Langhe, Dolcetto Monferrato, Dolcetto of Ovada, Dolcetto of Acqui … or then Dolcetto of Dogliani. And speaking about Dogliani: which Dogliani, DOC, DOCG …?
Briefly, the famous “Dolcetto di Dogliani”, a radically Piedmontese vine, has evolved: it is no longer just that simple and easy wine you can pick in a tavern, but thanks to the complexity of this wine, the peculiarity of the territory and the careful (mainly manual) wine processing, the producers of Dogliani area have requested and obtained the DOCG appellation. Therefore the denomination has become “Dogliani” (and no longer Dolcetto di Dogliani) and it can be DOCG only (more immediate and easier to drink) or DOCG Superiore (more complex and important).
If you want to get an overview of all the types of Dogliani, the Bottega del Vino in Dogliani, inside the underground cellars of the ex-Carmelite convent in the central square of Dogliani, let you taste and buy the bottles of all the associated producers .
The Bottega del Vino wine-shop situated in the town of Dogliani
And it is precisely in this historical place (and fascinating even for an abstemious) that I could taste different Dogliani bottles.
Among the many proposed ones, all honestly of a high quality, I let myself be conquered by this Dogliani Superiore DOCG Podere Surie, harvest 2013. “Surìe” in the Langhe territory means “exposed to the sun” so we are talking of a land with ideal exposure and microclimate for producing quality wines of a certain complexity.
And the tasting certifies it: the color is intense ruby red tending to garnet, with an intense nose of red fruit, ripe cherry, blackberry, but also spicy, clove and licorice. In the mouth it is warm, soft with a contribution of tannins that support good persistence and intensity.
I confirm that it is not the Dolcetto of a basic tavern and therefore requires a combination with tasty dishes whether they are starters, first or second courses. Excellent with roasts or aged cheeses.
Wow, what a satisfaction!