Some Interesting Bottles Of Dolcetto

Dolcetto can´t age. Ask any winemaker in Langhe and they will say roughly that. Drink in a couple of years time, is their recommendation.

I beg to differ. Of course its a delight to drink a young, juicy Dolcetto with your everyday pasta, but they will age. Case in point - 1992 Dolcetto d´Alba, Bruno Giacosa, tasted six years ago - Barolista: A 19 Bottle Dolcetto Tasting With Dolcetto Boys & Girls - from one of worst vintages in the last 40 years, still a very good drink. 

At our latest monthly tasting I poured the Dolcetto´s below.

1988 Dolcetto d´Alba Bussia Soprana, Aldo Conterno

A laid back, mature nose with notes of dried strawberries, earth and sand.

The taste is earthy and dry with notes of assorted red fruits, herbs and iron. A fine dryness in the finish.

87p   (tasted 2026/02)

1994 Dolcetto d´Alba Vigneto Bric Sant´Ambrogio, Eredi Lodali

From magnum. A high, mature nose with some VA and notes of lingonberries, dusty earth and glue.

The taste is dry and a tad foursquare with hay, dried raspberries and earth.

77p   (tasted 2026/02)

2013 Dolcetto d´Alba Ciabòt Brusà, Umberto Fracassi

A restrained, fairly deep nose with notes of dried blueberries, ink and tobacco. Very good.

The taste is medium bodied with notes of damsons, dry herbs and earth. 

85p   (tasted 2026/02)

2016 Dogliani Superiore, San Fereole

A first a tad barnyardy but with air it displays notes of sweet/sour raspberries, matchbox and Langhe earth. Very, very good.

The taste is tight and spicy with a very fine warmth and notes of raspberries, sage and moist earth.

90p   (tasted 2026/02)

2018 Dogliani San Luigi Vigna la Costa, Chionetti

Bottle no 1202 out of 2206. The nose is deep and iron filled with additional notes of damsons, bakelite and tobacco. Very young.

The taste is tight and seedy with notes of red currants, ripening blueberries, gravel and ink. Very long. 6+ years.

90p   (tasted 2026/02)

2022 Dolcetto di Diano d´Alba Superiore Sori´Pradurent, Claudio Alario

An open, layered nose with notes of plums, paint and and a dried up blueberry pie. Very fine.

The taste is young and nicely concentrated with sturdy tannins and notes of iron, ripe blueberries and iodine. Long and lingering. 5+ years.

92p   (tasted 2026/02)

The Barolo Boys Does Grandi Langhe 2026

The Barolo Boys arrives again in Turin to attend Grandi Langhe, yet again to try to make the impossible. 

Bigger than ever, this year 515 producers were in place. The opening hours was more generous, two more hours per day, but still not enough time.

I met up with 46 producers and got to taste a decent amount of wines during the two days - 133 Baroli and 45 other wines, a total of 178 wines.

We also made some visits during Saturday and Sunday, of which there will be separate posts. In total for the four days I tasted 263 wines, of which 161 was a Barolo.

The idea of Grandi Langhe is to showcase the newest released vintage, in this case the 2022 Baroli. 

But as you can see from the wines below there was a lot of 21´s also. Not that I am complaining, since 21 is a superior vintage.

How about the 22 vintage then? I tasted 97 Baroli in the four days we were in Langhe. Its a, to qoute most of the winemakers, "hot and dry". It was, again according to the same winemakers, the earliest harvest in a very long time. 

It is in general a good vintage but it is a tad warm in some cases, the tannins are softer and, again, in some cases there is a rather short finish. A good restaurant vintage, but will I buy some, I guess no.

All pictures are of the great people of Langhe, I just love to meet them in Grandi Langhe and when I visit the cantinas.

At the end of this post there are also some pics of some bottles.

The wines tasted at Grandi Langhe:

97-98p

2019 Barolo Riserva Cannubi, Francesco Rinaldi

2022 Barolo Vigna Pajana, Renzo Seghesio

95-96p

2015 Barolo Percristina, Domenico Clerico

2019 Barolo del Comune di Monforte d´Alba, Silvano Bolmida

2020 Barolo Bricat, Giovanni Manzone

2020 Barolo Vignarionda, Ettore Germano

2021 Barolo Rocche dell´Annunziata, Rocche Costamagna

2021 Barolo Gramolere, Giovanni Manzone

2021 Barolo Le Coste Di Monforte, Silvano Bolmida

2021 Barolo Pajana, Domenico Clerico

2022 Barolo Bricco Boschis, Roccheviberti

2022 Barolo Castelletto, Raineri

2022 Barolo Cannubi, Serio & Battista Borgogno

2022 Barolo Rocche dell´Annunziata, Francesco Rinaldi

2022 Barolo Brunate, Francesco Rinaldi

2022 Barolo Cannubi, Francesco Rinaldi

2022 Barolo Bussia Vigna Pianpolvere, Chionetti

2022 Barolo Villero, Brovia

2022 Barolo Brea Vigna Ca´Mia, Brovia

2022 Barolo Prapó, Paolo Scavino

2022 Barolo Bric dël Fiasc, Paolo Scavino

2022 Barolo Ginestra, Renzo Seghesio

2022 Barolo Gattera, Mauro Veglio

2022 Barolo Castelletto, Mauro Veglio

93-94p

2017 Barolo Riserva Castelletto, Fortemasso

2020 Barolo Riserva Rocche dell´Annunziata, Rocche Costamagna

2020 Barolo Riserva del Fico, E. Molino

2020 Barolo Riserva Lazzarito, Ettore Germano

2021 Barolo Cerretta, Schiavenza

2021 Barolo Prapo, Schiavenza

2021 Barolo San Giuseppe, Pecchenino

2021 Barolo Bussia, Pecchenino

2021 Barolo Brunate, Marcarini

2021 Barolo Ravera, Elvio Cogno

2021 Barolo del Comune di Barolo, Cascina Sót

2021 Barolo Cerretta, Giovanni Rosso

2021 Barolo, Brovia

2021 Barolo del Comune di Castiglione Falletto, Cascina Fontana

2021 Barolo Bricotto Bussia, Domenico Clerico

2021 Barolo Aeroplanservaj, Domenico Clerico

2021 Barolo Castelletto, Fortemasso

2021 Barolo Fossati, Borgogno

2021 Barolo Cerretta, Ettore Germano

2022 Barolo Lazzarito, Vietti

2022 Barolo Rocche Castiglione, Roccheviberti

2022 Barolo, Raineri

2022 Barolo Rocche dell´Annunziata, Rocche Costamagna

2022 Barolo Monvigliero, Luigi Einaudi

2022 Barolo Bussia, Ruggeri Corsini

2022 Barolo Castelletto La Villa, Seghesio

2022 Barolo Bricco delle Viole, M. Marengo

2022 Barolo Brunate, M. Marengo

2022 Barolo Margheria, Massolino

2022 Barolo Parafada, Massolino

2022 Barolo San Lorenzo di Verduno, Diego Morra

2022 Barolo Monvigliero, Diego Morra

2022 Barolo Albarella, Serio & Battista Borgogno

2022 Barolo, Francesco Rinaldi

2022 Barolo Parussi, Chionetti

2022 Barolo Monvigliero, Castello di Verduno

2022 Barolo Bricco San Pietro, Cascina Sót

2022 Barolo Sotto Castello di Novello, Giacomo Grimaldi

2022 Barolo Rocche Dell Castiglione, Brovia

2022 Barolo Cerretta, Claudio Alario

2022 Barolo Badarina, Bruna Grimaldi

2022 Barolo Monvigliero, Paolo Scavino

2022 Barolo Ravera, Paolo Scavino

2022 Barolo Bussia Vigna Fantini, Paolo Scavino

2022 Barolo, Oddero

2022 Barolo Villero, Oddero

2022 Barolo del Comune di La Morra Ca´d´Nalin, Renzo Seghesio

2022 Barolo Arborina, Mauro Veglio

2022 Barolo Paiagallo, Mauro Veglio

2022 Barolo del Comune di Serralunga d´Alba, Mauro Veglio

91-92p

2009 Barolo Riserva Centoanni, Giovanni Manzone

2019 Barolo Bricco San Pietro, Anna Maria Abbona

2021 Barolo del Comune di Serralunga d´Alba, Schiavenza

2021 Barolo Perno, Schiavenza

2021 Barolo Castelletto, Giovanni Manzone

2021 Barolo Treturne, Fogliati

2021 Barolo Bussia, Fogliati

2021 Barolo Cascina Nuova, Elvio Cogno

2021 Barolo, Giovanni Rosso

2021 Barolo Bussia Vigna Dei Fantini, Silvano Bolmida

2021 Barolo, Domenico Clerico

2021 Barolo Liste, Borgogno

2021 Barolo del Comune di Serralunga d´Alba, Ettore Germano

2022 Barolo, Vietti

2022 Barolo del Comune di Castiglione Falletto Vecchie Vite, Roccheviberti

2022 Barolo, Raineri

2022 Barolo del Comune di La Morra, Rocche Costamagna

2022 Barolo Ludo, Luigi Einaudi

2022 Barolo Bricco San Pietro, Ruggeri Corsini

2022 Barolo Gallinotto, Mauro Molino

2022 Barolo La Serra, Mauro Molino

2022 Barolo del Comune di La Morra, Marcarini

2022 Barolo La Serra, Marcarini

2022 Barolo, M. Marengo

2022 Barolo Parussi, Massolino

2022 Barolo del Comune di Verduno, Diego Morra

2022 Barolo, Serio & Battista Borgogno

2022 Barolo del Comune di La Morra, Serio & Battista Borgogno

2022 Barolo Massara, Castello di Verduno

2022 Barolo del Comune di Monforte d´Alba, Cascina Sót

2022 Barolo Ravera, Giacomo Grimaldi

2022 Barolo Sorano, Claudio Alario

2022 Barolo Bricco Ambrogio, Bruna Grimaldi

2022 Barolo Bricco Ambrogio, Paolo Scavino

2022 Barolo del Comune di Monforte d´Alba, Fortemasso

2022 Barolo, Mauro Veglio

2022 Barolo, Borgogno

89-90p

2021 Barolo Serra, Giovanni Rosso

2021 Barolo Bussia, Silvano Bolmida

2022 Barolo del Comune di Serralunga d´Alba, Schiavenza

2022 Barolo Castelletto, Seghesio

2022 Barolo, Mauro Molino

2022 Barolo Zinzasco, Diego Morra

2022 Barolo Treturne, Fogliati

2022 Barolo Bussia, Fogliati

2022 Barolo del Comune di La Morra, Giovanni Corino

2022 Barolo Giachini, Giovanni Corino

2022 Barolo Bricco Manescotto, Giovanni Corino

2022 Barolo, Castello di Verduno

2022 Barolo, Giacomo Grimaldi

2022 Barolo Riva Rocca, Claudio Alario

2022 Barolo Camilla, Bruna Grimaldi

2022 Barolo, Paolo Scavino

2022 Barolo, Prandi

87-88p

2021 Barolo Castello di Novello, Passone Massimiliano

85-86p

2020 Barolo Castello di Novello, Passone Massimiliano

Barolista: The Barolo Boys Does Grandi Langhe 2025

Barolista: The Barolo Boys Does Grandi Langhe 2024

Barolista: The Barolo Boys At Grandi Langhe 2023

Yours truly and Presidente del Consorzio del Barolo, Sergio Germano

2016 Barolo, Giacomo Borgogno

2016 Barolo, Giacomo Borgogno

The nose is cool and fine with notes of hard cherry candy, dry licorice, pomengranate and Langhe earth. Very nice.

The taste is young, tight and restrained with locked up red fruit, structured tannins and a long, taut finish. Needs at least 8+ years.

89p   (tasted 2026/02)

2021 Barbera d´Alba Superiore, Castello di Neive

2021 Barbera d´Alba Superiore, Castello di Neive

A delicate, layered nose with notes of dried raspberries, bonfire smoke, herbs and a fine balsamic note. Very, very good.

The taste is cool and lightly peppery with notes of dried raspberries, herbs, dried flowers and a very fine acidity. Silky and fine.

90p   (tasted 2026/02)

Fine Wines From Luciano Sandrone

These were tasted at Magnusson Fine Wines, courtsey of Provinum.

2024 Dolcetto d´Alba

A fine, iron filled nose with notes of damsons, flower water, chocolate biscuits and some peppery notes. Very, very good.

The taste is structured and seedy with notes of ripe blueberries, iron and silky tannins. Long, dry and fine. Very fine for the vintage.

90p   (tasted 2026/02)

2023 Barbera d´Alba

An open, spicy and warm nose with notes of sugared coffee, licorice and scorched earth. 

The taste is tight and fiery with notes of ripe raspberries, fir smoke and licorice. Long and warm.

88p   (tasted 2026/02)

2023 Nebbiolo d´Alba Valmaggiore

A cool, deep nose with notes of violets, ripening cherries, flowers and fine balsamic notes. Elegant and lovely.

The taste is tight and refined with polished tannins, gorgeous cherry fruit and a long, lingering finish. 

93p   (tasted 2026/02)

2021 Barolo Le Vigne

A finely tuned, complex nose with notes of ripe black cherries, warm Langhe earth, leather and a hint of oak. Very young.

The taste is tight and forward with notes of hard cherry candy, tiles, violets and taut tannins. 8+ years.

92p   (tasted 2026/02)

2021 Barolo Aleste

A deep, layered nose with notes of ripe cherries, Christmas spices, paint and licorice. High and very fine.

The taste is all about power and structure with gorgeous cherry fruit, albeit withdrawn and in the backseat today, but this is going places, just wait 12+ years.

95p   (tasted 2026/02)

2019 Barolo Vite Talin

A bottomless, aristocratic, broad nose with notes of hard cherry candy, fine tobacco, violets and fresh mushrooms. Just stunning.

The taste is very concentrated and intense with boatloads of ripe cherries, leather, violets and sweet minerals. The finish goes on forever. Polished yet broad shouldered tannins. 15+ years.

97p   (tasted 2026/02)