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)
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