One of the better, more nuanced Dolcetto bottles. Lovely light floral, red fruit, strawberry, cherry, hints of herb, mineral. Nearly translucent, well balanced. Crisp but not prominent acid, light tannin. Nice alone and with home made pizza. I'd say drink up if no hurry, was ready to go on opening.
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PnP. Translucent ruby. Nose of berries. Nice acid/fruit balance. With air, the fruit displays more flavor, concentration and moderate complexity. Lovely. (90-91).
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Aerated to decanter for one hour; seemed ideal. That said, night 2 was as good if not a half step better, more complete. Very serviceable table wine, with fitting elegance and a deft balance; med- body, avg complexity. Now or the next several years. A good vintage for this Dolcetto. recommended
A Chianti-like herbal note with minerality and dark fruits.
Medium acid and medium - tannin.
This needed about an hour of air to begin showing well. Reminds me of a dark fruited chianti with the herbal notes and strong acid. Roagna continues to blow me away. This is delicious now, but could age 5+ years.
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This gave nothing on night one. It felt completely flat, without any kind of acids to give it a pop. After about an hour with the glass, I put the cork in the bottle and opened something else. Much better on night two. Significantly fresher, with red cherry tones. I quite enjoyed it on the second night and would suggest a long decant at this point.
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12.5% - Clear, med ruby / clean, med to pronounced intensity of cranberry, cherry pit, kirsch, cumin, fresh violet, mineral/ dry, med+ acidity, med to low silky tannin, med body, med+ intensity with a persistent finish. Blossomed really nicely three days upon opening. Scores high on the please/price scale.
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12.5% - Clear, med- ruby / clean, med to pronounced intensity - juicy cranberries, raspberry, cherry pit, violet, earthy notes, mineral edge / dry, high racy acidity, med- tannin, med body, pronounced intensity, persistent length. Again, this is a beauty and perhaps the best bottle so far. 91(+)
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Beautiful bright garnet color. Fragrant and alluring nose of red berries, fresh-turned earth and telltale violets. Although I've read dolcetto is not an inherently high acid grape, this makes my mouth water with anticipation, never a bad sign. There's a lightness as well no doubt conferred by the 12.5% alcohol, grazie mille.
Light-to-medium bodied, it dances across the palate and reminds me that I once lost a bet in college because I couldn't believe the word "gavotte" appeared in the song "You're so vain." While it's French, not Italian, gavotte is defined as "lively peasant kissing dance" according to brittanica.com, and I don't think I can do any better than that in describing the impression this makes. Dolcetto in skilled hands can be a sheer delight (it can also be clubbed to death by late picking and over-extraction). But don't take the word peasant literally-at least in this wine there's an edge of refinement and elegance befitting a higher station.
LucaRoagna, whom I respect and admire as much as anyone in the Langhe today, proves that he is also an alchemist. He take dolcetto, gives it a very long maceration, and gets substantially all of the lifted aromatic complexity he gets with nebbiolo. Brilliant effort. This isn't your Nonna's dolcetto!
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12.5% - Clear, med to light ruby / clean, med intensity - bright red cherry, cranberry, lightly floral / dry, high sharp acidity, low tannin, med to light body, med+ intensity, med length. Works perfectly with tomato based dishes and lobster risotto.
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Wow, excellent QPR for around $20; a beam of energy, and with some complexity to boot. By far the "brightest" Dolcetto I've had (others showed considerably darker fruit and gentler acidity. They've all been great in their own way.)
Smells so fresh, bursting with bright red cherries at the fore and gentle black plum/vanilla oak hanging in the background, plus the smallest kisses of olive and earthy, minerally, even musty tones. The fruit took over eventually- I wish the savory tones were able to stay around longer, but still a great, expressive nose.
Palate is an electric shock of acidity with the pure red cherries from the nose intermingling with smoky herbs. A surprising amount of tannin too, not overbearing but really grippy.
It's very bright and tart, and feels truly designed to be a food wine. Had it with deep dish pizza; it's like they were made for each other. Feel like I may have underrated this for the price and need to try again.
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12.5% - Clear, med to light purple / clean, med+ intensity - morello cherry, cranberry, spice kick, wet stone minerality, floral lift / dry, med+ refreshing acidity, med to low tannin, med body, med to pronounced intensity, med+ length. A stunning Dolcetto! I coudn't agree more with Bevetroppo previous TN... also had the chance to taste Rinaldi's Dolcetto a few months ago and this one is built in the same frame. I'm just glad I have a case of this one!
Like a Giuseppe Rinaldi Dolcetto from several months ago, this is flat out gorgeous and at least for me, another indicator that dolcetto is capable of greatness even if it is the 'third grape' in the Piedmont hierarchy.
Dark cherry red, it has a lifted nose of blue/black fruits, black cherry and delicate floral notes of violet, or paperwhite or rose, what do I look like, a botanist? However, I choose the word delicate with care because the overall impression is one of a softly wafting perfume.
LIght to medium-bodied at 12.5%, the palate also conveys a silky, feminine delicacy. The fruit is teasing, reticent and even seductive, balanced with good acid structure and ripe but gentle tannins and refined minerals on the finish. If Chambolle or Volnay had a cousin from Piedmont, this could be it.
I do not believe I am falling victim to a fallacy of unduly praising this wine simply because of lowered expectations. It's honestly a beautiful expression of grape and place and deserves its due.
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5/10/2024 - wayfarer Likes this wine: 90 Points
One of the better, more nuanced Dolcetto bottles. Lovely light floral, red fruit, strawberry, cherry, hints of herb, mineral. Nearly translucent, well balanced. Crisp but not prominent acid, light tannin. Nice alone and with home made pizza. I'd say drink up if no hurry, was ready to go on opening.
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2/24/2023 - D_RICH wrote: 91 Points
PnP. Translucent ruby. Nose of berries. Nice acid/fruit balance. With air, the fruit displays more flavor, concentration and moderate complexity. Lovely. (90-91).
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12/2/2022 - Jcalvin3 Likes this wine: 89 Points
4 Hour decant per wine store. Paired with lasagna.
Dark fruits with herbal undertones.
Medium body. Good acid; light to medium tannins.
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2/3/2022 - Plasmatini Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nicely aromatic, flowers, with lavender, earthly, mild acidity, really good with pizza.
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6/7/2021 - sleepyhaus wrote:
Enjoyed it more than last time. It felt a bit fresher and lighter. Dolcetto really isn't my jam though, even from as good a producer as Roagna.
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3/11/2021 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
Aerated to decanter for one hour; seemed ideal. That said, night 2 was as good if not a half step better, more complete. Very serviceable table wine, with fitting elegance and a deft balance; med- body, avg complexity. Now or the next several years. A good vintage for this Dolcetto. recommended
http://www.italianwine.blog
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2/18/2021 - OnWisconsin Likes this wine: 92 Points
A Chianti-like herbal note with minerality and dark fruits.
Medium acid and medium - tannin.
This needed about an hour of air to begin showing well. Reminds me of a dark fruited chianti with the herbal notes and strong acid. Roagna continues to blow me away. This is delicious now, but could age 5+ years.
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1/3/2021 - gth865a Likes this wine: 90 Points
Fresh and young, light to medium body. Very much enjoyed this, great value!
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11/30/2020 - sleepyhaus wrote:
This gave nothing on night one. It felt completely flat, without any kind of acids to give it a pop. After about an hour with the glass, I put the cork in the bottle and opened something else. Much better on night two. Significantly fresher, with red cherry tones. I quite enjoyed it on the second night and would suggest a long decant at this point.
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11/3/2020 - SiR wrote: 91 Points
12.5% - Clear, med ruby / clean, med to pronounced intensity of cranberry, cherry pit, kirsch, cumin, fresh violet, mineral/ dry, med+ acidity, med to low silky tannin, med body, med+ intensity with a persistent finish. Blossomed really nicely three days upon opening. Scores high on the please/price scale.
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9/2/2020 - SiR wrote: 91 Points
12.5% - Clear, med- ruby / clean, med to pronounced intensity - juicy cranberries, raspberry, cherry pit, violet, earthy notes, mineral edge / dry, high racy acidity, med- tannin, med body, pronounced intensity, persistent length. Again, this is a beauty and perhaps the best bottle so far. 91(+)
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7/14/2020 - bevetroppo Likes this wine: 90 Points
Beautiful bright garnet color. Fragrant and alluring nose of red berries, fresh-turned earth and telltale violets. Although I've read dolcetto is not an inherently high acid grape, this makes my mouth water with anticipation, never a bad sign. There's a lightness as well no doubt conferred by the 12.5% alcohol, grazie mille.
Light-to-medium bodied, it dances across the palate and reminds me that I once lost a bet in college because I couldn't believe the word "gavotte" appeared in the song "You're so vain." While it's French, not Italian, gavotte is defined as "lively peasant kissing dance" according to brittanica.com, and I don't think I can do any better than that in describing the impression this makes. Dolcetto in skilled hands can be a sheer delight (it can also be clubbed to death by late picking and over-extraction). But don't take the word peasant literally-at least in this wine there's an edge of refinement and elegance befitting a higher station.
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6/10/2020 - wardamnwine Likes this wine: 91 Points
Solid stuff from a great producer!
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5/25/2020 - Voodoo_Champagne Likes this wine:
My best wine with pasta ragu.
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5/25/2020 - lefty4012 wrote:
Juice!
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5/14/2020 - baroloboy55-2.0 Likes this wine: 91 Points
LucaRoagna, whom I respect and admire as much as anyone in the Langhe today, proves that he is also an alchemist. He take dolcetto, gives it a very long maceration, and gets substantially all of the lifted aromatic complexity he gets with nebbiolo. Brilliant effort. This isn't your Nonna's dolcetto!
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5/1/2020 - SiR wrote: 90 Points
12.5% - Clear, med to light ruby / clean, med intensity - bright red cherry, cranberry, lightly floral / dry, high sharp acidity, low tannin, med to light body, med+ intensity, med length. Works perfectly with tomato based dishes and lobster risotto.
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5/1/2020 - sid_loves_wine Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wow, excellent QPR for around $20; a beam of energy, and with some complexity to boot. By far the "brightest" Dolcetto I've had (others showed considerably darker fruit and gentler acidity. They've all been great in their own way.)
Smells so fresh, bursting with bright red cherries at the fore and gentle black plum/vanilla oak hanging in the background, plus the smallest kisses of olive and earthy, minerally, even musty tones. The fruit took over eventually- I wish the savory tones were able to stay around longer, but still a great, expressive nose.
Palate is an electric shock of acidity with the pure red cherries from the nose intermingling with smoky herbs. A surprising amount of tannin too, not overbearing but really grippy.
It's very bright and tart, and feels truly designed to be a food wine. Had it with deep dish pizza; it's like they were made for each other. Feel like I may have underrated this for the price and need to try again.
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4/9/2020 - SiR wrote: 91 Points
12.5% - Clear, med to pale purple / clean, med+ intensity - morello cherry, cranberry, rhubarb, spice box, wet stone minerality / dry, high racy acidity, med- tannin, med body, med+ intensity, persistent length. A vibrant Dolcetto!
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3/30/2020 - SiR wrote: 91 Points
12.5% - Clear, med to light purple / clean, med+ intensity - morello cherry, cranberry, spice kick, wet stone minerality, floral lift / dry, med+ refreshing acidity, med to low tannin, med body, med to pronounced intensity, med+ length. A stunning Dolcetto! I coudn't agree more with Bevetroppo previous TN... also had the chance to taste Rinaldi's Dolcetto a few months ago and this one is built in the same frame. I'm just glad I have a case of this one!
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3/23/2020 - Voodoo_Champagne Likes this wine:
A very good and delicious Dolcetto, great Q/P.
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12/23/2019 - bevetroppo Likes this wine: 91 Points
Like a Giuseppe Rinaldi Dolcetto from several months ago, this is flat out gorgeous and at least for me, another indicator that dolcetto is capable of greatness even if it is the 'third grape' in the Piedmont hierarchy.
Dark cherry red, it has a lifted nose of blue/black fruits, black cherry and delicate floral notes of violet, or paperwhite or rose, what do I look like, a botanist? However, I choose the word delicate with care because the overall impression is one of a softly wafting perfume.
LIght to medium-bodied at 12.5%, the palate also conveys a silky, feminine delicacy. The fruit is teasing, reticent and even seductive, balanced with good acid structure and ripe but gentle tannins and refined minerals on the finish. If Chambolle or Volnay had a cousin from Piedmont, this could be it.
I do not believe I am falling victim to a fallacy of unduly praising this wine simply because of lowered expectations. It's honestly a beautiful expression of grape and place and deserves its due.
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