2007 Renato Ratti Dolcetto d'Alba Colombe

Garagiste

• By Jon Rimmerman
  7/9/2008, (See more on Garagiste...)

  (DOLCETTO Renato Ratti COLOMBE) Dolcetto SPECIAL Dear Friends, I know we've had a lot of Italian wines lately but this was just too good of a deal to pass up and I need to put it out this morning or it will be re-allocated in another direction. Just confirmed, it's tough to get red wine any fresher than this and with a new toned down style (unlike past vintages, little or no new oak was used in 2007), it's a perfect summer wine to take the blues away - or turn them purple. In Piedmont, Dolcetto is the wine of choice (along with Barbera) consumed with family and friends almost everyday. Whether it's around a large Sunday dinner table or small gathering, most of the indigenous humans born in this region will tell you they almost never drink Barolo and Barbaresco (too precious and meditative for most days of the year) but they consume Dolcetto 3-4 times/week. The act of opening a bottle of Dolcetto, without pretense or expectation, is a right of passage for the Piedmontese and the bottles flow with one thing in mind - to cleanse the palate (not to analyze the wine's gumption). Considered a product of regional pride (similar to something like cheese and its affiliation with Wisconsin), Dolcetto is important to the cognoscenti around Alba and they wish the US market would appreciate their everyday ambassador as much as they do. Maybe this wine will enhance their desire. From 30-40 year old Dolcetto vines, this single vineyard wine is deep purple/red in color, fruit-forward, fresh and lively with a note of citrus and just the right whip-crack of grape tannin and acidity to give it structure and zeal. Only bottled 5-6 weeks ago, Dolcetto is best consumed in the first few years after arrival and this couldn't be more direct from the source - it lands in a week and will be available for local pick up in a few weeks - less than 10 months after the harvest. A top everyday choice at a sane price. 2007 Renato Ratti Dolcetto d'Alba "Colombe" (single vineyard) Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA Italy7499