2023 Dolcetto d'Alba, Diego & Damiano Barale, Piedmont, Italy
About this WINE
Diego e Damiano Barale
Situated in the village of Barolo, Barale is one of the great winemaking names of Piedmont, with a winemaking legacy dating back to the 17th century. Brothers Diego and Damiano Barale are the latest and most exciting new branch of this impressive lineage. The brothers took the helm in 2012, following in the footsteps of their late father Carlo, and are committed to producing incredible vintage-specific wines from select parcels across Barolo and Monforte.
The brothers practice organic viticulture to best articulate their terroir, although you won't find certification on the label. Vinification is very traditional, slow and natural, taking place in steel tanks. The crus are co-fermented for Barolo – this historical technique is gaining favour once more, as it builds complexity and balance in the wines from their inception. The wines are then aged in French tonneaux, in the ancient, vaulted cellar of the cantina.
Dolcetto d'Alba
Dolcetto d'Alba is a DOC zone producing wines exclusively from the Dolcetto grape. D'Alba is one of the seven Dolcetto zones in Piedmont, the others being Acqui, Asti, Diano d' Alba, Ovada and Dogliani, as well as the less significant Langhe Monregalesi. D'Alba is regarded as the finest-quality zone of all for Dolcetto.
Dolcetto is an important Piedmontese grape, and the antithesis of Nebbiolo. It ripens a month earlier and produces wines that are low in acid yet high in tannins. Planted on the sites spurned by Nebbiolo and Barbera, Dolcetto is most suited to the light, white, sandy, calcareous tufa soils that are common in and around Barbaresco. It is generally made in an unoaked style to accentuate its natural violet perfume and juicy, bitter cherry and almond fruit. Dolcetto d’Alba is the grape’s most highly-regarded incarnation and makes the perfect antipasti wine.
Recommended producers: Diano, Dogliani
Dolcetto
A native black grape variety of Northern Italy grown almost exclusively in the provinces of Cuneo and Alessandria in Piedmont. It is relatively easy to cultivate, although it is susceptible to fungal diseases. It ripens before Barbera and Nebbiolo and is often grown in high north-facing sites which would be unsuitable for Nebbiolo.
The finest Dolcetto wines come from grapes grown on soils rich with white marls, especially those found on the right bank of the River Tauro. The wines generally are low in tannins and acidity and are usually fruity and fragrant, often with hints of almonds. Most Dolcettos should be drunk within a year or two of the vintage, but the wines from the best producers can last for 5 years and sometimes longer.
When is a wine ready to drink?
We provide drinking windows for all our wines. Alongside the drinking windows there is a bottle icon and a maturity stage. Bear in mind that the best time to drink a wine does also depend on your taste.
Not ready
These wines are very young. Whilst they're likely to have lots of intense flavours, their acidity or tannins may make them feel austere. Although it isn't "wrong" to drink these wines now, you are likely to miss out on a lot of complexity by not waiting for them to mature.
Ready - youthful
These wines are likely to have plenty of fruit flavours still and, for red wines, the tannins may well be quite noticeable. For those who prefer younger, fruitier wines, or if serving alongside a robust meal, these will be very enjoyable. If you choose to hold onto these wines, the fruit flavours will evolve into more savoury complexity.
Ready - at best
These wines are likely to have a beautiful balance of fruit, spice and savoury flavours. The acidity and tannins will have softened somewhat, and the wines will show plenty of complexity. For many, this is seen as the ideal time to drink and enjoy these wines. If you choose to hold onto these wines, they will become more savoury but not necessarily more complex.
Ready - mature
These wines are likely to have plenty of complexity, but the fruit flavours will have been almost completely replaced by savoury and spice notes. These wines may have a beautiful texture at this stage of maturity. There is lots to enjoy when drinking wines at this stage. Most of these wines will hold in this window for a few years, though at the very end of this drinking window, wines start to lose complexity and decline.
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Description
Diego and Damiano’s Dolcetto vines are planted at the lowest part of their San Giovanni vineyard. The oldest vines here were planted by their grandfather, Giuseppe Barale, in 1972 – these are the oldest vines of the estate. Vinification for the Dolcetto is always in stainless steel, protecting and amplifying the primary nature of the fruit. This swells with pretty red fruit, sweet cranberry and rose. It’s a perfect window into the quality of the estate whilst you wait for your Barolo to mature. 2,600 bottles produced.
Drink 2024 – 2028
Charlie Leech, Buying Assistant, Berry Bros. & Rudd
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