2016 Bruno Giacosa Dolcetto D’Alba, Piemonte Italy
Tasting Notes
Bruno Giacosa crafts some of the most prestigious Barolo and Barbaresco single vineyard wines in Piedmont and is one of the world’s most respected wine producers. His winemaking philosophy combines a respect for tradition and conservative winemaking with the selected use of modern technology to obtain the best expression of each vineyard’s terroir. He is convinced that great wines begin in the vineyard with the production of grapes cultivated by experienced growers. This belief pushes him to improve the quality with every harvest. In the cellar, the goal is to produce a wine that maintains its identity from vine to bottle, so winemaking methods are therefore traditional and in full respect of the grape’s typical characteristics.
Sensory analysis: Intense and complex, with cherry, strawberry, and blackberry notes. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and well-balanced, with good freshness.
Specs
Grape variety: Dolcetto
Vineyards: Select vineyards in the villages of Neive, Neviglie, Treiso, and Alba
Yield: 55 hl/ha
Vinification: Stainless steel vats
Exposure: Southeast/Southwest/East
Fermentation and maceration: 7 days in stainless steel vats; 5 days of maceration
Malolactic fermentation: completely developed
Refinement: 7 months in stainless steel vats
Bottling: April 2017
Alcohol: 13.5% vol.
Total Acidity: 5.55 g/L
pH: 3.56
Total extract: 29 g/L
What’s Included
3-bottles:
3x 2016 Bruno Giacosa Dolcetto D’Alba, Piemonte Italy Case:
12x 2016 Bruno Giacosa Dolcetto D’Alba, Piemonte Italy
Price Comparison
Not for sale on winery website, $504/case MSRP
About The Winery
Winery: Bruno Giacosa
Location: Neive, Italy
One of the legendary winemakers of the world, Bruno Giacosa, crafted the most prestigious single-vineyard Barolo and Barbaresco wines during a career that spanned nearly eight decades. He joined the family business at the age of 15, representing the third generation of his Langhe winemaking family. Giacosa’s unfailing pursuit of perfection, his unrivaled palate, and his intimate knowledge of vineyards in the Langhe quickly drew recognition and helped establish Piedmont as a leading wine region. In 1980, Giacosa began to acquire prime parcels in Serralunga d’Alba, La Morra, and Barbaresco to produce wines that are rightly regarded as the finest expressions of Nebbiolo. His legacy rests with daughter Bruna, who continues to uphold her father’s winemaking philosophy to respect traditional techniques while using the best of modern technology. The goal is for each distinguished site to produce articulate, unique wines.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
2016 Bruno Giacosa Dolcetto D’Alba
3 bottles for $67.99 $22.66/bottle + $2.67/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $189.99 $15.83/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
Another email, another bottle, another “serious” tasting assignment. Tough job, but someone’s gotta do it. This one landed late Thursday for a Friday pour, so no leisurely decanting or slow build-up — straight to business with the Coravin so I could stretch it through the weekend.
Right away, I spotted a little cork seep under the foil — always a moment of suspense. Luckily, first sniff and sip gave me the all-clear. No funk, no fault. Just wine.
Nose: Big and lively. Jammy dark red fruit jumps out, backed by tobacco, leather, and a whiff of anise. Strong aromatics that almost tickle your nose with alcohol.
Sip: Bright acidity, lots of cherry and dark fruit, a little herbal kick of anise. Tannins grab hold like they don’t want to let go, then soften into a mix of spice and chocolate on a finish that’s tasty but a little short-lived.
Final thoughts: For a nine-year-old, this wine is still acting young. The flavors feel like they’re waiting for a few more years to calm down and play nicely together. Maybe a bit tight still, but with good potential to mellow into something more layered and elegant.
With the acitidy and tannins here, this is a style of red wine that I really like. As a 2016 vintage, I waz curious to find out what price point this will be offered at. It tastes like a well-made wine that could tolerate laying down for a long time, so I’d think that a sub $20/btl price would be a good deal.
Thanks to Casemates for the opportunity. Happy Cellar stocking, all!
2016 Bruno Giacosa Dolcetto D’Alba, Piemonte Italy
Tasting Notes
Specs
What’s Included
3-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
Not for sale on winery website, $504/case MSRP
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Sep 22 - Tuesday, Sep 23
2016 Bruno Giacosa Dolcetto D’Alba
3 bottles for $67.99 $22.66/bottle + $2.67/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $189.99 $15.83/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2016 Bruno Giacosa Dolcetto D’Alba, Neive, Italy
Another email, another bottle, another “serious” tasting assignment. Tough job, but someone’s gotta do it. This one landed late Thursday for a Friday pour, so no leisurely decanting or slow build-up — straight to business with the Coravin so I could stretch it through the weekend.
Right away, I spotted a little cork seep under the foil — always a moment of suspense. Luckily, first sniff and sip gave me the all-clear. No funk, no fault. Just wine.
Nose: Big and lively. Jammy dark red fruit jumps out, backed by tobacco, leather, and a whiff of anise. Strong aromatics that almost tickle your nose with alcohol.
Sip: Bright acidity, lots of cherry and dark fruit, a little herbal kick of anise. Tannins grab hold like they don’t want to let go, then soften into a mix of spice and chocolate on a finish that’s tasty but a little short-lived.
Final thoughts: For a nine-year-old, this wine is still acting young. The flavors feel like they’re waiting for a few more years to calm down and play nicely together. Maybe a bit tight still, but with good potential to mellow into something more layered and elegant.
With the acitidy and tannins here, this is a style of red wine that I really like. As a 2016 vintage, I waz curious to find out what price point this will be offered at. It tastes like a well-made wine that could tolerate laying down for a long time, so I’d think that a sub $20/btl price would be a good deal.
Thanks to Casemates for the opportunity. Happy Cellar stocking, all!