Via Collina Dolcetto di Diano d’Alba, 2007, Piedmonte, Italy
Posted on February 18, 2009 by Andrew Barrow in Wine Notes
As the sauce splutters in the pan, the pasta draining in the sink, chopped herbs and grated cheese waiting as a garnish on the side, a thought manifests – “we need a bloody wine!”
A hideous silver label clings to a bottle of Dolcetto; frankly it is so bad it is degrading my wine rack! Inside though a crisp little number that is soon splashed into the sauce and dripped over my brand new tasting note book…
I watch as a dribble escapes down the bottles side, a victim of gravity, and think how that is going to ruin the photograph I am going to take tomorrow.
Hunger entices a chunk of crunchy Parmigiano into a hand; a slurp of the Dolcetto and a moment of pleasure as wine and cheese flavours meld and intermingle.
Wine Tasting Note: Via Collina Dolcetto di Diano d’Alba, 2007, Piedmonte, Italy.
Stockist: Waitrose Price: currently on offer at £5.49 (£1.50 off) [More on Adegga / Snooth]
A joyous vibrancy, a lightness that lifts the brooding, deep flavours of the well-flavoured pasta sauce. Lifts is perhaps the wrong word. The wine counters the deep autumnal flavours of the sauce with a burst of freshness and red berry and cherry flavours. Medium-bodied, simple, fresh flavours, reasonably good length. Alcohol 13.5%.
Scribblings Rating – 86/100 [ out of 5]
Not a wine to linger and ponder over but occassionally a light, fresh, drinkable, immediate wine is all you need – great with the tomato based sauce and also recommended with pork or risotto.
[An entry to Wine Blogging Wednesday #54 A Passion for Piedmonte]
Scribbles on Photos
Douglas says:
Post Author 19/02/2009 at 1:26 pmI like this lifting entry. The way you photographed the bottle, the label looks rather beautiful in fact. I shall bring you a bottle of my relative’s Dolcetto d’Ovada next time we meet. Decanter published a dog eating the grapes there in their ‘Top Dogs’ section…
Dylan says:
Post Author 24/02/2009 at 5:23 pmWhat you said strikes an idea in me. Custom wine labels, let the bottle match elegantly with the decor of your house and/or wine rack. I wouldn’t be surprised if this already exists (as logistical of a nightmare it may seem).
David McDuff says:
Post Author 26/02/2009 at 4:37 pmThanks for participating, Andrew. I’ve added your post as an addendum to the WBW wrap-up. You’ll find it at: A Passion for Piedmont — The WBW 54 Recap.