Azienda Agricola Cagliero Dolcetto d'Alba DOC "Nonna Marcellina" 2022 750mL

When Nonna Marcelina founded the Cagliero estate in the heart of the Barolo commune generations ago, she decided one plot in prime Nebbiolo/Barolo territory would be planted with dolcetto. Subsequent generations have maintained that plot in honour of her, and today Stefano Cagliero makes this dolcetto from it in her name.

It’s still lower acid, alcohol and tannin than you get from other piedmont grapes like Barbera and Nebbiolo, with bright red fruits the star of the show, but the prime location really shines through in this wine with surprising body and layers of flavour. We weren’t looking for a dolcetto on our piedmont scouting trips, but this wine changed our minds. It’s a must try. You wouldn’t usually age dolcetto, and we think this is best drunk now, but it’ll last a few more years without a problem. Pair it (food really does bring out its best) with pizza or a simple red sauce pasta like amatriciana.