Daniele Nardi's website

The most famous red wine from Piedmont is certainly Barolo and Barbaresco, both made with nebbiolo grape. But you can’t always drink nebbiolo because it is expensive, and honestly, because the tannic profile makes it challenging to pair with lighter, everyday meals.

Enter dolcetto grape variety. Literally, it means “little sweet one”, and although it makes a bone-dry wine, you can understand why they call it in that way – the aromas are very floral and fruity. This wine is still made in Piedmont by the same wineries that make Barolo and Barbaresco, but for a fraction of the cost. They tend to be wines that are easy to drink, light body, bright acidity, very fruit-forward, without any oak treatment.

This specific bottle is a great representative of the Dolcetto varietal wine. The color is bright ruby, medium intensity. Very aromatic in the nose, with primary notes initially dominated by red fruit (strawberry, raspberry), but also sage, blueberry and spices. Then it becomes very floral and grapey (i.e., smells like fresh grapes). Light body, bright acidity, well balanced by the sweetness of the fruit in the palate. It has a very good finish. If you like the grapey flavor (almost grape-flavor bubblegum), you will love this.