Carlo Giacosa Dolcetto d'Alba Cuchet 2008
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The Carlo Giacosa Winery, run by the family for four generations, is situated in Barbaresco, home to some of Italy’s most prestigious wines, and possesses a lovely view over the village’s medieval tower and the Tanaro Valley. Donato Giacosa, Carlo’s father, founded the winery and, as an expert vine grafter, working both for his own and surrounding estates, encouraged the development of the area’s immaculately geometrical vineyards and, as a consequence, helped shape the very hills of Barbaresco. Carlo, together with his wife Carla, continued in the family tradition, cultivating his roots along with those of his vines. Carlo has developed the winery through the years, aiming always for the highest quality in his wines. Now, it is Maria Grazia’s turn, the latest Giacosa to run the firm. She works alongside Carlo, her dad, and Luca, her son. The Giacosa family history is inextricably a wine-making one. Through the years, they have seen the arrival of research papers for sale new technologies, they have built bigger winery buildings and have designed new labels for their products. But the wines themselves are still, as they have always been, the proof of the Giacosa’s family passion for the work that they do.
An easy drinking red with soft fruity flavors—but catchy tannins, Dolcetto is often enjoyed in its native Piedmont on a casual weekday night, or for apertivo (the canonical Piedmontese pre-dinner appetizer hour). Somm Secret—In most of Piedmont, easy-ripening Dolcetto is relegated to the secondary sites—the best of which are reserved for the king variety: Nebbiolo. However, in the Dogliani zone it is the star of the show, and makes a more serious style of Dolcetto, many of which can improve with cellar time.
An historic village situated right in between the famous regions of Barolo and Barbaresco, Alba is also the name for the larger wine region surrounding the village.
In a sense, “Alba” is a catch-all phrase, and includes the declassified Nebbiolo wines made in Barolo and Barbaresco, as well as the Nebbiolo grown just outside of these regions’ borders. In fact, Nebbiolo d’Alba is a softer, less tannic and more fruit-forward wine ready to drink within just a couple years of bottling. It is a great place to start if you want to begin to understand the grape. Likewise, the even broader category of Langhe Nebbiolo offers approachable and value-driven options as well.
Barbera, planted alongside Nebbiolo in the surrounding hills, and referred to as Barbera d’Alba, takes on a more powerful and concentrated personality compared to its counterparts in Asti.
Dolcetto is ubiquitous here and, known as Dolcetto d'Alba, can be found casually served alongside antipasti on the tables of Alba’s cafes and wine bars.
Not surprisingly, given its location, Alba is recognized as one of Italy’s premiere culinary destinations and is the home of the fall truffle fair, which attracts visitors from worldwide every year.