Sobrero Dolcetto d'Alba 2012
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Ciabot Tanasio, an antique name encompassing more than 70 years of history made by the Sobrero family, attentively working the vineyards of the rolling Castiglione hills to obtain their delicate nectar and transform it into wine. The tradition has been passed along the generations and now sees the offspring of Francesco Sobrero take an active part in the company, enriched by the third generation. A winery dynamic and in step with the times.
Sobrero Winery: passion, love and tradition. An increasing passion, a love that continues to grow stronger, and a great tradition closely tied to the land and the territory. Three words, three “creeds,” that merge and exist for one purpose only: excellence in wine. Since the 1940’s and the efforts of the grandfather Francesco, the vital breath of the Sobrero Winery continues to be reinforced. From the 1960’s with Settimo and Pier Franco, and Flavio since 2000, the winery has experienced years of continuous growth: from the sale of bulk to bottled wine, from the purchase of new vineyards to the expansion into export markets. The wines produced by the Sobrero family are a constantly ascending parabola, a symbol of the modernity that crosses time without erasing its foundation, the tradition that accompanies the work in the vineyard and the cellar, step after step.
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.