2015 Puligny-Montrachet “Les Chalumaux”Comtesse de Chérisey
France | Burgundy
$120
Producers
In Native Wine Grapes of Italy, Ian d’Agata writes that the country’s second president, Luigi Einaudi, loved Dolcetto so much that he “planted thousands of vines on his Piedmontese estate.” Its buds, however, are fragile, and the grapes grow low to the ground, requiring grueling work from the vigneron. Accordingly, in recent decades, the variety has largely been abandoned. Neither of those issues has stopped fourth-generation grower Paolo Olivero, who makes Dolcetto from one of the grape’s great crus, Diano d’Alba. With its slightly higher elevation, this region is known for producing Dolcetti that are among the most perfumed and fruit-driven. The 2018 Sörì Cristina displays supple, pretty notes of freshly crushed blackberries and raspberries. It will pair well with pretty much anything, though its perfect match is roast chicken and rosemary potatoes.
—Tom Wolf
Wine Type: | red |
Vintage: | 2018 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Dolcetto |
Appellation: | Dolcetto di Diano d’Alba |
Country: | Italy |
Region: | Piedmont |
Producer: | Il Palazzotto |
Winemaker: | Paolo Olivero |
Vineyard: | Planted in 1985, 1.5 ha |
Soil: | Limestone |
Aging: | Wine ages in stainless steel tank until August or September of year following vintage, ages in bottle for 2 to 3 months |
Farming: | Sustainable |
Alcohol: | 13% |
Il Palazzotto Italy | Piedmont | Dolcetto di Diano d’Alba
Guido Porro Italy | Piedmont | Barolo
A. & G. Fantino Italy | Piedmont | vino da tavola
Benevelli Piero Italy | Piedmont | Barolo
Cantine Elvio Tintero Italy | Piedmont | Moscato d'Asti
Piero Benevelli Italy | Piedmont | Dolcetto d’Alba
Kermit’s love affair with the great reds of Piemonte dates back to the early days of his career: the very first container he imported from Italy, in fact, featured legendary 1971 and 1974 Barolos from Vietti and Aldo Conterno. Regular visits since then have seen our portfolio grow to now twelve Piemontesi estates, with a strong focus on the rolling hills of the Langhe.
Nebbiolo rules these majestic, vine-covered marl slopes, giving Italy’s most mystifyingly complex, nuanced, and age-worthy reds. When crafted via traditional production methods—long macerations and extensive aging in enormous oak botti—the powerful, yet incredibly refined Barolos and Barbarescos provide haunting aromatics of tar, raspberry, incense, tea, roses, and more. At times austere in their youth but well worth the wait, they pair beautifully with the hearty local cuisine starring veal in many forms, braised beef, pastas like tajarin and agnolotti, and of course, Alba’s famous white truffles.
Surrounded by mountains on three sides, Piemonte’s climate is continental, with baking hot summers and cold winters. Nebbiolo is only part of the story here: juicy, fruity Barberas and Dolcettos represent the bread and butter throughout the region, and other native grapes like Freisa, Croatina, and the white Arneis are also noteworthy. Value abounds in the Monferrato, while Alto Piemonte also has its share of thrills to provide.
Every corner of Piemonte is rich with tradition, especially when wine is concerned. It’s no wonder we have been singing the region’s praises for over forty years.
Tenuta La Pergola Italy | Piedmont | Monferrato Rosso
Guido Porro Italy | Piedmont | Barbera d’Alba
A. & G. Fantino Italy | Piedmont | Barolo
Benevelli Piero Italy | Piedmont | Barolo
Cantine Elvio Tintero Italy | Piedmont | Moscato d'Asti
A. & G. Fantino Italy | Piedmont | Barbera d’Alba
Piero Benevelli Italy | Piedmont | Langhe
Guido Porro Italy | Piedmont | Barolo
Silvio Giamello Italy | Piedmont | Barbaresco
Giulia Negri Italy | Piedmont | Langhe
Il Palazzotto Italy | Piedmont | Dolcetto di Diano d’Alba
For the wines that I buy I insist that the winemaker leave them whole, intact. I go into the cellars now and select specific barrels or cuvées, and I request that they be bottled without stripping them with filters or other devices. This means that many of our wines will arrive with a smudge of sediment and will throw a more important deposit as time goes by, It also means the wine will taste better.
Drinking distilled spirits, beer, coolers, wine and other alcoholic beverages may increase cancer risk, and, during pregnancy, can cause birth defects. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/alcohol
Many food and beverage cans have linings containing bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical known to cause harm to the female reproductive system. Jar lids and bottle caps may also contain BPA. You can be exposed to BPA when you consume foods or beverages packaged in these containers. For more information, go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/bpa