Dolcetto d'Alba Olek Bondonio - Cascina La Berchialla 2024
ArtisanalThe Dolcetto d'Alba by Olek Bondonio is a red wine from the Langhe that authentically tells the fresher and more expressive side of the famous Piedmontese variety. Aged only in steel, it reveals a fresh, fruity, vinous texture with good tannins, supported by a very typical olfactory bouquet made up of notes of berries, cherry, floral essences, and light underbrush accents.
The Dolcetto D'Alba by Olek Bondonio is a delicious and classic interpretation of one of the most underrated grape varieties of the Langhe. Yes, because Dolcetto, long unjustly undervalued but always present on the tables of the locals, is a true "minister" of the table, capable of accompanying with versatility and flair the dishes of Piedmontese cuisine and beyond. Olek Bondonio knows this well, a globetrotting winemaker who, before taking over the family wine business, decided to travel the world and dedicate himself to his great sporting passions. Upon returning to his homeland, Barbaresco, where his vineyards are located, he becomes a true guardian of an ampelographic heritage composed both of the prince of the Langhe, Nebbiolo, and other local grape varieties, including Dolcetto. His interpretations, already won over the hearts of enthusiasts, are austere, granite-like, and uncompromising, just like his approach in the vineyard and in the cellar. The future that returns to the past, cyclically.
The Dolcetto d'Alba from Cascina La Berchialla is entirely composed of grapes from the same grape variety. In the vineyard, chemistry is absolutely banned, and only small quantities of copper and sulfur are used. Manual harvesting, of course, and a completely coherent approach in the cellar: spontaneous fermentations, long macerations, and no filtration or clarification. In the case of Dolcetto, aging takes place in steel containers for a few months and, after a brief resting period in glass, it is put on the market.
The Dolcetto d'Alba by Olek Bondonio exudes typicity already from its color, intense ruby edged with violet reflections. From the first sniff, it shows itself to be very lively, winey in its youthful exuberance, but also capable of returning more complex hints of cherry and violet. However, it is on the palate that it fully reveals its essence, vibrant and juicy, endowed with a "cleansing" freshness and a pleasant tannic friction. It calls for a second sip, making it unthinkable to purchase in single format, also due to the price. From the case, onwards!