2018 DOLCETTO D'ALBA, Massolino. Piedmont, Italy

Bin: 648

Alcohol Percentage: 14%

Area: Alba, south of Turin, is the main wine town of Piedmont, home of both the revered white truffle and the great wines of Barolo and Barbaresco.

Grape Variety: 100% Dolcetto, fermented cool in steel and kept for only 4 months before bottling: the aim is to preserve maximum freshness and vitality.

Producer: From the website of the UK agent, Liberty Wines:
"This 23 hectare estate has been in the Massolino family since 1896. Since 1994 the style of the wines has undergone a subtle transformation. Winemaker Franco Massolino has done a wonderful job of marrying change with a respect for tradition, something that sets him apart from most of the younger producers in Barolo today. This is in part dictated by the nature of the vineyards that the Massolino family owns in the commune of Serralunga d'Alba - the source of some of the greatest, most structured, robust and long-lived Barolo wines."

Food Match: Perfect with pasta and a meat or tomato sauce with a bit of kick.

Old Bridge Rating: Dolcetto is the lightest of the key varieties in Piedmont (Dolcetto, Barbera and Nebbiolo) but from top producers in the classic Barolo/Barbaresco region, the style is still very intense. Deep purple, aromatic and lively, rich but fresh. Great food wine.