In this episode of IntoWineTV, host Lisa Kolenda and wine experts Edward Ruiz, Cezar Kusik, and Bartholomew Broadbent convene at one of San Francisco's finest restaurants, Incanto, to taste and discuss Piedmont Reds.
Wine: Giacosa Dolcetto d'Alba "San Rocco" 2008 ($19.50)
Find Giacosa Dolcetto d'Alba "San Rocco"
Region: Piedmont
Varietal: 100% Dolcetto from the "Langhe" hills east of Alba.
Alcohol: 12.5%
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Background: Originally from the high hills of The Langhe. Among other names, it is also called "Ormeasca". It feels as much at home in Alba and surrounding areas as it does in Dogliani. Characterized by relatively fast ripening, it owes its name to the sweetness of its fruit which in addition to producing an excellent wine is excellent eaten fresh. It is a particularly suitable companion for "soma d'aj", a typical Piedmontese treat. The bunch is pyramidal and medium-sized. Although "dolcetto" means "sweet" in Italian, it translates not into sweet wines, but into fresh and fruity ones, slightly earthy and meant to be drunk quite young. Dolcetto is unique to Piedmont and is what "Piemontesi" drink on a regular basis. Dolcetto ripens two weeks before Barbera and almost a month before Nebbiolo, thereby making it the perfect grape to plant in cooler, lower-quality vineyards as it allows producers to keep the best sites for more expensive wines. Ruby red color with violet hints and vinous, rich nose with hints of blackberries and raspberries. Light to medium bodied with excellent balance of acidity, fruitiness and alcohol. Accompaniments: risotto, appetizers, roasted meats.
Experts:
Edward Ruiz, Wine Director at San Francisco's Incanto Restaurant.
Cezar Kusik, Fine Wine Specialist, Fourcade & Hecht Wine Selections.
Bartholomew Broadbent, CEO of Broadbent Selections. Bartholomew was named as one of the "fifty most influential people in the wine world" by Decanter Magazine. He is also widely considered to be one of the world's foremost authorities on Port and Madeira. Learn more about Bartholomew Broadbent.
Location: Incanto Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar, Situated in the heart of one of San Francisco's most charming residential neighborhoods, Incanto's rustic Italian setting, with its handcrafted stone, antique brick and woodwork, 16th century Latin parchments, and private dining room dedicated to poet Dante Alighieri, provides a uniquely warm and inviting dining environment.
Incanto's daily-changing menu honors old-world traditions including house-cured meats, unusual regional pastas, fresh local seafood and a commitment to sustainably grown and harvested produce. Incanto's award-winning wine program features one of the most diverse Italian wine lists in the United States and an ever-changing lineup of more than twenty wines by the glass, half-glass, half-liter, and flight.
