Cascina Roccalini, Dolcetto d’Alba (Piedmont, Italy) 2008

 Paolo Veglio is a young wine producer in the Barbaresco region outside of Alba.  He founded Cascina Roccalini in 2005.  In 2007, Veglio hired one of Piedmont’s best winemakers, Dante Scaglione (Bruno Giacosa’s winemaker for many years).  Roccalini produces four wines– along with the Dolcetto, two Barbera d’Albas and a Barbaresco.  The 2008 Dolcetto d’Alba is a brilliant effort, one of the best Dolcettos I have tasted this year.  It’s everything a Dolcetto should be.  It has intriguing aromas of violets and flavors of tart cherry fruit.  It is clean and lean: a perfect Dolcetto.  Enjoy it with pasta with ragu Bolognese sauce.