EXCLUSIVE WINE ALERT:

Today’s exclusive and very limited production wine is a superb example of the lively youth and varietal purity of Italy’s Dolcetto d’Alba. This wine is a perfect addition to any home cooked Italian influenced meal.

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Mission Codename: Quiet and Remote

Operative: Agent White

Objective: Secure an exceptional and exclusive Barolo for our operatives.

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Cascina Bruciata

Wine Subject: 2009 ‘Rian’ Dolcetto d’Alba DOC

Winemaker: Francesco Baravalle

Backgrounder:

Dolcetto, or literally translated as the ‘little sweet one’ is one of the primary grapes of Italy’s Piedmont. The best Dolcetto is grown in and around the Alba region. The grape has a thinner skin than its local neighbors resulting in its lighter flavors and brighter acidity making this wine perfect for lunch meals or as a starter wine for a traditional Italian meal. Dolcetto is often made as a single varietal wine and the best of Dolcetto is from designated single vineyards.

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Beautifully bright ruby red with a deep ruby core. Along the edges and when held to the light, this wine’s bright ruby hues glisten and when swirled, evenly spaced lightly colored legs ring the glass.

Smell – Bright youthful aromas of spiced red plum, Italian cherry and other fresh red and black berry fruit are layered over notes of fresh anise, black tea along with hints of hot spice and perfumed floral notes.

Feel – This medium-bodied dry wine is smooth but youthfully textured with vibrant acidity and finely grained green tannins. Its mouth-coating minerality and acidity is lively upon opening and soften as this wine opens.

Taste – Fresh and tart red plum, wild blackberry and Italian cherry blend with hot spice and fresh anise. Just underneath are zesty tar and black tea components that meld with this wine’s vibrant acid and textured minerality.

Finish – Extremely long with the fresh and tart fruit fading as this wine’s textured mouthfeel lasts and lasts and begs for another sip.

Conclusion – The 2009 Cascina Bruciata ‘Rian’ Dolcetto d’Alba DOC is a delicious and youthful wine that shows plenty of _old world’ character, pure varietal aromas and flavors, and a mouthfeel that makes this a fantastic food wine. Enjoy this wine with all your summer grilling or with a simple ragù alla bolognese. Drink this wine now and over the next several years.

Mission Report:

WINEMAKER INTEL BRIEFING DOSSIER

SUBJECT: Francesco Baravalle

WINE EDUCATION: Winemaking and Viticulture degree from University of Turin (2001) Sommelier degree (2008), I worked for 4 years at Barboursville Winery in Virginia as associate winemaker.

WINEMAKING PHILOSOPHY: Use the technologies in the cellar to preserve the quality of the grapes and enhance the expression of the territory.

WINEMAKER QUOTE: Wine is devotion to land and people’s culture

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WINEMAKER INTERVIEW

AGENT WHITE: Greetings, Francesco, We are thrilled to be showing your 2009 Cascina Bruciata ‘Rian’ Dolcetto d’Alba DOC. Thanks so much for taking some time to answer questions for our Operatives today.

FRANCESCO: Greetings to you Agent White! It is a great pleasure for me to talk to you about our wines.

WHITE: Was there a specific experience in your life that inspired your love of wine?

FRANCESCO: I maybe didn’t realize it at the time, but I believe that it was when I was a kid, watching my grandfather bring home grapes and be so excited to crush them and to start the fermentation. Furthermore his pride when putting his own bottle on the table to share with friends saying: “Guys, I made this, enjoy it!”

WHITE: What wine or winemaker has most influenced your winemaking style?

FRANCESCO: I think more than a specific wine or winemaker, undoubtedly, Burgundy is a very inspiriting territory where both the people and the authenticity of the wine have influenced me.

WHITE: Who do you make wine for?

FRANCESCO: I make wine primarily for consumers who want to know more about our people and our land through our wines.

WHITE: Please tell me a little bit about the wine we are featuring today.

FRANCESCO: This wine belongs to a 35 years old vineyard exposed to the west, we call it the Rian vineyards cause this name in the Piedmontese language means very quite and remote, in fact when I work in there I feel totally isolated from the rest of the “noisy” world and I can appreciate the sound of the nature only.

WHITE: What is your favorite pairing with today’s wine?

FRANCESCO: Dolcetto Rian 2009 is a perfect daily wine, it is very versatile so you can pair it with different kind of salads and soup but, probably due to the season, the perfect pair would be with grilled meat or chicken or burgers.

WHITE: In your opinion, what makes the Barolo & Piedmont so special?

FRANCESCO: The great diversity of Terroirs that are capable of making authentic wines with different personalities. Furthermore the Nebbiolo grown in Barolo, Barbaresco and Roero produces unique wines.

WHITE: What is occupying your time at the winery these days?

FRANCESCO: In these days I’m spending most of my time in the vineyard, we are a couple months away from harvest so this is definitively the main focus.

WHITE: How would you recommend people approach your wines and wine in general?

FRANCESCO: To really understand an artisanal wine it is important to taste it without any sort of preconception and try to learn about the people and the culture behind the label, in order to have the right opinion about it.

WHITE: Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

WINEMAKER: An artisanal wine had its own personality, identity and expressivity, we need to respect and appreciate it as a great value to protect.

WHITE: Thank you so much for your time. We learned a lot about you – and your wine. Keep up the great work, we are big fans!

FRANCESCO: Thank you and to The Wine Spies for your attention to our land and wines!, for me it is always an honor to have a chance to interact with all of you! Arrivederci a presto!

Wine Spies Vineyard Check:

The approximate location of the Cascina Bruciata and its vineyards can be seen in this satellite photo.