Ceretto Dolcetto d’Alba Rossana 2023

Ceretto is a family winery in the Langhe of Piedmont with more than seventy years behind it, drawing on a wide spread of plots across the region's best denominations. This Dolcetto d'Alba is farmed organically and made as the local table red, meant to be drunk young. The Langhe hills are built on calcareous marl and sandstone, soils that give Dolcetto its deep colour and soft acidity while keeping the fruit fresh. Dolcetto ripens early and accumulates sugar readily, which is why alcohol sits at a moderate level here despite generous fruit. Fermentation is kept short and the wine sees no oak, preserving primary aromatics and the grape's naturally low acidity and gentle tannin. Expect a purple ruby colour and a nose of ripe cherry, plum and violet. The palate is round and immediate, with red berry fruit, a touch of liquorice and the faintly bitter almond note that is a signature of the variety on the finish. Serve at 15 to 16 degrees, no decanting needed. It suits weeknight cooking, from roast pork to tomato pasta.