Fabio Gea Pinotto Dolcetto D’Alba 2021

Fabio Gea makes this Dolcetto at his estate in Barbaresco, in Piedmont, following the winemaking tradition of his grandfather. He works with native grapes and biodynamic methods, uses porcelain amphorae in the cellar and aims to intervene as little as possible in vineyard and winery, which gives balanced, low-intervention wines. This bottling comes from a 25-year-old vineyard, whose older vines give lower yields and more concentration. Dolcetto is the everyday red of the Alba hills, naturally deep in colour, low in acidity and soft in tannin, with a characteristic bitter-almond note on the finish. Vinifying in porcelain amphorae rather than oak keeps the fruit fresh and unmarked by wood, while allowing gentle, even ageing. The colour is a deep, opaque purple. The nose shows dark cherry, plum and red berries, with earth and a floral edge. The palate is medium bodied and smooth, with gentle tannins, moderate acidity and a soft, faintly almond finish. This is a red to drink young. Serve at 15 to 16 degrees. It suits pork, poultry and pasta.