Luigi Pira - Dolcetto d'Alba DOC 2022

Intense ruby red with purple hues. Aromas of cherry, raspberry, and red fruit, complemented by subtle spicy notes. Juicy and fresh, with firm yet refined tannins and a remarkably mineral finish. Even better on the second day.

A versatile table wine to accompany Piedmontese antipasti, pasta, tajarin, pizza, poultry, veal, and semi-hard cheeses. Also delicious with mushroom dishes or ragù. Serve at 16-18 °C.

From the terrace of winemaker Gianpaolo Pira, you have a beautiful view of 2 historic crus of Serralunga from which Pira makes his Barolo Marenca and Margheria. A little further away, the slope of the legendary cru Vigna Rionda is also visible, another (in this case world-famous) vineyard from which Pira produces a Barolo.<!--en-->Founder, namesake, and father Luigi Pira, who sadly passed away in 2021, had been growing grapes in and around Serralunga for decades. These were sold to the large wineries of Alba until he began bottling under his own label in the 1980s, placing quality at the forefront. In the early 1990s, this direction was continued by his son Gianpaolo, with "drinkability" and even higher quality becoming the spearheads.<!--en-->Pira produces a classic and high-quality line of Piedmontese red wines under his own label. Gianpaolo, a fervent (white) truffle hunter, good friend, and figurehead of the company, runs the show in the cellar, while his brothers Romolo and Claudio are generally found in the vineyards.<!--en-->Pira's Barolos are a guarantee of quality and character. They are a reflection of the Pira family's Serralunghese roots.<!--en-->Pira uses a fairly modern way of winemaking and uses both small and large oak to age his Barolo Vigna Rionda and Marenca; the other Barolos are aged exclusively in large barrels (botti). At Pira, they look very closely at what the grape needs to generate the best possible Barolo wine that reflects its origin as accurately as possible.<!--en-->As mentioned earlier, these are wines full of character, depth, and structure; every glass is a voyage of discovery. Just like the Piedmontese people, Pira's Barolos need some time to open up and show their best side, but as soon as the wine has swirled in your glass for a while, you will be doubly rewarded with a wine that stands like a rock.

Sourced from the northern plots of Vigna Rionda in Serralunga d’Alba, planted in 1984. The cool exposure ensures freshness and aromatic precision, while the limestone and clay-rich soil contributes to the structure and minerality.

The grapes are completely destemmed and fermented in stainless steel tanks. The wine is aged in steel for approximately eight months, without oak, to preserve the pure fruit and the fresh, characteristic style of the Dolcetto.

Thanks to its old vines and firm structure, this Dolcetto has more aging potential than usual. Already drinking well now, but also suitable for cellaring for 3–5 years after the harvest.