Trediberri 2019 Dogliani Bricco Molea (Dolcetto)

Dogliani is a small town south and west of Barolo, which gives its name to a DOCG wine zone – a ‘Dogliani’ must be made from Dolcetto (life was a little simpler for everyone when the wines were called “Dolcetto di Dogliani”, but the marketers won that conversation). The zone of Dogliani, is considered the best area for Dolcetto (which not so long ago was more expensive than Nebbiolo) where Dolcetto was historically given the best sites, whereas in Barolo and Barbaresco Dolcetto is generally relegated to lesser positions in the vineyards – “Bricco”, as in Bricco Molea, means the top part of the hill, which receives the most sun and ripens best.

There are plenty of contemporary Doglianis that are an attempt to make what Italians call ‘important’ wines, and thus are dark, extracted, and often oaky; Trediberri’s Dogliani is a more traditional style, intended to be fresh and lively, a wine for food, for every day, to open a meal, to drink while your Barolo ages. But this is no simple wine, and it has remarkable aromatic complexity with bright current-like fruit, white flowers, chalk, and a deep savory aspect – altogether mouth-watering. It’s very appealing on the palate, light-midweight and with the fruit in balance with chalk, and expressing a strong sense of place. From vines that are 50-70 years old; fermented in concrete for about 10 days, and aged in a combo of concrete and steel. A killer Dolcetto!  Jamie Wolff

Trediberri 2019 Nebbiolo d'Alba

Most of the fruit from the Nebbiolo comes from La Morra, with some additions from the Roero and the Alta Langha. Fermentations in concrete last about 12 days, and the wine ages in concrete and steel. The 2019 has a lovely and lively pale color; the nose is earthy, even a little funky, backed-up with bright cherry, and cocoa. The palate is savory and quite suave – but with good cut, and very ripe and gentle tannin – altogether an elegant and very tasty Nebbiolo. Nicola has the last word: “This unoaked, fruity and drinkable nebbiolo is meant to be an easy (yet not trivial) wine to share with friends during a nice and funny chat. Drink it slightly cold, maybe while sharing a platter of mixed charcuterie or with some lovely tajarin al ragù.” Jamie Wolff

Trediberri 2016 Barolo

The Barolo is a La Morra wine, with fruit from Berri and (until the 2017 vintage) about 20% from Capalot. The vineyards are fermented separately in concrete (whole cluster, for about 21 days), with malo and aging in large Slavonian oak (Garbellotto, for you botte geeks out there). I’ve tasted the 2016 twice, about a year apart, the first from botte just before bottling. Both times have shown the great balance and energy that are the best aspects of 2016. Most recently the wine was showing quite savory, with some pronounced mint and cocoa, followed by a rush of fruit. The bottled wine shows much riper and rounder tannin; it’s very long and energetic, and while I think you could cellar it for a long time, it’s so easy to drink that I’m going to have trouble resisting.  I’ll have to buy some extra bottles… Jamie Wolff

Trediberri 2016 Barolo Rocche dell'Annuziata

I am crazy about the Trediberri 2016 Rocche dell’Annuziata. For a long time I didn’t realize that this vineyard could produce wine to love, because every example I tried turned out to be heavily oaked; then I encountered the real thing in Accomasso, and now in Trediberri. Their 2016 is truly exciting and (for me at least) greed inducing. From old vines (1955, 1961, 1999); fermentation (destemmed, in concrete) lasts about 4 weeks, and aging is in 25 and 50hl Slavonian oak (Garbelotto). I’m reminded of the best 1989s, which in my experience are simultaneously long-term, fairly powerful wines, but always showing great balance and transparency. So it goes for me with the 2016, already a complete wine, but certainly headed for greatness if you can resist it long enough. Less than 300 cases were produced… Jamie Wolff