2006 Massolino Dolcetto d'Alba 14.5%
Otto wrote good things about this producer so I picked up a bottle of their Dolcetto, though, on retrospect, something higher up on their totem pole might have been a better introduction. Aroma is initially plum and tar, later developing some iodine and chocolate. Marcia got fresh oregano and thought the fruit closer to prunes. Before food, the acidity is prominent, as due and proper. Marcia likes it a lot. There is also a surprising amount of tannin: medium, when I expected close to none. The alcohol makes it slightly hot at first, but that sensation disappers with food (a very nice Woolwich Dairy Triple Cream Goat Brie from Canada and a disappointingly dry Boule de Périgord with truffles). Once it (or we) reached cruising altitude and settled down, it was a solid bottle of decent stuff, but hardly enough to make me run for more. But will seek the Barbera.