Last Call on the 'Fabulous' 94 Point (V) Chionetti Dolcetto

LAST CALL! DELICIOUS DOLCETTO FROM DOGLIANI

“Dolcetto, which means 'little sweet' in Italian, is a red grape grown in Northern Italy's Piedmont region, which makes a delicious fruit-forward everyday drinking wine. Today we have our LAST CALL on one of the best from the San Luigi cru, the 94 point 2020 Chionetti San Luigi, Dolcetto di Dogliani DOCG. Antonio Galloni of Vinous writes that it's 'fabulous... racy and effusive... impressive right out of the gate... I loved it.'

The Chionetti family has been producing wines in Piedmont since the early 1900s, and is now in its fifth generation of winemakers. In the early years, they sold the Dolcetto grapes grown in their San Luigi vineyard in the town of Dogliani to larger traders in the area, but then switched to bottling and selling their wines under their own label. Currently, Nicola Chionetti is at the helm, continuing the family tradition and expanding the winery's reach. In addition to the three Dogliani crus – Sorì Briccolero, San Luigi, and Vigna la Costa – they more recently expanded into Barolo by acquiring vineyards in Monforte d’Alba and Castiglione Falletto.

The 2020 Chionetti San Luigi Dolcetto is just $26.99 - the best price in the country, and a perfect weekday wine to accompany pizza, pasta or other more casual fare. This is the end of the vintage; we can't get more, so don't hesitate. Enjoy!” – Jim Knight, The Wine House

94 Points: “The 2020 Dogliani San Luigi is fabulous. Racy and effusive, with soaring aromatics, the 2020 is impressive right out of the gate. A rush of rose petal, lavender, spice, mint and mocha hits the palate. The 2020 impresses with its depth, complexity and overall balance. I loved it. Drinking Window: 2024-2034” – Antonio Galloni, Vinous (November 2021)

FROM THE WINERY

Dogliani d.o.c.g.

GRAPE VARIETY: 100% Dolcetto
PRODUCTION AREA: San Luigi is an official cru of Dogliani d.o.c.g., in the municipality of Dogliani.
BOTTLES: about 30,000
VINIFICATION AND AGING: Harvest and alcoholic fermentation in September. It is aged for approximately one year from the harvest until sale. The wine is not filtered.
WINE CHARACTERISTICS: In appearance, it is very intense, with violet hues. The nose recalls typical fruity notes of cherry and red berries. On the palate, it has good acidity, and the tannins are present but mild.
CERTIFICATION: Organic Wine

ABOUT CHIONETTI

The history of the Chionetti family has been linked to the vine from the 19th century. The turning point came in 1912 when Giuseppe Chionetti bought the farm in a suitable area for vineyards in San Luigi in the town of Dogliani. Starting from this moment the Chionetti family linked its own name with the dolcetto wine they were selling to the biggest traders of the area. Gradually the sale of bottled wine, and consequently the Chionetti name, were established. But it is thanks to Quinto, grandson of the founder Giuseppe, that the marketing of the bottles with the name of the family really grew. Andrea then, the son of Quinto, decided to explore the potential of their vineyards and, as a result, they start to produce three crus: Sorì Briccolero, San Luigi, Vigna la Costa.

In those years the company expanded significantly linking its name to the Dogliani wine and started to export abroad and in the US. In 1988, in the moment of maximum growth, Andrea and his daughter Elena died in a car accident. Quinto nonetheless continued the work that years before he had handed over to his son, leading the company with great determination in the new millennium. In 1999 Maria, the wife of Andrea, took the decision to help him, leaving her work in a bank. Finally in 2013, Quinto handed the reins over to his grandson Nicola, who decided to carry on the tradition of the production of the Dogliani, recuperating the vinification of the cru La Costa, already wanted by his father Andrea. In 2015, a Barolo vineyard was acquired in Monforte d’Alba and the first harvest followed. In June 2016 we bought another vineyard of Barolo in the region of Parussi (Castiglione Falletto).