2020 Bruno Giacosa Falletto Dolcetto d'Alba

The Barbera is SOLD OUT, expectedly.

Happens when Robert Parker says “perhaps the greatest compliment I could confer on Bruno Giacosa is that there are no wines in the world I buy without tasting them first, except for those of his.”

Does this seem too good to be true?! One of the greatest winemakers of his generation, form some of the top sites in Piemonte, and a vintage full of “seductive appeal.”

This is the Italian equivalent of if Harlan made a Pinot Noir… for les than $30 per bottle! Too good to be true, right?!

In truth, Dolcetto has largely flown under the radar of aficionados of Piemontese wines. And here is where its true value lies. Pulling the cork reveals layers of delicate fresh and dried black cherry fruit, with brambly spice and a firm tannic grip to the finish. Imagine the ephemeral qualities of a Pinot Noir with the grip of a Petit Sirah, with tertiary dried herb and spice complexity. We were stunned – and we know you will be, too!

Known simply as “the Maestro,” Bruno Giacosa is without a doubt one of the most important winemakers in the modern history of Piemonte. "His contributions to Italian wine and his beloved Piedmont are beyond measure," as none other than Robert Parker puts it. Wine Spectator also praised this titan’s legacy, “Bruno Giacosa, one of the greatest winemakers of Italy’s Piedmont region, known for beautiful Barbarescos, Barolos and Barberas that emphasized elegance and finesse over power, yet they were capable of aging beautifully… he could never be labeled a traditionalist or modernist. He was simply Bruno Giacosa, the Maestro, making ethereal wines vintage after vintage that were highly sought around the world.”

The Wine Advocate emphasizes how, “Bruno Giacosa was among the first visionaries to understand the importance of the Langhe cru, and the unique expressions that are obtained with a single-vineyard winemaking philosophy.” He was instrumental in searching and identifying the best historic sites in the region. Which led him, in 1982, to purchase Falletto in Serralunga di Alba.

Sadly, Bruno passed away in 2018. His daughter, Bruna Giacosa, working by his side for over 35 harvests, along with longtime enologist Dante Scaglione, carry on his legacy of traditional winemaking methods and producing some of the world's most revered wines. Their care for his memory is clear in the glass.

Their estate vineyard is located just south of the village of Serralunga. The vineyard is an amphitheater facing south-west, with ideal sun exposure during late-day temperatures for perfect ripeness. Giacosa blends Dolcetto from their vineyard with fruit from the hill of Lirano to the east, which adds a delicacy and creates a more complex texture.

In 2020? “These are wines to admire for their balance and seductive appeal,” notes Antonio Galloni of Vinous in is vintage report. Their expertise paid off in a wine that has aged beautifully.

Nebbiolo from Giacossa goes for $300+ per bottle. But Dolcetto? In an article titled Affordable Piedmont Galloni praised the variety as among, “some of the best Piedmont values I tasted…” Elsewhere, he proclaimed, “Readers will find this hard to believe, but in the 1950s, there was no difference in land price between a hectare of vineyards in the Langhe planted to Dolcetto and a hectare planted to Nebbiolo for Barolo.” It has only been in the last fifty years that this grape has fallen from grace. But in the hands of a master producer like Giacosa, it is more than worth it’s under $30 price tag!

Drinking beautifully, this 2020 is a must-buy not just for Italian enthusiasts, but for any fan of savory aged reds. From one of the greatest Italian producers, it’s the ideal way to add class and complexity to pizza or pasta nights with friends and family.

Unfortunately, there isn’t much to go around of this either and doubt we'll ever see such a great Bruno Giacosa deal ever again, so grab all you can!