Washington Dolcetto v. Dolcetto d'Alba

The pro cycling season is winding down with a number of one day races in Italy and France and a final stage race in China.  Last week featured three one day races in Northern Italy.  The biggest race of the three was the Giro d Lombardia. Also known as the Race of the Falling Leaves, the race represents the changing seasons as well as the traditional end of road racing in Europe.

This week's matchup features a Dolcetto Double Down.

2010 Wind Rose Dolcetto v. 2010 Socre' Dolcetto


Tale of the Tape



2010 Wind Rose Dolcetto

78% Dolcetto, 14% Barbera and 8% Tempranillo from the Columbia Valley AVA

Purchased from Corky Cellars for  $18.00

2010 Socre' Dolcetto

100% Dolcetto from Dolcetto d'Alba

Aged for 6 months in stainless and 6 months in bottle

Purchased from Garagiste for $14.71











Round 1. First Opening

This is a matchup of North v. North with an Italian Dolcetto from Piemonte doing battle with a Pacific North West Dolcetto made in Sequim, Washington - one of the Nothernmost cities in Washington.

Dolcetto may mean "little sweet one" but you would never guess it by the way these two Luchadors battled in the ring.

The Socre is fired up and ready to rumble launching into the ring with a series of complex moves leading into a nose featuring earth, underbrush, hints of all spice and menthol along with ripe cherries and red berries.  The palate is also  earthy with tart cherry and all spice that lingers to a slightly dry finish.

The Wind Rose is taking a more straight ahead approach, springing forward with a nose of light sweet cherries and subtle earth.  The palate shows tart cherries, clove and all spice with a tart spicy finish that is plenty dry.

The Dolcetto d' Alba takes Round 1 with a complex style that seems to have the Wind Rose a bit perplexed.

Round 2. One hour after opening

The Wind Rose is bulking up and mixing it up.  The  nose is showing cherry, melon and licorice with earthy spices.  The palate is still tart with pie cherry. spices and light coffee notes that leads to a tart, dry spiced finish.

The Socre is socking it to the Wind Rose with an attack that has shifted from complex to bruising with a nose of dark cherry, menthol and earthy spices.  The palate is equally bold with dark cherries and all spice leading to a tarty tannin infused spicy finish.

Score another round for the Socre

Round 3. One day after opening

Socre comes out for round three with gusto and some serious momentum immediately trapping Wind Rose in a vise-like headlock.  The nose continues to show dark cherry, earthy all spice, menthol and some leather.  The palate is full of tart black cherry and coffee tinged spices with a dry all spice finish.

Wind Rose is continuing to build, showing some impressive stamina and guts by not backing down.  The nose is showing dark red berries, licorice and notes of earthiness.  The palate continues to be dry and tart with dark berries, menthol and tart clove spices with hints of coffee on the dry finish.

You have to give Wind Rose some credit for standing up to the Piemonte Punisher and dishing out some punishment of its own in the final round.  However, the last gasp effort was not enough to take the final points or score a decisive knock out.

The Socre Dolcetto d'Alba takes the final round and the match.

Wrap up and overall observations

Both of these wines showed some serious stamina, continuing to evolve for several days.  Both would make a great matchup with pizza or pasta and marinara sauce.

Even though the Socre took all three rounds I would score both of these Luchadors a solid 88.