2023 E. Pira & Figli Dolcetto d'Alba

E. Pira & Figli's 2023 Dolcetto d'Alba is a steel-fermented expression of three of Monforte d'Alba's most distinctive vineyard sites: Ravera di Monforte, Le Coste, and Mosconi. Chiara Boschis sources 100% Dolcetto from vines ranging in age from fifteen to fifty years, all rooted in clay-lime marls from the Tertiary period at roughly 400 meters above sea level. This is Dolcetto made with the precision of a Barolo house—no wood, no shortcuts, just fruit and site translated into a wine built for the table. The estate has bottled this Dolcetto since 1990 under the direction of Chiara Boschis, who runs the historic Piedmont property and has been a pioneer in Barolo since the early 1980s. Fermentation takes place entirely in stainless steel with daily punchdowns and pump-overs to extract structure without heaviness, and the wine rests two to four months in bottle before its spring release. The three vineyards each contribute distinct character: Ravera's younger vines bring bright acidity, Le Coste offers mid-palate density, and Mosconi's fifty-year-old plantings anchor the blend with depth and mineral grip. Annual production averages around 370 cases, making this one of the more limited expressions from a producer better known for age-worthy Barolo. The wine opens with tart cherry, violet, and a savory thread of almond skin—classic Dolcetto markers elevated by site selection and restraint in the cellar. There's no oak to soften the edges, so the fruit stays transparent and the tannins carry a fine-grained grip that asks for food. Pour it alongside lamb ragu over fresh tajarin, roasted pork shoulder with rosemary, or a platter of salumi and aged tome. This is an everyday red with pedigree, the kind of wine that improves a weeknight dinner without ceremony. In stock at Off Premise in Lincoln Park.