Chionetti Briccolero, Dolcetto di Dogliani DOCG, Italy

It begins with the dusk‑shadow of hazelnut trees and limestone windswept slopes whispering through the vines, and that essence is captured in the 2014 edition of Chionetti Briccolero Dolcetto di Dogliani DOCG. The bottle evokes quiet tension—rustic power held in check by subtle elegance—a moment in time where hillside intensity meets measured expression.

Product Details:

• Producer: Chionetti (Langhe‑Dogliani, Piedmont, Italy)
• Brand/Line: Briccolero (selection from the San Luigi hill, east‑facing, steep slopes)
• Vintage: 2014
• Appellation: Dolcetto di Dogliani DOCG (100% Dolcetto)
• Vineyard & Terroir: Sourced from the eastern slope of San Luigi hill; calcareous soils of clay, silt and sand, with average vine age around 55 years
• Vinification / Ageing: Harvest and alcoholic fermentation in September; aged approximately one year in cement tanks and a portion in large French‑oak barrels; un‑filtered
• Production Volume: Around 20,000 bottles (for this cuvée in general)
• Vintage Quality Note: While 2014 was broadly a cool and difficult vintage in Piedmont, Chionetti's high‑elevation, well‑drained vineyards on San Luigi hill allowed exceptional ripening and purity. This makes the 2014 Briccolero a rare success story—markedly vibrant, with lifted aromatics and longevity—earning it a place among collectible back vintages.

Sensory Description:
This 2014 vintage opens with a deep ruby core veering toward violet at the rim, hinting at maturity and concentration. The nose presents blackberries and dark cherries woven with balsamic lift, underlain by subtle woodland and leather tones. On the palate, vibrant acidity serves as a backbone to firm, fine‑grained tannins, while flavours of black plum, wild raspberry, and a touch of almond and spice meld into a lingering finish that echoes mineral and tobacco undertones. The balance between fruit intensity and structural energy gives the wine an elegant resolve while still speaking of its hillside origin.

Producer’s Background:
Chionetti is a family‑run estate in the Langhe region, committed to expressing the character of Dolcetto from the Dogliani hills. Their Briccolero cuvée is drawn from a specific, steep east‑facing plot on San Luigi hill—recognised as one of the most vocated sites for Dogliani’s Dolcetto. The estate prioritises old vines, calcareous soils, and a vinification regime that combines traditional methods with minimal intervention (such as unfiltered bottling) to let terroir and vine speak clearly.

Serving Suggestions:
Serve this wine at around 60‑63 °F (15‑17 °C) to allow the aromatics to open and the structure to shine. Pair it with regionally‑rooted fare such as mushroom risotto, duck with cherry glaze, or aged pecorino cheese. It also stands up well to richer pasta dishes with meat sauce or slow‑braised pork shoulder—the wine’s acidity and tannin structure providing a deft counterpoint.

This 2014 Chionetti Briccolero Dolcetto di Dogliani DOCG embodies hillside vigour and elegant refinement, offering a compelling expression of Dolcetto from one of Dogliani’s most esteemed sites—a vintage made all the more remarkable by its resilience and rarity.