WTN: Burgundy and Dolcetto

[Jenise]

2012 P. Dubreuil-Fontaine Père & Fils Corton-Perrières Corton Grand Cru Pinot Noir
A lesser GC from a lesser producer in a lesser vintage, but showing beautifully right now for this burgundy-deprived wine junkie with low expectations. Tasted over three hours wherein it continuously improved, medium bodied, bright and elegant on the palate, middle-aged but not mature like a previous bottle in 11/23, not especially complex but nonetheless very, very pleasing.

2020 Idlewild Dolcetto Lost Hills Ranch Mendocino County
It's just okay. Lots of body for this grape, more black fruited than red and obviously still evolving (better on day two), but with a vivid memory of the far more exciting Burgundy on the previous night it was kind of a yawn. And more proof that in a world with sangiovese, barbera and nebbiolo, I really have no need for dolcetto.

[David M. Bueker]

Dolcetto (along with Ruché) was my after work drink with small plates before the restaurants opened for dinner.

I see no other reason for it to exist.

[Jenise]

I've had good Ruches. Not many, maybe 2!, but each was more exciting than this or any Dolcetto I've ever had. Although I do have a good memory of a Luigi Einaudi, though likely because of the extraordinary circumstances that night. I pulled it from the cellar to serve a new guest, who was very Italian with a strong accent, and of all the wild coincidences it turned out that Luigi had been the sponsor of the college scholarship that brought her to the U.S. We wore ourselves out toasting dear Luigi, of course. Pardon me if I told this story before.

[David M. Bueker]

Cappellano Dolcetto was pretty darn good, but I am hard pressed to come up with another one I would spend money on.

I used to like the Ruché from 'Tavijn, the LDM import. But I didn't follow it closely every year.

And the Dubreuil-Fontaine sounds great. I get what you're saying about them not being a blue-chip producer. But they are still pretty good, not sure they are 'lesser' in the grand scheme of things. Either way, sounds great!