At a glance

Producer

Roagna

Region

Dolcetto d'Alba DOC, Piedmont, Italy

Grape variety

Dolcetto

Wine type

Red

Body

Medium-bodied and Earthy

Sweetness

Dry

Typical price

$35-$60 USD (2024 auction and retail markets)

Tasting profile

Black cherry, wild purple fruit, dried violets, almond skin, earth and savory herb. Freshness, moderate body, subtle mineral finish.

Evolution: Youth: primary fruit and floral; mid: more spice/earth; now: more tertiary, violet, dried fruit, almond, gentle leather possible.

At peak: Optimal complexity between 2017-2022, now developing more savory/earthy elements. Drink soon for freshness.

Structure

Acidity

Fresh and moderate-high (Dolcetto hallmark, preserved in Roagna style)

Tannins

Medium, softly integrated with age

Alcohol

Typically moderate (~13%)

Aging potential

Unusual among Dolcetto—Roagna’s version can age 8-10 years, robust structure for the variety

Drinking window

Peak drinking

2017 to 2022

Optimal window

2015 to 2023

Current status

Approaching maturity, can be drunk now or held short-term

Current condition

Good to very good; fresher bottles likely show balance, with fading primary fruit but lively acidity

Dolcetto is rarely a long ager, but Roagna’s precise, old-vine, traditionalist approach allows extra cellaring. 2012 is drinking well, showing complexity while retaining freshness—past its absolute peak but still excellent if well stored.

Food pairing

Grilled pork, herbed roast chicken, mushroom risotto, salumi, truffle dishes, aged cheeses (Toma, Robiola)

Serving

Decant

Yes (30 minutes) — The wine has medium tannins that have softened with age, and decanting will help to enhance its aromas and flavors by allowing it to breathe.

Sustainability

Sustainability score: 8/10

Estate vineyards managed with respect for biodiversity, no herbicides or pesticides, manual harvest, indigenous yeasts, gravity-flow winery, minimalist intervention, use of recycled glass, cork natural closures, onsite composting

Roagna is revered for eco-conscious traditional methods: old vines, natural cover crops, manual labor, no irrigation, no chemical inputs. Though not certified organic or biodynamic, all practices meet or exceed those standards. Minimal intervention lowers winery emissions. Packaging kept traditional, glass (recycled where possible) and natural cork. Export does increase carbon footprint slightly outside the EU. Overall, Roagna is one of Italy’s most sustainable fine wine producers in practice.