100% Dolcetto from Piedmont, Italy.

"Kermit once said, “I drink about two dozen Dolcetto to one bottle of Barolo.” That was in 1986, but the statement holds true today, almost forty years later! Call it genetics, but I’m in the same boat. For one, Dolcetto is much cheaper; the price of certain Barolos on the market could buy you a case. Second, Dolcetto is simply more delicious. Barolo may draw oohs and aahs, make your hair stand on end, or even silence your dinner table, but when a Dolcetto is opened, you’re bound to hear plenty of clinking glasses, boisterous chatter, and inevitably the sound of more corks being pulled.

It is in this spirit that I give the highest recommendation to this Dolcetto d’Alba. At the head of his family’s small azienda, Massimo Benevelli specializes in making honest wines that reflect the rolling hills around Monforte d’Alba. This wine features a delightful aroma recalling violets, juicy little berries, and a touch of black licorice. It rolls over the palate effortlessly, with a smooth texture and buoyant grapey notes. Hold your Barolos for later; given its excellent value and utter tastiness, we couldn’t blame you for going through Massimo’s Dolcetto by the case."