Dolcetto

'Sori' is Piedmontese dialect for the sunny south face of a hill. 'But' or Butti is the name of the hamlet where Anna Maria and her husband Franco's house and cellar are, a stunning spot in a very beautiful area.

This is classic Dogliani Dolcetto, fermented and aged in stainless steel. It shows great color, reddish purple and violet-tinged, aromas of blueberries and tealeaf, and some tea tannins to go with the abundant fruit on the palate. Dolcetto is one of the best table wines I know; so grill some lambchops, pour everyone a glass, and all will be right with the world. Oliver McCrum Importer

Some Barolo producers use their Dolcetto as a cash-flow wine, which is understandable given the dreadful cash-flow of Barolo itself (more than three years from vintage to release). Not Germano. This wine is inky purple in color; on the nose it is blueberry with tar and a hint of flowers, classic dolcetto; on the palate it is big, full-bodied, high in both fruit and tannins.  Oliver McCrum Importer