San Fereolo

We consider the estate to be among the greatest references for the terroir of Dogliani, which is located immediately south of Barolo in the Langhe. The Dogliani DOCG is home to some of the greatest Dolcetto vineyards in the Piemonte, and this appellation accounts for the majority of the estate's 12 ha under vine. The oldest Dolcetto vines were planted in 1936, while the youngest date back to 1978. The finest sources are destined for the flagship "San Fereolo" cuvee, while the balance of the Dolcetto vines comprise the "Valdiba" bottling. Since the early 1990s, Nicoletta has worked her high-altitude holdings in the Dogliani appellation biodynamically, producing wild-fermented, non-technological wines in the vein of Piedmont's old masters (with whom she studied-Bartolo Mascarello, for instance).

Nicoletta is the daughter of a well-regarded and controversial Italian political writer, and the anti-elitist political undercurrents of her winemaking philosophy are undeniable. Whereas she could easily triple her production of Nebbiolo and become an overnight sensation (as anyone who has tasted her "Il Provinciale"-a Nebbiolo that bests much Barolo in its elegance and unfettered expression-can attest), she is steadfastly committed to the underdog Dolcetto, and even speaks dismissively and regretfully about Nebbiolo's aristocratic perfection. Despite her long-aged flagship wine's immense cost of production and storage (four years in large Slavonian oak), her prices remain defiantly low.