Deep ruby red with fine, nuanced aromas, reflecting the ideal interplay of Nebbiolo and Dolcetto. Notes of blueberries and plums with hints of dried herbs and sun baked earth. Taut, concentrated black fruit on the palate, alongside wild cherry and fresh redcurrants. There are also hints of spice, coffee, bitter chocolate and some complex savoury notes. A beautifully balanced wine with the concentration and structure to mature over a decade or more.
Established in 1993 by Tino Colla (brother of the legendry Beppe Colla) and his niece Federica, Poderi Colla is very much a family affair and continues the Colla family's three centuries of winemaking heritage in northern Italy. Tino and Federica believe in a non-interventionist approach to winemaking, to give each wine a unique expression of site and vintage, and they take sustainability and the environment as seriously as their wines. They produce wines from three outstanding sites in Alba and cover nearly the entire spectrum of Alba styles.
The Bricco del Drago (Dragon's Hill) vineyards form part of Poderi Colla's 25 hectare Cascine del Drago Estate, which is situated at seven kilometres from Alba in San Rocco Seno d'Elvio. The vineyards have a westerly aspect and are situated between 330 to 400 metres above sea level. The vines are, on average, around 20 years old with a planting density of 5000 vines per hectare. Wine yield is 4000 litres per hectare. The soil gives the Dolcetto tremendous complexity and structure.
The two grape varieties, Dolcetto and Nebbiolo, are vinified seperately, due to the grapes ripening at different times. Maceration for Dolcetto lasts for 5-8 days at 25 degrees C, and the Nebbiolo for 10-12 days at 30 degrees C. The wines are then blended and undergo maturation in a combination of French and Slavonian oak (both new and old) for 12-18 months depending on the vintage. The wine is then racked into stainless steel.
Full bodied pasta dishes, hard mature cheeses or red meats and game.
