Mauro Molino Dolceto

Dolcetto is a Piedmont grape, and this bottle from Mauro Molino is a Massachusetts-grown Italian-style red. The listing gives the name as "Dolceto," so it is presumably Dolcetto, though the listing doesn't say. The details also don't give a vintage, an ABV or any tasting notes. What follows is therefore what Dolcetto-style reds usually offer, not a measured profile of this bottle. Expect a dry, medium-bodied red with dark fruit such as black cherry, plum and blackberry. Many examples add a faint bitter-almond or licorice edge on the finish. Dolcetto tends to have soft, fine tannins and moderate to low acidity, so it comes across as smooth and easy to drink. If this one saw oak, expect it to be restrained, since the grape is usually bottled for freshness over wood influence. Because Dolcetto is a food-friendly everyday red, it is at home with the kind of dishes Piedmont tables lean on. Good matches include tomato-based pasta, mushroom risotto, sausage and peppers, roasted chicken, and cured meats like salami and prosciutto. The wine's mild tannin also works with pizza and with semi-soft cheeses such as fontina or young Asiago. It is gentle enough not to overpower simple herb-driven cooking, and it has enough fruit to stand up to a tomato sauce. Serve it lightly cooled, around 60 to 65°F. That is about 20 to 30 minutes in the refrigerator before opening, and a little longer if the bottle has been sitting in a warm room. A red that is too warm will taste heavy and alcoholic, and this style is best when it stays fresh and fruity. Decanting is not necessary. If you want to open it up, pour it into the glass and give it ten minutes. A standard red-wine glass with a medium bowl suits it, with enough room to swirl and bring out the fruit without exaggerating the alcohol. Wines of this type are generally made for drinking within a few years of release instead of for long cellaring, and without a stated vintage or producer guidance, treat this as a bottle to open soon. Keep it stored on its side in a cool, dark place until then.