# San Fereolo Dogliani Superiore (2017)

- **Producer:** San Fereolo
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Dolcetto
- **Region:** Piemonte, Italy
- **Style:** Natural
- **Alcohol:** 14.5%
- **Average price:** €22
- **Contains sulphites:** No
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 16–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** rosehip, black plum, sloe berries, mint, prune, black cherry, liquorice, black pepper, dry wood, earth

## About this wine

The San Fereolo 2017 is a Dolcetto from the Dogliani DOCG appellation in Piedmont, Italy. The San Fereolo winery, led by Nicoletta Bocca since 1992, practices biodynamic agriculture in the Valdibà subzone. Bocca's winemaking philosophy emphasizes minimal intervention, aiming for wines that express the character of the grape, site, and season, with a focus on age-worthiness and elegance. The 2017 vintage in Piedmont was marked by challenging weather conditions. The wine is known for its significant aging potential, with extended maturation in large Slavonian casks and bottle before release.

## Interesting facts

- This wine undergoes a minimum of 7 years of maturation before release.
- San Fereolo is a biodynamic estate, focusing on natural vineyard practices.
- Vines for this bottling average 40-70 years old.
- The winery produces around 45,000 bottles annually.

## Food pairing

The wine's robust tannins and medium-plus body complement the richness of proteins like lamb and beef, while its fruit-forward character can stand up to savory and earthy flavors. The acidity helps to cut through richer dishes, cleansing the palate.

## Wine making process

The San Fereolo 2017 Dolcetto is produced using spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts in large wooden vats, with maceration typically lasting around three weeks. The wine then undergoes an extended aging process: two years on its lees in wooden vats, followed by one year in stainless steel, and a minimum of four years of bottle aging before release. Vineyard management involves controlling yields through severe pruning and other techniques. The estate's vineyards are located in the Valdibà subzone, with soils composed of limestone-clay, sand, and Tortonian marls.