Vacca Dolcetto d'Alba Cascina Principe 2024
Red wine. Specifically, a youthful, fruit-forward dry red intended for early consumption. · The wine is produced by the Vacca family under the 'Cascina Principe' estate name. Founded in Neive by Serafino Vacca, the estate is currently managed by his children. They are a respected, traditional family-owned producer known for their focus on the authentic expression of Piemontese varietals like Nebbiolo, Barbera, and Dolcetto.
Vintage: 2024. This is an extremely young vintage, characterized by a return to more classic European weather patterns after several years of heat. This wine is bottled for immediate freshness, capturing the primary fruit of the most recent harvest period.
Type
Red wine. Specifically, a youthful, fruit-forward dry red intended for early consumption.
Producer
The wine is produced by the Vacca family under the 'Cascina Principe' estate name. Founded in Neive by Serafino Vacca, the estate is currently managed by his children. They are a respected, traditional family-owned producer known for their focus on the authentic expression of Piemontese varietals like Nebbiolo, Barbera, and Dolcetto.
Country
Italy. As one of the world's most significant wine nations, Italy boasts over 500 indigenous grape varieties. Piedmont, in the northwest, is arguably its most prestigious region, frequently compared to Burgundy for its emphasis on terroir and site-specific viticulture.
Vintage
2024. This is an extremely young vintage, characterized by a return to more classic European weather patterns after several years of heat. This wine is bottled for immediate freshness, capturing the primary fruit of the most recent harvest period.
Region & Appellation
Piedmont, Dolcetto d'Alba DOC. This Denominazione di Origine Controllata is one of the most famous for the Dolcetto grape, encompassing the hills around the town of Alba where the grape thrives in limestone-rich soils.
Grape Varieties
100% Dolcetto. The name translates to 'little sweet one,' referring to the low acidity of the grape rather than sugar. It is known for its deep color, black cherry flavors, and a distinctive bitter almond finish.
Color & Appearance
Deep ruby with intense violet or purple reflections at the rim. It appears youthful and vibrant with medium viscosity and high clarity, typical of a wine that has not seen significant oxidative aging.
Aroma Profile
The nose is dominated by primary fruit: black cherries, wild blueberries, and blackberries. There are secondary notes of violets, damp earth, and a hint of cracked black pepper, with no discernible oak influence.
Tasting Notes
The palate is remarkably fresh and energetic. It leads with a burst of dark berry fruit, followed by a soft, round mid-palate. The finish is short to medium, ending with a characteristic pleasant bitterness reminiscent of almond skins.
Flavor Profile
Intense flavors of marasca cherry, licorice, and plum. There is a slight mineral/stony undertone and an absence of vanilla or toast, allowing the pure varietal fruit to shine.
Body & Texture
Medium-bodied with a smooth, almost succulent texture. It has a soft mouthfeel that makes it incredibly approachable and easy to drink.
Acidity & Tannins
Low to medium acidity, making it gentle on the palate. The tannins are present but fine-grained and soft—typical for Dolcetto, which provides structure without the aggressive astringency of its neighbor, Nebbiolo.
Sweetness Level
Dry (Secco). While the fruit is ripe and perceived as 'sweet,' the wine has negligible residual sugar, usually under 2g/L.
Alcohol Content
12.5% Vol. This is on the lower end for modern Italian reds, ensuring the wine remains balanced, refreshing, and highly food-friendly without any alcoholic heat.
Aging & Oak
Produced entirely in stainless steel tanks to preserve the fresh fruit aromatics. This wine has not seen oak aging, which is the traditional method for Dolcetto d'Alba to maintain its 'vin de soif' identity.
Food Pairings
A quintessential 'food wine.' Pairs perfectly with Piedmontese tajarin with meat ragù, pizza, charcuterie boards, or grilled sausages. For the summer season, it is excellent with tomato-based pasta dishes or cold roasted meats.
Serving Suggestions
Serve slightly cool, around 14-16°C (57-60°F), in a standard universal or Bordeaux-style glass. Decanting is not necessary; simply open and pour to enjoy the primary aromatics.
Price Range
$15 - $22 USD. This represents excellent value as a daily drinker or an authentic introduction to the wines of Alba.
Quality Assessment
87-89 points. This is a high-quality, 'village-level' daily wine. It is not meant for the cellar but is a perfect representation of its type and region.
Production Methods
Fermented at controlled temperatures in stainless steel. Maceration is relatively short (4-7 days) to extract color and fruit without pulling out bitter seed tannins. It is filtered and bottled early to lock in freshness.
Terroir
The vineyards in Neive (Cascina Principe) feature 'Marne di Sant'Agata'—silty, clay-rich limestone soils that provide the wine with its depth of color and subtle mineral backbone.
History & Heritage
The Vacca family has deep roots in the Langhe. Cascina Principe is one of their historical vineyard sites, reflecting a commitment to traditional Neive winemaking that predates the international 'super-Piedmont' trend.
Interesting Facts
Dolcetto was historically the wine that Langhe winemakers drank at home while waiting for their Barolo to age. The distinctive fork-like graphic on the bottom of the label is a modern Vacca family trademark design.
Cellaring Potential
Low. This wine is at its peak upon release. It should be consumed within 2-3 years (by 2027) to enjoy the vibrant fruit characteristics before they begin to fade.
Similar Wines
Dolcetto di Dogliani, Barbera d'Alba, Beaujolais-Villages (Gamay), or a Mencía from Bierzo in Spain.