The Young Dolcetto d'Alba

Work is a little busy lately, and I was unable to find the time to update my blog, but I think it is now long overdue for a new blog. I guess one of the things about working a lot is that you learn to appreciate the time that you have away from work and you start to notice little things that can cheer you up from the depressing working life of having me coming home at 2am in the morning on Friday night / Saturday morning. Of course, after coming home that late, it would not be right for me to just waltz into bed, that would be wrong. I got to watch a little tube, be comfortable, drink a little wine, and unwind a little bit before I climb into bed and become unconscious. Surprisingly, the wine I choose for that occasion was one I had not tried before, but turns out to be quite a good choice - Dolcetto d'Alba - an Italian wine. More specifically, it was Dolcetto D'Alba 2004 Bruno Giacosa.

I never had the pleasure of trying wines made out of the dolcetto grape, or for another matter, I just don't really try that many Italian wines to begin with. The usual red Italian wines that I find myself drinking are the Barolo, Barbaresco, Chianti and Super Tuscans, which I guess, are the more "prestigious" kind of wines. Dolcetto are more of a easy going, everyday wine that I think someone had describe it as so easy to drink, it is gulpable.

What made me decide to write a blog about this wine was the reaction I had to it. It was around 2am when I first opened the bottle, watching some stupid show on TV (I forgot what I was watching, perhaps it was Ready to Rumble, the movie about wrestling). I had just taken a shower, and was somewhat tired and I was thinking how work sucks and how life has become somewhat dull and boring, and we are essentially doing the same thing everyday without much fanfare or excitement. Because of work, there is no time to go on dates, no time to go to fancy restaurants or plan a weekend getaway or just to hang out with friends, since all plans might be cancelled at the last minute. Work is fine and all (which I appreciate more and don't complain as much now after they gave us a raise . . . .), but I thought work just lack a certain excitement (perhaps if I am on the other side, if I am our client and makes millions out of the transaction, then perhaps there will be tons of excitement). I remember someone at another law firm said to me that during their first day orientation, one of the partners at that firm said "when the deal closes, and at that moment when money changes hand between the parties, if that is not exciting, I don't know what is." I am not sure how I understand that statement. How can money exchanging hand between other parties (that does not even go through you), be exciting? I mean, is that person insane? It is like if you are the person selling the lottery, and someone you sold it to won, or that if you are a poker or blackjack dealer, and someone on your table won, and damm, that is exciting for you. Money never comes into our hand, we just receive a fee for our service, I mean, seriously, how can money exchanging other people's hand be exciting?

Anyway, I am getting off topic. Back to Dolcetto d'Alba. I thought it was fresh and young wine, with fragrant note of currant and a very pretty cherry red color, slightly rosé. The flavor follows the note, with currant and perhaps a little bit of cherry. There is a little spiciness too. The wine is so young and fresh, so full of energy that it immediately picks me right up from my slumber. I thought the wine is like a teenager's vibrant youthful energy (curious and innocent), but with the mischief nature of a teenager too (the spiciness of the wine). The youthful nature of the wine really brightens up my mood and reminds me that there are still a lot of interesting things going on besides work, there are a lot of excitements in life waiting to be explored, and I should retain the youthful energy that I once had, and go out and have an adventure. The wine carries me back to my high school and college days, and brings somewhat of a smile to my face. I thought the wine is sort of like a Beaujolois (which I think a lot of you probably had during and around Thanksgiving), but more firmly structured, with a spiciness flavor and not as grape syrupy tasting. I think this is a good wine just to enjoy after a day of work, and I would imagine to be a good wine with a variety of food. So if you had a long hard day at work, go pick up a bottle of Dolcetto d'Alba and be immersed by its youthfulness that transport you back to your good old college days (or whatever other time in your youth that is memorable to you).