wUst Fine Wine Imports
wines U should try!
Cozzo Mario
Cozzo Mario was founded in 1827 in the Dogliani area of Piedmont. The town of Dogliani is at the southern end of the Barolo region and is about eight miles south of the town of Barolo. Dogliani is best known, however, as a spectacular place for growing Dolcetto. Dolcetto is typically regarded as a “soft and fruity” wine throughout most of Piedmont but in the limestone enriched soils of Dogliani, Dolcetto is a much more expressive and structured wine and there is a DOCG appellation for Dolcetto in Dogliani.
The winery itself has expanded in a very focused way over time when they could find exceptional vineyard parcels in other areas of Piedmont. Although the main focus will always be on Dolcetto, the winery also has vineyards in Roero for Arneis, Tortona for a Derthona Timorasso, Alba for Barbera, various areas in the Langhe for Nebbiolo, and also in Barbaresco and Barolo. The winery prides itself on being small, however, to be able to produce the best possible wines and total annual production is usually only around 5,000 cases.
The hills of Dogliani
Limestone in the vineyard
More hills! Piedmont is fun with its hilly terrain.
A view of the winery
The Wines
Roero Arneis DOCG “Albaspina” 2024 (OF, NF)
Aromas include white flowers, forest floor, daffodils, camellia, Asian spices, white peaches, and pear. Flavors include honeydew melon, white peaches, pear, kiwi, and hints of hazelnuts. There is a refreshing medium body, good balance and acidity, and a minerally medium finish.
Food pairings would include veal, pork, chicken, white meat dishes with rich and creamy sauces, sole, halibut, branzino, swordfish, tuna, clams, mussels, calamari, seafood pasta, risotto, and salads, baked seafood dishes with creamy sauces, paella, pasta with creamy sauces, Asian and Mexican pork, chicken, and seafood dishes, creamy yellow curries, enchiladas, pork verde, chile relleno, tostadas, green salads, and mild to medium cheeses.
Dogliani DOCG “Madonna delle Grazie” Dolcetto 2023 (OF, NF)
Aromas include dark cherries, dark plums, dark chocolate, boysenberries, blueberries, nectarines, apricots, and raspberries. Flavors include dark cherries, dark plums, boysenberries, blueberries, red peaches, and apricots. There is a medium to full body, good balance and acidity, and a long medium to full finish.
Food pairings would include New York Steak, Rib Eye, short ribs, beef stew, lamb chops, veal chops, pork chops and tenderloin, wild boar, elk, grilled chicken, duck, cassoulet, grilled sausages, pasta with light meat sauces and shellfish, shrimp scampi, swordfish, tuna, clams, mussels, Asian and Mexican beef, pork, and chicken dishes, lamb curries, Middle Eastern food, rich Mexican food such as Alambres or with mole sauces, charcuterie, and medium, hard, and rich cheeses.
Barbaresco DOCG “Madonna delle Rose” 2022 (OF, NF)
Aromas include black cherries, dark plums, boysenberries, blueberries, pomegranate, and violets. Flavors include dark cherries, boysenberries, blueberries, really juicy strawberries, yellow peaches, and apricots. There is an elegant medium body, perfect balance and acidity, and a really long medium finish.
Food pairings would include Filet Mignon, New York Steak, Rib Eye, short ribs, lamb chops and rack of lamb, veal chops and roast veal, pork chops, tenderloin, and shoulder, wild boar, chicken, duck, elegant pasta dishes with light tomato sauces, salmon, crab, shrimp, swordfish, clams, mussels, seafood risotto, Asian and Mexican beef, pork, and chicken dishes, Tandoori dishes, beef and pork enchiladas, tamales, rich Mexican dishes such as Alambres, pork verde, tacos, tapas, charcuterie, and medium to creamy cheeses. The description of a “medium body” may be misleading as the wine's precise fruit expression and perfect acidity results in a very persistent wine on the palate and really fun versatility with food.
