Tasting Notes
The 2010 Dolce offers predominant aromas of butterscotch and dried apricots enriched with subtle notes of nutmeg and caramel. Flavors of stone fruit, mostly apricot and peach, mingle with honeysuckle and the caramel character promised by the aroma. This wine’s sweetness is in balance with a mouthwatering acidity and its silky texture is present from the coating entry to its smooth and lengthy finish. This wine is concentrated with fruit flavors but its youthful expression is expected to develop inviting bakery aromas over time—warm brioche and crème brûlée descriptors are becoming evident already.
Vineyard Notes
Dolce’s 20-acre vineyard is located in Coombsville, east of the city of Napa, and is situated at the base of the Vaca Mountains, which define the eastern border of the valley. The volcanic soil is loose and well drained, and the westfacing vineyard is protected from the prevailing winds so that the damp, morning fog of autumn—a very important factor in the development of Botrytis cinerea—hangs longer amongst the vines, often until midday. A combination of high humidity followed by drying conditions encourages, but does not guarantee, the growth of Botrytis. As the mold develops, its coverage is seemingly random with individual berries succumbing to Botrytis at different rates, if at all.