Italy — wine

Rossese di Dolceacqua DOC

Liguria's most distinguished red wine appellation in the extreme western Riviera near the French border, producing 100% Rossese di Dolceacqua (Tibouren) from terraced schist vineyards above the medieval village of Dolceacqua. The wines are light, fresh, and fragrant — more reminiscent of Burgundy than typical Italian reds — with strawberry, violet, and mineral schist character. Napoleon famously loved these wines and imported them to France.

Year Rating Notes
2023 Good vintage; fresh, fragrant Rossese with excellent schist mineral character
2022 Outstanding year; Bricco Arcagna showed exceptional violet and mineral precision
2021 Cool Ligurian season; elegant, light Rossese with superb freshness
2020 Warm growing season; fuller style but characteristic mineral lightness preserved
2019 Benchmark Dolceacqua vintage; Napoleon would have approved
2018 Hot summer; lighter style with good strawberry character
2017 Drought stress on schist; concentrated wines from surviving bunches