Madonna Estate
2012 Dolcetto
"Estate Bottled"
Los Carneros AVA
Auction 17 | Lot No. 112
Vintage: 2012
Madonna Estate
Dolcetto
Los Carneros
5 cases produced
Description
In salute to our Italian heritage, we have chosen to offer for Premiere a Dolcetto, an uncommon variety in Napa Valley, but a family favorite. This lot is also a tribute to our daughters and their husbands.
During our daughter Taylor’s honeymoon in Italy, her husband expressed an interest in gaining hands-on experience learning about wine. Our other daughter’s husband expressed the same interest. For this “joint venture,” the four blended wine from the best barrels of the vintage. On the palate, black cherry leads to toasty oak. Moderate tannins balance the nice structure. It is a beautiful wine, and a sign of good things to come from the future generations of Madonna Estate.
Wine Facts
- Single vineyard wine
- Wine was dry farmed
- Organically produced (also commonly called "organically grown")
- Wine is 100% estate grown and bottled
Tasting Chart
| bone dry |
|
very sweet |
| light body |
|
very full bodied |
| soft, gentle |
|
very crisp |
| no tannins |
|
heavy tannins |
 |
Brette Bartolucci
Winemaker, Madonna Estate
From the beginning of harvest to the bottled wine it always amazes me how much the wine changes and develops throughout the process of becoming wine. I grew up in our family vineyard and spent many of my early years doing various jobs in the vineyard and at our family winery. After college, I began my formal training in the vineyard and cellar, watching and participating with my father, Andrea Bartolucci.
Country born: United States
Education: University of Nevada, Reno 1994-1997 Major Communications
NVC Sensory Evaluation of Wine
Various Extension Classes at the University of California, Davis
Years in the wine industry: 10-15 years
Winemaking Philosophy:
I believe in letting the vineyard determine the style of the wine. You cannot make exceptional wines without exceptional grapes.
Taylor Bartolucci
Winemaker, Madonna Estate
I first discovered winemaking as a child, following my father around in the cellar during harvest. It was always so fascinating to see the transformation that a cluster of grapes could make, first into juice and then into wine. Of course, I did not understand the chemical aspects of the process, until I became older. During high school, and on breaks home from college, I would assist my father in the cellar. After moving back to Napa in 2005 I applied for and was accepted into the University of California Davis Extension Winemaking Certificate. This was a year long program that enabled me to delve into the chemical, technical and fundamentals of winemaking. I was able to use this new knowledge to work with my father in the cellar. The 2012 Harvest marks my 7th year working alongside my father and our cellar crew.
Country born: United States
Education: Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theatre Arts from Pepperdine University
Certificate Degree in Winemaking from the University of California, Davis
Years in the wine industry: 7 years
Winemaking Philosophy:
My philosophy of winemaking is simple. I am the fourth generation of a winemaking family, who has consistently been farming and producing quality wines in the Napa Valley since 1922. My focus is to preserve the winemaking traditions of the generations before me, and to continue to produce organically grown, high-quality wines for generations to come.
Dionysus
5906 Dolores Street Suite 200
Houston TX 77057
Other Premiere Napa Valley Wines available from Dionysus:
| Winery | Vintage | Variety | Appellation | Fanciful | Auction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madonna Estate | 2012 | Dolcetto | Los Carneros | Estate Bottled | 17 (2013) |
| Paoletti Estates Winery | 2010 | Malbec | Calistoga | 16 (2012) |
Winery Distribution
Madonna Estate is distributed in the following markets. Please contact the winery directly for the most up-to-date distribution information and to explore commercial opportunities.