2022 Bruno Giacosa Nebbiolo D’Alba Vigna Valmaggiore, Piemonte Italy
One of Piedmont’s benchmark traditional producers, Bruno Giacosa is known for precision, restraint, and site-driven wines. Valmaggiore is a benchmark Nebbiolo from Vezza d’Alba, offering perfume, structure, and finesse.
Tasting Notes
Red garnet in color with orange hints. The nose presents intense notes of violet and ripe strawberry. An excellent, well-integrated tannin structure accompanied by good acidity providing freshness.
Specs
Grape Variety: Nebbiolo
Appellation: Nebbiolo D’Alba
Vineyard: Valmaggiore (Village of Vezza D’Alba)
Exposure: Southwest
Yield: 45 hL/ha
Age of Vines: 45 years
Harvest Date: September 5, 2022
Fermentation 7 Maceration: 27 days in stainless steel vats
Malolactic Fermentation: Completely developed
Refinement: 14 months in French oak
Bottling: January 2024
Alcohol: 15%
Total Acidity: 5.20 g/L
pH: 3.53
Total Extract: 29.00 g/L
Optimal Drinking Window: 2024-2038
2022 Bruno Giacosa Dolcetto D’Alba DOC, Piemonte, Italy
One of Piedmont’s benchmark traditional producers, Bruno Giacosa is known for precision, restraint, and site-driven wines. This Dolcetto D’Alba is an approachable but serious expression of the variety.
Tasting Notes
Lively ruby red with purple highlights. The nose is intense and complex with notes of fresh red fruit and blackberries. The palate is full and balanced with a good structure.
Specs
Grape Variety: Dolcetto
Appellation: Dolcetto D’Alba DOC
Vineyards: Neive, Neviglie, Treiso and Alba
Exposure: Southwest / Southeast / East
Yield: 55 hL/ha
Harvest Date: September 7-10, 2022
Fermentation & Maceration: 8 days in stainless steel vats
Malolactic Fermentation: Completely developed
Refinement: 6 months in stainless steel vats; 1 month in bottle
One of the legendary winemakers of the world, Bruno Giacosa crafted the most prestigious single-vineyard Barolo and Barbaresco wines during a career that spanned nearly eight decades. He joined the family business at the age of 15, representing the third generation of his Langhe winemaking family. Giacosa’s unfailing pursuit of perfection, his unrivaled palate and his intimate knowledge of vineyards in the Langhe quickly drew recognition and helped establish Piedmont as a leading wine region. In 1980, Giacosa began to acquire prime parcels in Serralunga d’Alba, La Morra and Barbaresco to produce wines that are rightly regarded as the finest expressions of Nebbiolo. His legacy rests with daughter Bruna, who continues to uphold her father’s winemaking philosophy to respect traditional techniques while using the best of modern technology. The goal is for each distinguished site to produce articulate, unique wines.
Available States
AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
Bruno Giacosa Mixed Italian Reds - $45 = 13.01%
James Suckling 95 points.
This is very serious for the appellation, with pure cherry, bark and walnut character as well as a hint of dark chocolate. Medium-bodied, firm and focused, with integrated tannins and a long and flavorful finish. More like a Barolo. Great site. Give it a year or two, but it’s already impressive. August 2024
Wine Advocate 93 points.
The Bruno Giacosa 2022 Nebbiolo d’Alba Vigna Valmaggiore opens to bright cherry flavors and a pretty ruby color. The wine shows great fruit intensity, and there is a note of candied cherry that really pops in this vintage. It is especially fruity and bright. This is considered a hot vintage, but Bruna Giacosa tells me that it did not spark the same stress levels that vintners suffered in the more challenging 2023 vintage. Harvest occurred on the 4th and 5th of October, before the rain started. The fruit is generous and primary, and the wine ends with mildly chalky tannins.
Drink 2025 - 2035 Monica Larner Jan 2025
Ms. Larner also noted “Bruna Giacosa’s rundown of recent vintages goes like this: She sees similarities in 2000 versus 2020 and 2001 versus 2021. She describes 2021 as having the structure of 2016, and 2022 has the exuberant fruit we saw in 2015. The 2023 growing season saw drought, and 2024 suffered from an excess of water, especially in April, May and June (and during harvest too).”
Jeb Dunnuck. 92+points. Coming from the sandy soils of Roero, the 2022 Nebbiolo D’Alba Vigna Valmaggiore is a translucent red color and opens to refreshing notes of bright redcurrants, lifted spice, an elegant floral perfume, and tangerine. A medium-bodied, elegant, and refined wine on the palate, with delicate fruity ripeness, it’s fresh and retains a lovely structure. It’s a fruity vintage for this wine, but it has a lovely refreshing acidity. Drink it over the coming 7-8 years, although it’s simply delicious. May 2025
Wineberserkers discussion on the Nebbiolo: click here
Not much chatter on the Dolcetto…but speaking of chatter, there is a little discussion about Total Extract in a previous Giacosa offer, with Scott Harvey chiming in: and click here
Yes—especially if you like traditional Italian reds.
The standout is the Nebbiolo d’Alba:
Bruno Giacosa is one of the most respected producers in Piedmont.
Valmaggiore is a well-known vineyard that often produces elegant, floral Nebbiolo.
While it’s not Barolo, many wine enthusiasts consider Giacosa’s Nebbiolo d’Alba one of the best values from the region.
The Dolcetto d’Alba is more approachable:
Juicy black cherry and blackberry flavors.
Lower tannin than Nebbiolo.
Great with pizza, pasta, burgers, or grilled meats.
Value
Casemates has it at roughly:
$28.75/bottle in the 4-pack
$25/bottle by the case
The listed winery prices are about $35 for the Dolcetto and $56 for the Nebbiolo, so if those retail prices are representative, the Casemates pricing is quite attractive.
Would I buy it?
Yes, if:
You enjoy Old World wines with higher acidity and structure.
You’re interested in trying a producer with an excellent reputation.
Maybe not if:
You prefer rich, ripe California Cabernet or jammy reds. Nebbiolo can seem austere when young.
Bruno Giacosa Mixed Italian Reds
2022 Bruno Giacosa Nebbiolo D’Alba Vigna Valmaggiore, Piemonte Italy
Tasting Notes
Specs
2022 Bruno Giacosa Dolcetto D’Alba DOC, Piemonte, Italy
Tasting Notes
Specs
What’s Included
4-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
Dolcetto - $420/case — not for sale on winery website
Nebbiolo - $672/case — not for sale on winery website
About The Winery
Available States
AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Aug 17 - Tuesday, Aug 18
Bruno Giacosa Mixed Italian Reds
4 bottles for $114.99 $28.75/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $299.99 $25/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2022 Bruno Giacosa Nebbiolo D’Alba Vigna Valmaggiore
2022 Bruno Giacosa Dolcetto D’Alba DOC
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
Bruno Giacosa Mixed Italian Reds - $45 = 13.01%
The Nebby:
James Suckling 95 points.
This is very serious for the appellation, with pure cherry, bark and walnut character as well as a hint of dark chocolate. Medium-bodied, firm and focused, with integrated tannins and a long and flavorful finish. More like a Barolo. Great site. Give it a year or two, but it’s already impressive. August 2024
Wine Advocate 93 points.
The Bruno Giacosa 2022 Nebbiolo d’Alba Vigna Valmaggiore opens to bright cherry flavors and a pretty ruby color. The wine shows great fruit intensity, and there is a note of candied cherry that really pops in this vintage. It is especially fruity and bright. This is considered a hot vintage, but Bruna Giacosa tells me that it did not spark the same stress levels that vintners suffered in the more challenging 2023 vintage. Harvest occurred on the 4th and 5th of October, before the rain started. The fruit is generous and primary, and the wine ends with mildly chalky tannins.
Drink 2025 - 2035 Monica Larner Jan 2025
Ms. Larner also noted “Bruna Giacosa’s rundown of recent vintages goes like this: She sees similarities in 2000 versus 2020 and 2001 versus 2021. She describes 2021 as having the structure of 2016, and 2022 has the exuberant fruit we saw in 2015. The 2023 growing season saw drought, and 2024 suffered from an excess of water, especially in April, May and June (and during harvest too).”
Jeb Dunnuck. 92+points. Coming from the sandy soils of Roero, the 2022 Nebbiolo D’Alba Vigna Valmaggiore is a translucent red color and opens to refreshing notes of bright redcurrants, lifted spice, an elegant floral perfume, and tangerine. A medium-bodied, elegant, and refined wine on the palate, with delicate fruity ripeness, it’s fresh and retains a lovely structure. It’s a fruity vintage for this wine, but it has a lovely refreshing acidity. Drink it over the coming 7-8 years, although it’s simply delicious. May 2025
Wineberserkers discussion on the Nebbiolo:
click here
Not much chatter on the Dolcetto…but speaking of chatter, there is a little discussion about Total Extract in a previous Giacosa offer, with Scott Harvey chiming in:
and click here
fwiw
@kaolis Bought a case based on this comment. Looks like it’s in the right drinking window. Thanks~
Is it a good buy?
Yes—especially if you like traditional Italian reds.
The standout is the Nebbiolo d’Alba:
Bruno Giacosa is one of the most respected producers in Piedmont.
Valmaggiore is a well-known vineyard that often produces elegant, floral Nebbiolo.
While it’s not Barolo, many wine enthusiasts consider Giacosa’s Nebbiolo d’Alba one of the best values from the region.
The Dolcetto d’Alba is more approachable:
Juicy black cherry and blackberry flavors.
Lower tannin than Nebbiolo.
Great with pizza, pasta, burgers, or grilled meats.
Value
Casemates has it at roughly:
$28.75/bottle in the 4-pack
$25/bottle by the case
The listed winery prices are about $35 for the Dolcetto and $56 for the Nebbiolo, so if those retail prices are representative, the Casemates pricing is quite attractive.
Would I buy it?
Yes, if:
You enjoy Old World wines with higher acidity and structure.
You’re interested in trying a producer with an excellent reputation.
Maybe not if:
You prefer rich, ripe California Cabernet or jammy reds. Nebbiolo can seem austere when young.
Hard to square 15% alcohol with traditional style. Rats?
@klezman hot vintage
@kaolis exactly what gives me pause
This looks good and interesting. I love wines from Alba and Rstoker review. I’m in for a case. Cheers, Scott
@ScottHarveyWine I read that as AI generated, FWIW
@klezman @ScottHarveyWine The Rstoker comments? Agree, doesn’t appear to be an actual review, AI and/or a bit of marketing?
@kaolis @klezman @ScottHarveyWine
Just screams AI to me as well.
~Hi Scott, wishes to Jana as well~
@klezman @ScottHarveyWine AI and not an actual lab rat?
@InFrom @klezman
Well, no acknowledgement of an LRR in the post, and certainly no clear hints of first person tasting.