Gaudio Bricco Mondalino 2023 Dolce Stil Novo Malvasia di Casorzo 750ml

Dolce Stil Novo takes its name directly from the most important Italian literary movement of the thirteenth century, founded by Dante Alighieri himself, whose central theme was love — a genuinely fitting namesake for a wine built entirely around charm, romance, and easy pleasure. The wine is made from Malvasia di Casorzo, an extremely rare red Malvasia variety cultivated almost exclusively in this specific corner of Monferrato and virtually nowhere else in the world, giving Gaudio a real point of genuine local distinction.

The Gaudio family has made wine in Monferrato for three centuries, with the estate formally founded in 1973 under Amilcare Gaudio, now run by his son Mauro alongside his wife Gabriella and daughter Beatrice, farming 44.5 acres of elevated, sunny vineyard on white calcareous soil rich in fossilized seashells. This particular wine grows at 250 meters elevation in the Casorzo district. Production is genuinely gentle and deliberate: two weeks of cold maceration, followed by vinification in a steel autoclave specifically to preserve the wine's natural CO2 and delicate sweetness, bottled at a genuinely low 6-7% ABV, with a suggested aging potential of up to four years.

CellarTracker's community has rated the 2023 vintage 85 points. Gaudio's own official tasting notes for the base style describe a wine "light ruby red with cherry reflections," the nose "aromatic, floral, and reminiscent of fresh rose petals," "fizzy and fragrant, with fruit flavors on the palate," closing with "a crystal-clear finish." Empson & Co.'s extended tasting adds "light cherry-colored, fizzy, and delicately sweet" character, with "elegant floral aromas" recalling "fresh rose petals, raspberries, blackberries, and redcurrant," the flavors "fragrant" and "grapey," genuinely "cleansing rather than cloying on the palate." Wine-Searcher's critic notes for an adjacent vintage describe it as "fizzy, fruity and medium-sweet," with "aromas of violets, strawberries, bubble gum and candied apples," calling it "light and fun, with a gentle fizz," and a separate note comparing it to "a light sparkling red, similar to Lambrusco," recommending it "perhaps in the morning with a brioche." This is genuinely charming, distinctive Piedmontese wine — a real rarity, made from a grape variety found essentially nowhere else on earth.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Gaudio Bricco Mondalino Dolce Stil Novo Malvasia di Casorzo 2023 is produced by the Gaudio family, who have made wine in Monferrato for three centuries, with the estate formally founded in 1973 under Amilcare Gaudio in the province of Alessandria, Piedmont, Italy. The winery is now run by his son Mauro, alongside his wife Gabriella and daughter Beatrice, farming 44.5 acres on white calcareous soil rich in fossilized seashells and marine deposits.

The wine is made entirely from Malvasia di Casorzo, an extremely rare red Malvasia variety cultivated almost exclusively in this specific district of Monferrato, at 250 meters elevation. Production involves two weeks of cold maceration, followed by vinification in a steel autoclave to preserve natural CO2 and the wine's delicate sweetness. Bottled at 6-7% ABV, with an aging potential of up to 4 years.

Critics Reviews

CellarTracker community — 85 points (2023 vintage)

Gaudio Vini (official tasting note):
"Light ruby red with cherry reflections. The nose is aromatic, floral, and reminiscent of fresh rose petals. Fizzy and fragrant, with fruit flavors on the palate. A crystal-clear finish."

Empson & Co. (extended importer tasting note):
"Light cherry-colored, fizzy, and delicately sweet, the wine's elegant floral aromas recall fresh rose petals, raspberries, blackberries, and redcurrant; the fragrant, grapey flavors are cleansing rather than cloying on the palate. Best served cold either as an aperitif or with dessert."

Wine-Searcher (critic aggregation, adjacent vintages):
"Fizzy, fruity and medium-sweet red with aromas of violets, strawberries, bubble gum and candied apples. Light and fun, with a gentle fizz." A separate note adds: "A light sparkling red, similar to Lambrusco, with exuberant frozen raspberries, dried oranges and cherry liqueur. It's moderately sparkling and has some decent acidity to match the medium sweetness and frothy bubbles. Fun."

Tasting Profile

Nose
Light ruby red with cherry reflections. Aromatic and floral, with fresh rose petal leading, joined by raspberry, blackberry, and redcurrant, alongside violet and candied apple.

Palate
Fizzy, fragrant, and delicately sweet, with fresh grapey fruit carrying through — genuinely cleansing rather than cloying.

Finish
Crystal-clear and light, closing with a gentle, playful fizz.

Quick Overview

Food Pairings

• Fresh strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, or cranberries
• Light desserts and pastries
• Served chilled as an aperitif
• Fruit tarts

Serving Note

Best served cold, either as an aperitif or alongside dessert.