Dr. Vinny is the pseudonym of Wine Spectator's Q&A columnist. The guy is just full of useful tips:
October 31, 2005:
Dear Dr. Vinny,
I have purchased Barolo from the recent 2000 vintage?. Most of the bottles had a pink DOCG? tag that was glued to the capsule?. However, I purchased two bottles of Gaja Conteisa, and they did not have the pink tag. Is the Conteisa not from that particular region?, or did I get duped?
—Nicholas A., Cedar Falls, Iowa
Dear Nicholas,
You are correct that most Barolos carry the DOCG denomination (the top classification of Italy) and must? carry the pink tag. However, beginning with the 1996 vintage, Gaja decided to declassify his Barbaresco and Barolo crus to Langhe DOC?, which does not need a pink tag. Conteisa is also a Langhe DOC, and therefore doesn't need one either.
—Dr. Vinny
His updates are also available as part of our wine news feed collection (reader required).