2015 Fratelli Alessandria Barolo

WA94 From one of the stars of Verduno, Fratelli Alessandria, the 2015 Barolo is a beautifully elegant and compact wine at first. Give it a few moments in the glass, and the wine opens beautifully to reveal polished and detailed tones of wild berry, cassis, licorice and tar. All of this is followed by a delicate floral signature of violets and roses that accompany the wine from start to finish. This vintage is elegant yet voluptuous at the same time.
Estate Notes: Aromas of dark cherries, red plums, herbs, spices and warm leather. Structured yet silky, with fine-grained tannins. A selection of fruit from vineyards ‘Pisapola’ (southeast-facing, at 840-1,050 feet); ‘Campasso’ (east-facing, at 750-1,050 feet); ‘Riva Rocca’ (southeast-facing, at 750-1,020 feet); ‘Boscatto’ (east-facing, at 750-1,110 feet); ‘Rocche dell’Olmo’ (east-facing, at 930-1,080 feet) in Verduno, and ‘Gramolere’ (southwest-facing, at 1,050-1,350 feet) in Monforte d’Alba. Local soils are called “marne di Sant’Agata,” a mix of sand and clay with a high proportion of limestone, unique to Verduno. Age of vines: 25 years, on average. Hand-harvested in October. Destemmed; fermented on indigenous yeasts in temperature-controlled, stainless steel tanks. Aged for three years in older Slavonian and French oak casks (20-40HL); two months in tank and then six months in bottle. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.