Polished Barolos from coveted sites
On tasting tomorrow, and a mixed case offer
'Verduno has a territorial trademark all its own,' says Vittore Alessandria, 'spicy elegance'. The northern Langhe village of Verduno is closely linked to the 19th century creation of Barolo, but through the 20th century that fame was eclipsed by the ascendant success of other villages. In recent times, no winery has done more to put Verduno back on the map than Fratelli Alessandria.
Although (like Barolo itself) Fratelli Alessandria dates back to the early 19th century, it is only under the recent stewardship of Vittore Alessandria that its profile has soared: Antonio Galloni says it is 'an estate that has joined the ranks of the elite in recent years'. Vittore denies this is down to him. 'I am not important, the terroir of Verduno is important'. And certainly, everything he does is about letting terroir show through. His cru bottlings get the same elevage as his blended Barolo, 'otherwise the cantina becomes more important than the terroir'. But whatever he says, an adept winemaker's hand is still essential- and Vittore has proven time and again that he has got one.
He is proud that Fratelli Alessandria were the first producer to launch a pure Barolo di Verduno. The heart of this bottling is the steep, chalky Riva Rocca vineyard behind the village. His San Lorenzo Barolo comes from the Verduno vineyard perched above the River Tanaro. It's not entirely Verduno. Fratelli Alessandria also has a fine holding in Monforte's Gramolere cru, where the wild mint that grows between the vines is often thought to show through in the wine.
To help you get to grips with the Fratelli Alessandria range, we have put together a mixed case with 3 bottles from each of the 2017 and 2018 vintages here. Galloni is a fan. He wrote that, 'Vittore Alessandria's 2017 Barolos are among the finest wines of the vintage', and he described his tasting of the 2018s as 'a stellar showing'. /NT
Offered subject to remaining unsold
