Barolo Aleste 2013

Luciano Sandrone is an Italian wine producer of Piedmont, particularly known for its red wines from the Nebbiolo, Barbera and Dolcetto grapes. The Sandrone estate was founded in 1978, a year after after Luciano Sandrone had bought a small parcel in Cannubi Boschis. Initially, wines were made in the garage of his parents' house. A trip to Vinitaly in 1982 allowed Luciano to sell all of his 1978 Barolo to a US distributor, providing the starting point for a long, slow period of growth. 

Aleste is the natural continuity of Luciano's first wine, the Barolo Cannubi Boschis. Giving all the experience, knowledge, patience and passion of his many harvests, Luciano pays tribute, with boldness and sensibility, to the next family generation. From the very first bottling in 1985, Luciano always believed in the unique and distinctive potential of the Cannubi hill, and that he wanted to express this potential by way of a separate winemaking. This bottling pays homage to the richness and elegance of the favored Cannubi site in the heart of the Barolo. 

Its aromatic complexity is expressed at every turn of the glass. The aromatic hints of Asian spices, oak and black fruits are simply captivating. As is typical for cooler vintages, there are significant floral tones of rose petals and hibiscus. These are supplemented by aromas of cigar, cedar, black licorice and white ground pepper. On the palate, the sense of volume is palpable, dominated by dark sweet cherries and black raspberries. This is a wine that delights all the senses. There is indeed a vibrancy, which gives personality to this wine, and the freshness of the acidity balances the opulent tannins.

Aleste Barolo 2013 will be a particularly long-lived wine that needs patience. Its present structure makes this wine complete, but still very young: it will reach its optimal drinking period in 12 – 15 years.