Sandrone
ALESTE Barolo 2018
Barolo
ALESTE is the natural continuity of Luciano’s first wine, the Barolo Cannubi Boschis, which garnered Luciano his early acclaim with the international trade and press. Giving all the experience, knowledge, patience and passion of his many harvests, Luciano pays tribute, with boldness and sensibility, to the next family generation: “ALESTE” is in fact the combination of the names of his grandchildren ALEssia and STEfano.
This single-vineyard wine is typically dense and concentrated but shows incredible harmony and balance. The medium-weight structure shows delightful and seductive notes of berries and cherries, with floral and mineral aspects. In great vintages, properly cellared examples will drink well for 20+ years. The finish is sweet and broad, with moderate, ripe tannins and long length.
VINEYARD
The vineyard is one of the great cru sites in Barolo, synonymous with richness and complexity. Sandrone’s ALESTE Barolo is grown on the soil of Cannubi Boschis, in a specific sub-section of the Cannubi hill. Cannubi extends north from the village of Barolo and has been planted to Nebbiolo on its south and east exposures for at least a century. It runs approximately southwest-northeast and is entirely inside the commune of Barolo, from which it displays the characteristics of wines from this village: profound aromatic complexity and comparatively softer tannins in relation to vines grown in Monforte or Serralunga. The “Boschis” subzone of the Cannubi (also known, historically, as Monghisolfo) is near the northern end of the hill, and is located directly across the little valley from the Sandrone winery building. The Cannubi Boschis subzone has a particularly good exposure to the south and southeast in a small bowl or “conca” that helps hold the warmth in the early morning. Its soils are sea deposits of calcareous clay, not very deep, with good drainage.
WINEMAKING
Each lot of the vineyard is vinified separately, and after destemming and light crushing, the must is covered with CO2 for a gentle warm maceration of approximately a day. Alcoholic fermentation begins about 24-36 hours later from native yeasts. A gentle maceration takes place in upright open-top steel tanks for the first 9-10 days of alcoholic fermentation. Immediately after alcoholic fermentation, which takes 28-30 days, malolactic fermentation takes place in 500 liter French oak casks. The wine is aged in these casks for 24 months, followed by 18 months of bottle aging. Around 800 cases are produced in a typical vintage.
VINTAGE
After the sweltering 2017 season, 2018 began with good winter snow and spring rains that helped replenish the dry ground. Flowering was under normal conditions. The beginning of the summer was characterized by occasional downpours that led to high humidity conditions. Much care had to be taken to achieve a healthy vineyard as Peronospora ran rampant when left unchecked by regular and judicious applications of the correct treatments. Green harvesting became necessary in order to bring fruit production to the highest possible potential quality. Development of the fruit was gradual during the summer, and a long period of constant fine weather helped the grapes to ripen without an early harvest. The harvest period was normal and quantities in general were slightly higher than had been the norm for the previous vintages.
TASTING NOTE
Aleste 2018 shows a more concentrated iteration of the vintage, reflecting the warm, sheltered, low altitude vines on the side of the famed Cannubi hill. On the nose, the aromas leap from the glass, showing red and dark cherries and raspberries, with the spice notes so typical of Cannubi Boschis. On the palate, the deeper concentration is also more closed than in its brother the Le Vigne, showing grippy, mature tannins that will require a few years to soften up and integrate fully. The finish exhibits good freshness and long silky tannins.
Color
Red
Grape Varieties
Nebbiolo
Appellation
Barolo
Farming
Follows organic farming but has chosen not to seek certification. Minimal quantities of Bordeaux mixture and sulfur (as allowed per organic practices) are used to control mold and fungus, and fertilization every 4-6 years occurs with composted manure from dairy cows.
Alcohol
14%
Suggested Retail Price
$175.00
Reviews
"Dried flowers and tobacco"
James Suckling - May 4, 2022 “Dried red berries and dried flowers, almost tobacco on the nose. Citrus and minty notes add character. Medium-to full-bodied, elegant and silky palate that thickens out with fine, creamy tannins as it progresses. Super texture to this, gently coating the palate. Rather firmer just at the end for now. Really refined and elegant.” - J.S., 4/22
Wine Advocate - June 26, 2022 "Made with fruit from Cannubi Boschis, the Luciano Sandrone 2018 Barolo Aleste is plump and ripe, but this wine also shows a more delicate character that is its ace card. The aromas are filigreed and fine with dark fruit, spice and licorice. The effect is integrated, and the wine shows a lovely, softer personality to balance out this mildly concentrated expression."- M.L 6/22
"Woodland berry"
Wine Enthusiast - June 27, 2022 "Fragrant purple flower, woodland berry and menthol aromas form the nose along with whiffs of spice. The elegant, medium-bodied palate offers juicy pomegranate, red currant and oak-driven spice set against an acidic backbone. Taut, fine-grained tannins leave a drying close." —K.O.
"Cherry, leather and tar"
Wine Spectator - January 19, 2023 "An open-knit Barolo highlighted by plum, cherry, leather and tar flavors. Supple in texture before firming up, with dusty, refined tannins lingering on the finish. This should evolve nicely with some bottle age."—B.S 1/23
More on Sandrone ALESTE Barolo 2018
Luciano Sandrone featured in “Bootstraps to Barolo” Wine Spectator
May 4, 2022 - Wine Spectator writer Robert Camuto published a compelling article that documents the Sandrone winemaking family's legacy that has spanned over 40 years of making wine in Barolo. From acquiring his…
Luciano Sandrone Tribute in Wine & Spirits
May 4, 2022 - Stephanie Johnson, Italian Editor of Wine & Spirits Magazine wrote a touching tribute to winemaker and visionary, Luciano Sandrone, following his passing in January. She fondly recalls the last time…
Trade Materials
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