Sandrone
ALESTE Barolo 2021
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.
WINEMAKING
Spontaneous fermentation from indigenous yeasts • 12 months in 500L French oak casks • Named ALESTE starting in the 2013 vintage — union of grandchildren’s names: Alessia and Stefano
VINTAGE
The 2021 Piedmont growing season began with a cold winter and snowfall, followed by a difficult spring with heavy rains, frosts, and hailstorms. April frosts reduced yields in key sites, while July hailstorms caused additional damage, though Barolo and Barbaresco were mostly spared. A warm but stable summer, coupled with well-timed rains, helped balance the vintage. Harvest ran from late September to mid-October, producing structured, aromatic wines with ripe tannins, drawing comparisons to the 2016 vintage.
Color
Red
Blend %
100% Nebbiolo
Appellation
Barolo
Alcohol
14.5%
Suggested Retail Price
$174.99
Reviews
Wine Spectator - August 6, 2025 "Though on the quiet side today, this Barolo features aromas and flavors of cherry, black currant, violet, mineral and wild herbs. Perfectly in balance with the bright acidity and refined tannins, leaving a long, detailed aftertaste of fruit, mineral and savory elements. Shows superb intensity from start to finish."
Vinous - January 8, 2025 "The 2021 Barolo Aleste is off-the-charts gorgeous. Vertical and explosive in the glass, with tremendous energy, the 2021 possesses unbelievable richness married to vibrant energy. Plum, black cherry, gravel, lavender and mocha soar out of the glass. Readers will find a Barolo of stature and breeding."
Wine Advocate - "With fruit from the Cannubi Boschis vineyard, the 2021 Barolo Aleste is a lavish and beautiful expression with dark fruit, spice, licorice, cola and blue flower. The house style is always fruit-forward and bold at the Sandrone family estate, but you can also count on the wines to show excellent contouring with oak spice, soft richness and texture thanks to expertly applied tonneaux aging. The balance is impeccable."
Trade Materials
Other Wines by this Producer
Dolcetto d’Alba
Dolcetto d'Alba
Sandrone's Dolcetto d’Alba is produced using Dolcetto grapes from 11 different vineyards, all within the Barolo DOCG. Sandrone’s Dolcetto sees no time in wood and is a remarkably robust and complex example of the variety.
Le Vigne Barolo
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Le Vigne is a wine created from four different Nebbiolo vineyards, each of which brings its own contribution. This union generates an exceptionally complex wine that is round and harmonious on the palate, with fruity and spicy notes, and this approach of blending together plots is in fact the traditional one in Barolo.
Barbera d’Alba
Barbera d'Alba
The Sandrone Barbera d'Alba comes from three vineyards: Merli and Rocche di San Nicola in Novello, and Cascina Pe Mol in Monforte d’Alba. It is widely considered one of the most intense and complex Barberas produced.
Valmaggiore
Nebbiolo d'Alba
Valmaggiore is the product of Luciano’s incredible passion for the Nebbiolo grape variety and its different expression. Just 15 miles away from Barolo, in the Roero region, Nebbiolo produces a lighter structure and ripe, smooth tannins that are not unlike those of Pinot Noir. This is not a “baby Barolo” or a second wine at all – it is a distinct interpretation of Nebbiolo from a completely distinct geographic zone.
