Nebbiolo
150cl * Practicing Organic * 14.5% ABV * Barolo, Italy
Aleste is the natural continuity of Luciano Sandrone’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 the combination of the names of his grandchildren ALEssia and STEfano.
Sandrone’s wines are sometimes described as straddling the modern and traditional styles in the region: elegant, attractive and easy to appreciate right from their first years in bottle, but with no less power and structure than traditional Barolos.
The estate follows organic farming but has chosen not to seek certification. The Aleste vineyard is one the great cru sites in Barolo, synonymous with richness and complexity. 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. Aged in French oak casks (25% new) for 24 months, followed by 18 months of bottle aging. 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.
Winemaker tasting note: The 2019 Aleste Barolo shows the character of the favoured site on the Cannubi hill – in a cooler year like 2019, it exhibits more generosity and expansiveness than would normally be expected. The warm, low-lying Cannubi site gave this young wine heft and flesh, while still retaining the austerity and age-ability that result in cooler years. The nose is still closed but shows rose and violet notes, with good dark fruits and spice notes. On the palate,…a wine of uncommon grace and power, the hallmarks of the Cannubi hill. Dark berries, liquorice and spices come out on the palate, with tarry roses and mineral notes.
Drinking window: 2025 - 2050+
"Camphor, forest floor, cedar and rose aromas come to the forefront on Sandrone’s stunning 2019 Barolo Aleste. It’s racy and youthfully austere, delivering red cherry, pomegranate, star anise, cedar and white pepper framed in tightly wound, fine-grained tannins. Bright acidity keeps it energized and beautifully balanced. This needs several years to fully unwind and shows serious aging potential. Drink 2029–2049" 98 points, Kerin O'Keefe, kerinokeefe.com (June 2023)
"Aleste is a contraction of the names Alessia and Stefano, grandchildren of the late Luciano Sandrone. With fruit from Cannubi Boschis, the 2019 Barolo Aleste shows important richness and structure. This is the proverbial Barolo with a capital B. It reveals thick layers of dark fruit, cherry and spice. It shows sweet tannins and impactful texture. When tasting at the winery, Le Vigne is usually served first, and Aleste comes after that. Both wines promise a very long aging window. 2025-2055" 97 points, Monica Larner, Wine Advocate (August 2023)