2020 Fratelli Alessandria Barolo Monvigliero, Piedmont

Crushed wild strawberries, raspberries, and elegant floral notes captivate the senses. Tart red cherries and cranberries dance on the palate, accompanied by a delicate herbaceous touch. This pretty Barolo showcases the beauty of Nebbiolo with its vibrant acidity and refined tannins. A transformative wine with a balance so perfect, it would score 10s in the Olympics. Drink now - 2045

96 points Jeff Porter Wine Enthusiast

Monvigliero is often called the grand cru of Verduno, a vineyard revered for producing some of the most perfumed, elegant and captivating Barolos in all of Piedmont. Fratelli Alessandria has been synonymous with Verduno since 1870, with the Alessandria family farming these prized hillsides for generations. Today, Vittore Alessandria is regarded as one of the finest interpreters of the village, crafting wines that beautifully express the finesse and aromatic complexity that make Verduno unique among Barolo's communes.

The Monvigliero vineyard occupies a privileged position on steep limestone and marl slopes, where excellent drainage and ideal sun exposure allow Nebbiolo to ripen while retaining remarkable freshness. The 2020 vintage is widely regarded as one of the standout years of the decade, combining concentration with balance and exceptional purity of fruit. Traditional winemaking, including extended maceration and maturation in large Slavonian oak casks, preserves the vineyard's distinctive personality and age worthy structure.

Brilliant garnet red in colour, the wine immediately enchants with soaring aromas of rose petals, wild strawberry, red cherry and blood orange. Layers of violet, star anise, white pepper and dried herbs follow, while subtle notes of tea leaf, truffle and crushed stone emerge with time in the glass. Remarkably refined, the palate glides across the tongue with flavours of red fruits, orange zest and delicate spice supported by silky yet persistent tannins. There is a weightless quality that belies its intensity, with vibrant acidity and limestone driven minerality carrying the wine through an exceptionally long and graceful finish.

This is Barolo at its most elegant and expressive. Pair it with truffle risotto, braised veal shanks, porcini mushroom pasta, roast duck or aged Parmigiano Reggiano. Patience will be richly rewarded, with the wine expected to evolve magnificently over the next 20 to 30 years, gaining further complexity while retaining its remarkable fragrance and precision. Monvigliero remains one of Piedmont's most sought after vineyard sites, and Fratelli Alessandria continues to be one of its greatest custodians.

Cellaring: Drink from 2027 through 2055 and beyond.