Sandrone - Aleste Barolo 2021
Sandrone Description
Tasting notes
A profound and deep perfume is the first impression of the 2021 Barolo Aleste, redolent of cherries, raspberries, wood and mineral notes, with underbrush and dark spices.
It has a sense of mystery, hiding then revealing, unfolding as it evolves in the glass. On the palate is it surprisingly robust and structured, but not heavy … it dances. Red fruits predominate, balanced by flavors of spice, wood notes and garrigue.
The tannins will require a good bit of patience but show the sweetness and elegance of the vintage - they simply need a few years to resolve into a coherent whole. The finish shows off the ripe tannins and notes of graphite and black fruit.
Evolution of the vintage 2021
The 2020-2021 winter was extremely snowy, with cumulative snowfalls in higher elevations of the Barolo zone reaching 3+ meters. The weather warmed in March and there were 2 weeks of unseasonably warm temperatures before the early April frost event. The frost lasted about 48 hours, depending on the site, and affected all of Europe. The vines had already begun budding and damages were luckily limited to lower elevations and places where air currents pushed the cold air up the hillsides. Fortunately, few of the Sandrone vineyards were affected.
Flowering was in the first week of June and coincided with the first period of real warmth. Thereafter, June and July were alternating warm-cool with well-timed rainstorms. The last significant summer rain was in mid-July, which also scattered hail over the Langhe in general.
August brought real heat to the Barolo region and combined with the lack of rain the plants began to suffer. Warm nighttime temperatures in August exacerbated the hydric stress and some sites suffered as much as in 2017. While the hydric stress was acute, the relatively short period (50 days) of dryness forced the plants slow berry growth, leading to an excellent juice/skins ratio. Overall, the late-season drought led to smaller berries and looser clusters, a positive outcome in the well-tended Sandrone vineyards.
In early September the night temperatures began to cool and the plants received a bit of refreshment from a few well-timed and gentle rainstorms in the middle of September.
The August heat contributed positively to the maturation and aromatic complexity of the grapes, and the wines tend toward generous, big and rich, with a bit less acidity than in the most classic years. 2021 Barolo will age effortlessly for several decades, while also providing great drinking pleasure in the medium term.
The Harvest took place on October 8th.
Wine Spectator: 98 Points
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: 98 Points
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: 97 Points
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.
James Suckling: 96 Points
Decanter Magazine: 96 Points
