This is a big Barolo that brings to life the Monforte area style, with powerful potential. A lovely garnet red with a wonderfully complex nose incorporating violet, liquorish, red cherry, red plum, dark chocolate, tobacco, toasted coffee and cedar wood. It has a rich and complete palate, with the firm tannins dryness you'd expect from a great Barolo. Full bodied with a long elegant finish.

Service: Best served at 18-20°C. Decant and allow to breath for at least an hour before enjoying. Serve in a large goblet to allow the aromas to diffuse.

Food pairing: Barolo is a great wine to serve with meaty dishes. The rich tannins in combination with high alcohol and high acidity makes it a perfect match for steak, lamb, pork and even duck. Veal is common in Piedmont cuisine, which makes it a particularly good pairing.

Winemaking is now overseen by Gianfranco's daughters Martha and Vittoria. Martha studied wine in D’Alba, and the sisters have complementary skillsets bridging both “science” and “art” in the winemaking process.

This family business was founded during World War II by Vittoria’s grandparents, who began farming orchard fruits, hazelnuts and vines. Today, the 10-hectare estate is run by two generations of the family.

Gianfranco Alessandria is a small family-owned winery located just outside of Monforte d'Alba, a small village in the Barolo area that over time has attracted the attention of the lovers against the Langa, helping them to discover the history, scenery, food, wines of the area, as well as boasting one of the most picturesque views of the Alps.

A man blessed among women, Gianfranco Alessandria along with his wife Bruna and two daughters Marta and Vittoria, who are fully experienced in all the production phases of the cellar, carry on the family tradition started by his grandparents in 1940, when his grandfather became a grape grower.

Today they work with 8 hectares of vineyards divided between Nebbiolo, Barbera and Dolcetto, in the San Giovanni locality, which is situated in the area of some of Monforte's best-known Crus. All the vineyards have a south-east exposition, which allows Gianfranco Alessandria to produce wines of great structure, with freshness and elegance and longevity.

1* Up & Coming

DOCG rules in Italy greatly restrict what vineyards are able to do (e.g. the planting of trees within vine-designated land is not currently allowed, limiting options for estates to increase biodiversity). But Vittoria’s aim is for the estate to produce the highest quality low-intervention wines, which are produced with respect for people and respect for nature. Although as yet uncertified, the vineyard has been practising organic viticulture since 2015.

Red | Still | 75cl | 14.5% ABV | 65 mg/L SO2

Production: ~5,000 bottles/year

Recognition: 92/100, VertdeVin. 94/100, Parker. 90/100 Stephen Tanzer. Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri Award Winner. 93/100 Paolo Basso. 94/100 Decanter.

Cellaring: Fresh to drink young, will also age well over the next 3-5 years.

Vinification: 5-6 months in small french oak (225 lt ), old (neutral) barrels

Vineyard last visited by Wine&Earth's Martin & Archie in Autumn 2022

• Organic - Practising (Uncertified)