High-Resolution Wine
Let me be up front with today’s offer: we don't often send you emails about $65 bottles of wine. We would rather focus on finding you exceptional wine at everyday prices - the kind you can open any night of the week, that brightens your meal and your day. Something that gives your taste buds and imagination a little adventure.
But really, we’re always looking out for exceptional value at any price point.
Sure, Barolo isn’t usually a Tuesday night wine (not even for the Piedmontese), but on our travels, we often run across something a little spendier that nonetheless over-performs and is worth the outlay. Alberto Alessandria's Barolo is one of those things.
Having spent time in Alberto's cellar in La Morra, I’ve gotten an up-close view of what goes into these wines. It’s a thrilling experience to taste across different vineyards and delve into various vintages. It's a private lesson in Nebbiolo from someone who's devoted his life to understanding it. Here are two key takeaways that have stuck with me.
1 - Making Nebbiolo takes an investment in patience - these wines are in barrel for three years before release!
2 - What Alberto crafts is High Resolution Wine
What I mean is this: Tasting Alberto’s wines feels like switching from standard definition videos on your phone to 4K on a 50” screen. These wines are full of detail, vibrant with fruit, refined tannins, and dynamic as they evolve in your glass. Nothing is blurred or approximate.
Alberto farms just 6 hectares spread across five parcels around La Morra, one of Barolo's most respected addresses. He makes only a few thousand bottles annually. His wines spend three years in large Slovenian oak before release. This is deliberate, patient winemaking from someone who doesn't compromise.
With all that said, it makes sense that Barolo is never cheap. Established producers from around La Morra typically start at $85-$100 and climb from there. But because we import these wines directly from Alberto's cellar, we can offer them at prices that actually make sense. No distributor markup. No middleman taking a cut. Just you, us, and wines that represent incredible value for what Barolo costs.
Barolo del Comune di La Morra 2021
The best place to start is Alberto's Barolo del Comune di La Morra 2021. His flagship wine - a blend from three different vineyard sites that captures what he does best. This is intense with dried fruit, cassis, hints of licorice and savory herbs, with fine tannins that feel like silk. Mouthwatering, alive, and something that will reward your attention.
Is it a splurge for what we typically offer? Absolutely. But if you're going to invest $65 in a bottle of Barolo, it should taste like this - made with care by someone who deeply understands the grape and the place.
I have just a few cases of the heralded 2021 vintage available, considered one of the best of the past decade. And I should mention, I just received word from Alberto that my next allocation will be roughly half of what we received this time. Production remains small, and access to these wines is getting tighter. If you've been curious about Barolo, or simply want to experience something exceptional, this is the one.