Freddy R. Troya

9.5

Gianfranco Alessandria – Barolo 2020
Piedmont – Italy 🇮🇹

Overview
Made from 100% Nebbiolo, this Barolo captures the essence of Piedmont’s most noble grape. The 2020 vintage is still youthful, showing its classic austerity and perfume while beginning the long climb toward its prime. (Educational note: Nebbiolo is famous for combining delicate floral aromatics with firm tannins and vibrant acidity, giving Barolo its legendary aging potential.)

Aromas & Flavors
Roses and violets open gracefully, followed by tart red cherry, cranberry, and dried strawberry. Nuances of anise, tar, and subtle spice emerge with air, promising further complexity as the wine matures.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied but firmly structured, with gripping tannins and racing acidity. The tart fruit and floral notes ride on a backbone of minerality, finishing long and tightly wound — signaling a wine built for age.

Food Pairings
Perfect with rich northern Italian cuisine: truffle risotto, braised beef (Brasato al Barolo), or wild mushroom tagliatelle. Also shines with aged Parmigiano Reggiano.

Verdict
A beautiful, youthful Barolo — tart, floral, and nervy, with cherry fruit and soaring acidity. Still climbing toward its peak, but already showing elegance and grace. A wine for patient cellaring, yet utterly captivating today. 🍷

Did You Know?
Barolo is often called “the king of wines and the wine of kings.” Its Nebbiolo grape name comes from nebbia (fog), referencing the autumn mists that blanket Piedmont’s vineyards during harvest.

Hidden Gem 💎
Gianfranco Alessandria is a boutique Barolo producer, crafting expressive, terroir-driven wines that fly under the radar compared to larger names — a true gem for collectors and explorers. — a month ago

John Murphy

9.2

Nice body, racing acidity. — 5 years ago

"Odedi"

9.2

This is a delicious Sauvignon Blanc From Sancerre. Showing citrus, green apples, minerals and spices.

Medium bodied with racing acidity. Crisp and refreshing.

Dry on the palate with a nice finish.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with lobster on the grill.

Great nose and palate. Very tasty.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points. — 6 years ago

David Kline

10

Green gold glinting diamond. Cap smoke, toasted sesame, wildflower honey crystallized, snap pea, chive, lime racing around lemon and zesty crystal droplets stratifying aromatically. Incredible lime zest and essence over lemon verbena, lemon pastry puff, and carnation petal. Amazing in every way.


#pycm #pierreyvescolinmorey #corton #cortoncharlemagne #burgundy #bourgogne #bourgogneblanc #grandcru — 4 months ago

Matt

9.2

Loved this over several nights, exuberant and exotic with zip and phenolics to hold everything up. Apricot, pineapple, racing citrus notes, mushrooms, candied ginger, saffron, white tea, herbs. — 5 years ago

David Kline

9.5

Palm frond, light olive essence, smoky-sweet petrol resonance over poppyseed pastry, rhubarb-wild strawberry cream, lemon custard, and palmyra. Lemon lime zippy while racing across the tongue, with grapefruit zest, lime zest and raspberry sizzle. Gorgeous and lean. Two palms up! #palmerandco #palmerandcochampagne #champagne #bubbles #Reims #àreims #brutchampagne #brutreserve — 5 years ago

Gregory Fulchiero

9.2

Felt flabby initially and unstructured. Nice body and balance of malo and oak - but fell short Compared to racing acidity from European Riesling. (Day 1, 8.5) On day two on its own this is pretty sophisticated and a joy to drink and likely showing off some of the best domestic Chardonnay I’ve had — 6 years ago

with David and Guy

Damian

9.9

Decanted in the glass for 30 minutes, with bottle open during that time and later. The best wine experience so far. I tried it before on a tasting and was not impressed. Brioche, toast, citrus, apple and racing acidity were still present in my mouth after 2 minutes of taking a sip. I prefer to drink it the way I described at the beginning vs straight from the bottle that was standing in ice. — 10 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Jamie Slone Wines is a small producer of some fine wines from Santa Barbara County. P1 (a racing term), is a blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon and 34% Syrah, aged for 30 months in new and neutral French Oak. Aromas of lively fruit, spice and cedar notes. On the palate fresh fruit flavors cherry and currants with some leather and cacao spice with underlying gentle sweetness. Well balanced, soft tannins, long ending with great mouthfeel. A winner, Tasting Sample. — 4 years ago

Matt

9.3

What a lovely wine. It has definition and nerve that balances out its impressive breadth, especially given the racing acid across all parts of the mouth. Lemon pith, tart apple, crushed chalk, hazelnut, Emmentaler rind, salted ham, hay. There’s a kiss of something aldehydic in there, but I like the complexity it brings. This has gained some nice development. 100 CH 4/2017 disgorgement — 6 years ago