Barolo, Fratelli Alessandria 2017

The Gianfranco Alessandria 2017 Barolo comes from a hot and dry vintage, but there are little evident signs of this. The wine reveals tart cherry and plum, with beautiful shadings of tar, licorice and smoke. You feel a hint of the 14.5% alcohol content although it is well integrated into the mid-weight texture displayed here. The wine opens readily (I came back to retaste my open bottle about six hours later), but that touch of heat and those tight 2017 tannins merit a food pairing rich in cream or butter when your bottle has completed its evolution. Some 10,000 bottles were made. 2024-2038