Winemaker Notes
This Barolo is distinguished by the “spicy elegance” that is the territorial hallmark of the wines of Verduno. It is produced according to the traditional practice of blending grapes from several vineyards; in this case five: Pisapola, Riva Rocca, Campasso, Rocche dell’Olmo and Boscatto.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Fruit for the Fratelli Alessandria 2021 Barolo del Comune di Verduno comes from five vineyard sites in Verduno: Riva Rocca, Rocche dell'Olmo, Campasso, Pisapola and Boscato. This was the first Barolo del Comune di Verduno to hit the market (with the 2017 vintage). The bouquet focuses on redcurrant and tart cherry, and there is a pinch of cinnamon buried in there as well. This is a pretty Barolo that manages elegance and an easy-drinking style. This 20,000-bottle release ages in Slavonian and French oak botti for three years.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Bottled only a month before I tasted it and coming from five vineyards in Verduno, the 2021 Barolo Del Comune Di Verduno is very pretty on the nose, with a good deal of complexity and purity lifting from the glass with aromas of fresh raspberries, strawberry, fresh spices, fennel, incense, and roses. The palate is focused and energetic, with bright acidity, finely coiled tannins, a salty, mouthwatering feel, and a light, savory finish. It is both tension-packed and has the finesse of Verduno throughout this Comune bottling. Drink over the next 15 years.
Rating: 93+ -
Wine Spectator
Tightly wound, gritty even, this red shows savory and umami notes of tar, eucalyptus and soy, along with plum and dark cherry. There’s ample fruit -- it’s just locked up for now. Excellent length. Best from 2029 through 2045.
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Vinous
The 2021 Barolo del Comune di Verduno is a blend of five vineyards across the village. Aromatic and polished yet also wonderfully deep, the 2021 is shaping up to be a real beauty. There's gorgeous density here, not to mention tons of personality.
Range: 90-92
Responsible for some of the most elegant and age-worthy wines in the world, Nebbiolo, named for the ubiquitous autumnal fog (called nebbia in Italian), is the star variety of northern Italy’s Piedmont region. Grown throughout the area, as well as in the neighboring Valle d’Aosta and Valtellina, it reaches its highest potential in the Piedmontese villages of Barolo, Barbaresco and Roero. Outside of Italy, growers are still very much in the experimentation stage but some success has been achieved in parts of California. Somm Secret—If you’re new to Nebbiolo, start with a charming, wallet-friendly, early-drinking Langhe Nebbiolo or Nebbiolo d'Alba.
The center of the production of the world’s most exclusive and age-worthy red wines made from Nebbiolo, the Barolo wine region includes five core townships: La Morra, Monforte d’Alba, Serralunga d’Alba, Castiglione Falletto and the Barolo village itself, as well as a few outlying villages. The landscape of Barolo, characterized by prominent and castle-topped hills, is full of history and romance centered on the Nebbiolo grape. Its wines, with the signature “tar and roses” aromas, have a deceptively light garnet color but full presence on the palate and plenty of tannins and acidity. In a well-made Barolo wine, one can expect to find complexity and good evolution with notes of, for example, strawberry, cherry, plum, leather, truffle, anise, fresh and dried herbs, tobacco and violets.
There are two predominant soil types here, which distinguish Barolo from the lesser surrounding areas. Compact and fertile Tortonian sandy marls define the vineyards farthest west and at higher elevations. Typically the Barolo wines coming from this side, from La Morra and Barolo, can be approachable relatively early on in their evolution and represent the “feminine” side of Barolo, often closer in style to Barbaresco with elegant perfume and fresh fruit.
On the eastern side of the Barolo wine region, Helvetian soils of compressed sandstone and chalks are less fertile, producing wines with intense body, power and structured tannins. This more “masculine” style comes from Monforte d’Alba and Serralunga d’Alba. The township of Castiglione Falletto covers a spine with both soil types.
The best Barolo wines need 10-15 years before they are ready to drink, and can further age for several decades.