2017 Fratelli Alessandria Barolo Gramolere

With some 7,000 bottles released, the Fratelli Alessandria 2017 Barolo Gramolere gives us a taste of fruit from Monforte d`Alba, as opposed to Verduno, where this winery is based. The Nebbiolo from this further-flung village shows deep power and equal grace, and you feel the contrast in this warm-vintage wine. This Barolo sits firmly on the palate with dark shades of cherry, blackcurrant and wild plum. These fruit tones cede to iron ore, rusty nail and dark licorice. This wine shows power and almost sanguine or earthy intensity. 95 points

The 2017 Barolo Gramolere is a powerful, tightly wound wine full of Monforte tension. Readers will have to be patient. Dark-fleshed fruit, spice, menthol, licorice and sage add layers of aromatic intrigue to this firm, hulky Barolo. The 2017 takes all the Gramolere signatures and turns up the volume. 94 points