On our table
Sunday Night Supper: A Study of Slope
Jacky Blot (RIP 2023) is one of the truly great producers of Loire Valley red wine. Here, a deep(er) dive with a delicious conclusion.

*This is our Annual Barolo Direct Import Offer*
The Fratelli Alessandria 2022 Barolo Gramolere offers a fascinating counterpoint to the estate's Verduno bottlings, bringing greater intensity, depth and structure while retaining the elegance that defines the Alessandria style. The fruit comes from a higher-elevation vineyard in Monforte d'Alba, where calcareous, sandier soils give the wine a different voice from the family's holdings in Verduno. First produced in 2001, Gramolere comes from the Manzone side of the family, Vittore Alessandria's mother's family, and production totals just 6,000 bottles.
The bouquet immediately shows the added weight of the site, offering cassis, pencil shaving and lavender essence, with a distinctly mineral character underneath the fruit. On the palate, the wine remains medium-lean in texture but gains momentum and presence, delivering a pleasing interplay of sweet fruit and savory salinity that carries through the finish. There is more concentration and mineral definition here than in the Verduno wines, along with a firmer structural frame, yet the wine never loses its sense of grace or freshness. As with so many of the 2022s, the mid-palate favors finesse rather than austere mass, making the dance and combination of structure and elegance particularly appealing.
This is the Barolo to reach for when you want more depth and focus without sacrificing the perfume and drinkability that make Fratelli Alessandria's wines so delicious and compelling. The higher elevation and distinctive soils of Gramolere bring another dimension to the glass, with savory mineral character woven through the ripe red and dark fruit. It is a natural partner for a beautiful steak, braised meats, game, mushrooms and the sort of hearty dishes that call for a wine with both backbone and refinement.
The family history behind Gramolere makes it especially interesting. These Monforte holdings came to the estate through the Manzone side of the family, giving Fratelli Alessandria a foothold outside Verduno and allowing the family to express a distinctly different side of Nebbiolo. Since the first Gramolere was produced in 2001, it has become an important part of the estate's portfolio, showing just how beautifully the Alessandria approach translates to the more structured terroir of Monforte d'Alba.
The 2022 is already expressive with cassis, lavender, mineral notes and that delicious sweet fruit and savory salinity on the palate, but there is a lot here to reward time in the cellar. This is an especially compelling bottle for those who want to see the contrast between Verduno's floral finesse and Monforte's deeper, more structured character. Elegant but serious, mineral-driven yet generous, the Gramolere belongs both on the table now and in the cellar for the years ahead.
This discreet collection of twelve wines includes automatic discounts applied at checkout and zoned flat rate shipping upon arrival. These wines are on-order to our Shops and inbound, expected for available pickup/delivery/shipping by about Thanksgiving. Order and save today; our Staff will reach you directly when your Order is prepared.
10% Discount for Any 3+ Bottles
15% Discount for Any 6+ Bottles
20% Discount for Any 12+ Bottles
(This wine is Vintage 2022, not yet arrived; the photograph here is of a previously released Vintage.)
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