2005 Barolo, Cru Monviglero, Verduno, Flli Alessandria, Piedmont

Barolo Monvigliero is Verduno's & Alessandria's standout site, first bottled as such by the family in 1967 & more recently recognised in the recent classification of Barolo vineyards that now awaits Rome's rubber stamp. The family own 1.3ha out of a total 13. Alessandria's wedge faces plum south, on a near vertical slope, at between 250 - 320 metres, blessed with gleaming white calcareous soils & 30 year old vines. Alessandria's annual average production is a eye-watering 600 cases; invecchiamento kicks off in 20% tonneaux, before spending a further 2 years in 30 hl botte. The wine is beautifully toned & perfumed, it's relatively generous in a modern style yet profound, & sealed with a textbook taut lime-stony structure; a wine for up to 15 years ageing.
(David Berry Green, BBR Buyer)

More modern in style than some Baroli, but certainly no fruit bomb, this intriguing wine has a feminine, perfumed nose with red cherry and a touch of liquorice.  The palate is beautifully balanced with the red fruit, tobacco and spice flavours nicely tempered with fine yet structured tannins and fresh acidity.  
(Matthew Tipping - Fine Wine Specialist)

Quite fumey and then underneath redcurrant fruit. Reserved and elegant. Dusty with a citrus spine and plenty of cloves and woody spice. The oak is a little prominent right now and the finish slightly tough but time should be on its side.
(Tamlyn Currin - jancisrobinson.com - 25 Mar 2010)

The 2005 Barolo Monvigliero is a very pretty, classy wine. The Monvigliero is the most linear of the single-vineyard Barolos, and while it offers outstanding length, there isn’t quite enough fruit to balance the tannins, although the wine filled out nicely in the glass. I get the sense that in a few years time the wine’s structural components will dominate the overall balance. Still, this is a gorgeous wine from Alessandria. Sweet roses, cherries, flowers and spices linger on the high-toned, ethereal close.
(Antonio Galloni - Wine Advocate - Oct 09)