This is a beautiful wine with a lively and layered bouquet, topped off with a bright cherry highlight. The Gianfranco Alessandria 2018 Barolo San Giovanni (with 5,000 bottles produced) continues to evolve in the glass and show its complexity. A second round of aromas includes spice, sweet oak and rust. This estate ferments in steel with maceration times lasting up to 10 days. This keeps those primary aromas intact. It ages in barrique, with about 40% new oak.

Alessandria's 2018 Barolo San Giovanni needs time to come together. It shows a bit more depth and a darker fruit profile than the straight Barolo. Like that wine, though, there is a bit of freshness missing. The 30-40% new oak here feels a bit penalizing.