The Elio Altare 2016 Barolo Unoperuno is a special wine with a high price tag that is explained by the manual labor required for its creation. "Uno per uno" means "one at a time" in Italian, and the fruit, the actual individual berries, are selected by hand during a super precise sorting operation. It represents a blend of Arborina in La Morra, Cannubi in Barolo, Pernanno in Castiglione Falletto, Sarmassa in Barolo and Cerretta in Serralunga d'Alba. This is a grounded and powerful wine (with a potent 15.5% alcohol content). It reveals cherry cough drop, blackberry preserves and candied orange peel. There is smoke and spice acquired during two years of oak aging. A precious few 1,200 bottles were produced, berry by berry. Monica Larner