2021 - Barolo Vigne, Luciano Sandrone

The 2021 Barolo Le Vigne is a classy, seamless wine. Crushed flowers, bright red-toned fruit, blood orange, mint, spice and kirsch open gracefully in the glass. This is such an elegant, sophisticated Barolo. The recent shift of sites to Serralunga and Monforte, along with longer ferments, has transformed the Le Vigne into a darker, more somber wine, while the inclusion of stems in some lots adds aromatic dimension. Le Vigne is a wine in movement.

This is a blend of fruit from Le Costa di Monforte in Monforte d'Alba, Baudana in Serralunga d'Alba, Villero in Castiglione Falletto, Vignane in Barolo and Merli in Novello. That wide span of fruit across various exposures, elevations and soil types becomes the Luciano Sandrone 2021 Barolo Le Vigne. I always have special affection for this wine, and between the Aleste and Le Vigne, this is my preferred bottle. I love the brightness and focus of the fruit, the pretty complexity and the rich mouthfeel. The fruit aromas are laced with licorice, cola and spice. The high notes are quite apparent in this excellent vintage. I came back to taste this wine 24 hours later and found those notes to be just as intense and beautiful. This is a release of 23,000 bottles.

Grapes come from Baudana in Serralunga d'Alba, Villero in Castiglione Falletto, Vignane in Barolo and Merli in Novello.Lustrous mid-to-deep ruby. Still tight but complex on the nose. A touch of fresh mint and oatmeal. Beautifully sculpted yet firm tannins over raspberry fruit. Very long and precise but needs more time. Elegant yet firmly structured. (WS)