Luciano Sandrone, Barolo, Aleste 2014

93 / 100 Robert Parker
This is the second year Aleste is produced instead of Cannubi Boschis, however the grapes are exactly the same. The 2014 Barolo Aleste is named after Luciano Sandrone's grandchildren Alessia and Stefano. The 2014 is still wound up and will require extra time to find its footing. The Sandrone family lost 25% of their fruit production in this challenging harvest. The wine offers fragrant notes of wild cherry and cassis with smoke, crushed stone and candied orange peel. The tannins are firm and textured. It is the palate (more than the nose) that requires more time to soften. The big news this year from the Sandrone family is the introduction of a new wine: The Barolo Talin that we will see in markets next year. This spectacular new project is 30 years in the making. The Sandrone family noticed a single vine that caught their attention, thanks to the quality fruit it produced. Following a long certification process with professors at the University of Turin, they finally had conformation that their mystery vine was indeed Nebbiolo. Luciano Sandrone is now celebrating 40 long years of winemaking (1978-2018). Congratulations.
237, The Wine Advocate