Luciano Sandrone, Barolo, Le Vigne 2014 MAGNUM

94 / 100 Robert Parker
Luciano Sandrone and his daughter Barbara tell me that the 2014 harvest needs explaining. Many are quick to dismiss it given the difficulties of the growing season that saw abundant rain, hail and bombe d'acqua, or "water bombs," which are a dangerous phenomenon with intense rainfall in a very small radius. But hard work does pay off. The Sandrone family employed 38 people for farming, when the average harvest requires only 22 pairs of vineyard hands. Great care was required to keep the leaves and the clusters healthy. The 2014 Barolo le Vigne is bright and fruit-forward. It is perhaps more accessible in the near term compared to past editions. It delivers dark fruit nuances over a mid-weight and compact mouthfeel. 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

17 / 20 Jancis Robinson
Tasted blind. Dark maturing ruby. Concentrated and a little smoky. Subdued fruit supported by chewy tannins. Tannins take the upper hand, but lingering cherry fruit plays out convincingly on the finish.
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