LUCIANO SANDRONE, BAROLO

Luciano makes his Nebbiolo d'Alba Valmaggiore in the Roero on the other side of the river Tanaro from a single vineyard of 2.5 ha. The nose of the 1999 Valmaggiore is perfumed with raspberries and redcurrants. It is a very long, elegant wine with creamy smooth palate, fine tannins and pure red fruits which Luciano believes will resemble Pinot Noir after a few years in bottle. The 1999 Pemol is very deep in colour. Barbera is dominant on the nose with sweet berries and liquorice, while the Nebbiolo pervades on the palate adding more tannin and structure to the fatness of the Barbera. The grapes for Pemol come from Monforte where the Barbera is picked before the late ripening Nebbiolo. They are vinified separately and blended together after 4-5 months before spending 12 months in oak, then 12 months in bottle. Pemol is a wine to be drunk after 2-3 years. Luciano described 2000 as a good classic year, elegant and fine. The Pemol 2000 has polished berried fruit with fine tannins and pure, elegant red fruit. The Valmaggiore 2000 is soft with gentle red currant fruit, structure and persistency. The grapes for the excellent Barbera are sourced from 3 areas: Barolo, Monforte and Novello and are all harvested and vinified separately. The deep purple colour is the result of the age of the vines and the low yields, not extensive maceration. In fact, only the first half of the fermentation is on skins, fermentation is finished without skin contact leading to a more elegant style. The Barbera d'Alba 2000, due to be shipped in September, has a nose of sweet dark berries, creamy mouthfeel and light tannins but will benefit from another couple of months in. bottle.

As for the outstanding Barolo wines, Luciano views his wines as a half way house between traditional and modern Barolo. He focuses on low yields and vine health foremost, yet gives his wines a relatively short maceration period, and uses French oak for maturation. Barolo Le Vigne 1998 is delicate, with perfumed red fruits and liquorice on the nose, firm tannins underpinning lots of supple fresh red fruit on the palate, long and balanced. The Cannubi Boschis 1998 is as ever earthier and denser, with multilayered dark fruit. It also has an note of eucalyptus, which can sometimes be found in Nebbiolo. Another great vintage for Barolo.

1998 Barolo Cannubi Boschis 75cl

1998 Barolo le Vigne 75cl

1999 “Pemol” Langhe Rosso 75cl

(Pemol is a new Sandrone wine and is a wonderful blend of 60% Barbera and 40% Nebbiolo aged in barrique and larger demi-muid barrels of which 20% are new. Superb and classy.)