Wine Advisor
Luciano Sandrone, Barolo Le Vigne 2008
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
Sandrone’s 2008 Barolo Le Vigne is a wine of breathtaking textural finesse and elegance. Nothing really stands out, so phenomenal is the wine’s balance and sense of harmony. This is the kind of wine that is easy to overlook because it doesn’t ask for attention and isn’t showy. Instead, everything is simply in the right place. The finest, most silky of tannins support a core of sweet red berries, flowers, mint and spices, all of which are woven together with total refinement. The eternal, nuanced finish bodes very well for the future. This is a dazzling effort from Luciano and Luca Sandrone. Le Vigne is made from parcels in Vignane, Ceretta, Conterni and Merli. In 2008 there is a little less Vignane as part of the vineyard was hit by hail. There is little question that the blending of fruit from several sites was a huge advantage in 2008. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2028. Luciano Sandrone describes 2008 as a very classic vintage. It was a year with very slow and gradual ripening. The Nebbiolo harvest started in early October and lasted the entire month. The biggest news at Sandrone is the addition of parcels in Baudana (Serralunga) and Villero (Castiglione) which will appear in Le Vigne beginning with the 2011 vintage. As for the 2008s, they are majestic. Importer: Vintus LLC, Pleasantville, NJ; tel. (914) 769-3000
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
A model of finesse and understatement, the 2008 Barolo Le Vigne is every bit as thrilling as it has always been. At nearly 10 years of age, the 2008 is still bright, precise and very fresh. Sweet red cherry, rose petal and mint notes are beautifully sketched in a Barolo that is pure and total class. In 2008, vineyard sources are Vignane, Merli, Ceretta and Conterni.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2008 Barolo Le Vigne is just as magnificent as I remember it. Sweet, perfumed and lifted, with notable brightness in its red cherry and pomegranate fruit, the 2008 exudes the class of the vintage in spades. In a word: fabulous.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
Luciano Sandrone’s 2008 Barolo Barolo Le Vigne presents a much more modern, textured expression of fruit. Supple, gracious and utterly impeccable, the 2008 Le Vigne is firing on all cylinders today. Sandrone has mastered the art of making Barolo that drinks well young and also ages to a degree no one else has really matched.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Good deep, bright red. Sexy, carnal aromas of crushed raspberry, rose petal and sexy oak lifted by a note of rose petal. Vibrant, tight and firmly built, with lively acids giving lift and definition to the flavors of crushed red fruits, flowers and leather. Not yet delivering the texture promised by the nose but this very long, solidly tannins Barolo is an infant today.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2008 Barolo Le Vigne is just as magnificent as I remember it. Sweet, perfumed and lifted, with notable brightness in its red cherry and pomegranate fruit, the 2008 exudes the class of the vintage in spades. In a word: fabulous.
About the Producer
Luciano Sandrone is an acclaimed Italian winemaker based in the Piedmont region of Italy. He is the founder and owner of the Luciano Sandrone winery, which he established in 1978. Sandrone is known for his skillful blending of traditional and modern winemaking techniques to produce wines that are both elegant and powerful. He primarily works with the Nebbiolo grape, which is the main varietal used in the production of Barolo, one of Italy's most celebrated wines. The winery produces several different wines, including the flagship wine, Barolo Cannubi Boschis, which is made from grapes grown in the prestigious Cannubi vineyard. Sandrone also produces a Barbera d'Alba, a Dolcetto d'Alba, and a Langhe Nebbiolo. Sandrone's wines are highly sought after by wine enthusiasts and collectors around the world and have received numerous accolades from wine critics. He is considered one of the most influential winemakers in Piedmont and has played a significant role in elevating the quality and reputation of the region's wines.
