Wines News & People
Luciano Sandrone
Langhe, Barolo
Piedmont in Italy
In Matt Kramer’s introduction of Barolo in “Making Sense of Italian Wine“; Sandrone is described as a persuasive proponent for lush, intense, softer style of Barolo production. Luciano Sandrone is one of the leading producers in Barolo. Although he makes wines in quite a modern style, it would be unfair to characterize him simply as a modernizer: while his wines, which see around 10% new oak, are made in a style that makes them easy to appreciate in their youth, they still possess plenty of structure and power that makes them good candidates for long ageing. In reality, his wines seems to vibrate this perception that he’s 50% traditionalist and 50% modernizer.
The estate has its roots when it was founded in 1978 with 22 hectares of vineyard. Sandrone focuses on painfully low yields in the vineyard and subjects his wines to a relatively short maceration period in the cantina. He does not believe in heavily oaked wines and thus uses only 10% new oak in the maturation process. His best-known wines are his Barolos, Cannubi Boschis (single vineyard) and Le Vigne. They are amongst the most supple and complex Barolos being produced today and few would argue against their almost iconic and expensive status.
The mainly encountered Sandrone’s wine offerings and bottling include the following:
Barolo Cannubi Boschis: (As seen in the last picture, just before the introductory paragraph). The super cuvee off this estate comes form its Barolo Cannubi Boschis vineyard with 30 years old vine made up of 100% Nebbiolo. Some 38 days in stainless steel with a further 24 months in barrels and the stipulated 18 months in bottle before release.
Barolo Le Vigne: Moving into the Barolo sphere, this cuvee is made up of 100% Nebbiolo derived from different vineyards from Barolo, Vignane, Novello, Merli, Monforte d’Alba Conterni, and Ceretta. After a total of 38 plus day in stainless steel, the wine sees some 12 months in french oak with a further 18 months in bottle before release.
Nebbiolo Valmaggiore: First conceived in 1994, fruit from this special bottling comes from its Valmagiore vineyard with 100% Nebbiolo 25 year old vines. 9 to 10 days in stainless steel with a further 28 days, then 12 months in French oak (50% new) and 9 months more in bottle before release.
Barbera d’Alba: Fruit is derived from its Merli and Rocche vineyards sited on clay with 100% Barbera 30 years old vine. This wine sees fermentation for 9 days in stainless steel, with a further 28 days before 12 months in French oak. The bottle is released some 9 months later.
Dolcetto d’Alba: 100% Dolcetto from a few vineyard sites namely, Barolo Rivassi and Crosia, Monforte d’Alba Castelletto and Cascina, and Novello Ravera. Meant for early redemption, fruit derived from its 25 year old roots see a total of up to 20 days in stainless steel, with a further 2 months in bottle before release.
Today, the estate is still managed and owned by Luciano Sandrone with assistance from Luca and Barbera Sandrone. Sandrone wines are one of the sought-after wine styles by avid Italian wine lovers, collectors and merchants.
While the Cannubi Boschis and Le Vigne may be priced at a hefty premium in the Asian wine markets, Sandrone’s basic bottling is priced attractively and remains within reach to the average wine consumer.
Click here for the interview: Behind The Bottle: Barbara Sandrone
Contact Details:
Az Agr Luciano Sandrone
Via Alba 57, 12060 Barolo
Italy
Tel: 01 7356 0023
Fax: 01 7356 0907
E-mail: info@sandroneluciano.com
Website: www.sandroneluciano.com
Further Reading:
Barolo Di Barolo
Wine Anorak
Berry Bros & Rudds
Wally Wine
Italian Wine Merchant
Wein Plus
NYT: Everyday Red Owns the Middle Ground
WS: A New Renaissance
WS: Barolo’s New Generation
Antonio Galloni Piedmont Report
Food & Wine: Best Barolo Producers
Wine Access: Luciano Sandrone
Mark Squires’ Bulletin Board on eRobertParker.com
The below tasting notes, were made possible with thanks going to the Mr. Raymond Lim of Les Amis for his express permission, and the fine staff of La Strada especially the manager Mr. Subra, and in house residence Sommelier Ms. Rachel Aw for facilitation and assistance rendered. While we wait for Ms Barbara Sandrone for her insights to our interview questions, we would like to thank Dr. NK Yong for introducing us to her. Not to forget the camaraderie which can only come from fellow wine lover Tze Moh who accompanied me to this tasting. A fruitful and lovely evening with the fine food, fine wine where some 42 invited participants partaken in this tasting.
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2006 Luciano Sandrone Dolcetto d’Alba
Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Dolcetto d’Alba
TH21022008. 13.5%. 100% Dolcetto. Bright. Toast and oak with fresh black berries. Medium-bodied, with a dry mid palate of back berry flavors and a short fruity finish. Dissipated within the hour. Enjoyable now till 2013. Price: £15.00, US$23.00. 
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2005 Luciano Sandrone Barbera d’Alba
Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Barbera d’Alba
TH21022008. 13.5%. 100% Barbera. Sweet berry fruit with evident vanilla and oak. Light to medium-bodied, it has rich and intense soft red plums and a mouthful of spice. Little finish. As with the Dolcetto, it knocked off slightly earlier. Enjoyable now. Drink between 2008 to 2012. Price: £18.95, €20.50, US$35.00.
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2005 Luciano Sandrone Nebbiolo d’Alba Valmaggiore
Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Nebbiolo d’Alba
TH21022008. 13.5%. 100% Nebbiolo. Berry, herbs and spiced. Light-bodied, this easy to drink wine is well-balanced, but somehow missing some stuffing on the mid-palate. A light herb tint on the aftertaste. Enjoyable now and drink between 2008 to 2010. Price: £25.00, €26.50, US$46.00.
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2003 Luciano Sandrone Barolo Cannubi Boschis
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Producer Notes: “Clearly 2003 was a challenging vintage. We used less of the fruit from our warmer microclimates for Le Vigne, although obviously we didn’t have that luxury with Cannubi Boschis. In a sense it is a return to the past in that multi-commune Barolos had an advantage over single-vineyard wines. We did everything we could to maintain as much freshness as possible in the wines. We fermented using lower temperatures and bottled earlier than normal.”
TH21022008. 14.0%. 100% Nebbiolo. A distinct floral and delightful nose. Rich spice, cherry and mineral. Medium to full-bodied with licorice, punchy berry, chewiness and very fresh tannins with a tight but powerful aftertaste. Given the opportunity, it would be fabulous if there’s an opportunity to taste this again in time to come. Drink between 2011 to 2023. Price: £69.50, €87.50, US$155.00. 
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2003 Luciano Sandrone Barolo Le Vigne
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
TH21022008. 14.0%. 100% Nebbiolo. Sandwiched between the 2003 Cannubi Boschis and 2000 Le Vigne, this was a tough medium-bodied wine with earth, and ripe berry fruit. Well-balanced, a very tightly knitted austere palate with fine tannins and a good finish. Drink between 2011 to 2019. Price: £66.50, €72.00, from US$99.99. 
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2000 Luciano Sandrone Barolo Le Vigne
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
TH2102008. 14.0%. 100% Nebbiolo. After all the toast and tannins, this wine was drinking beautifully and elegantly. Fresh plastered nose of strawberries and cherries. Medium-bodied, a balance of acidity and soft, round tannins with an elegant structure and a fine if not longer finish. Drink between 2007 and 2024. Price: £69.00, €72.00, from US$99.99 and S$200.00*.
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2001 Luciano Sandrone Barolo Cannubi Boschis
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
TH10042008. 14.5%. 100% Nebbiolo. Full-bodied velvety, with a superb conjecture of blackberry, cherry and licorice. Still primary, it is nicely balanced with chewy tannins, strong acidity and covered with sweet dark red fruit which tingles on your palate. Gorgeous depth and style with a good medium finish. Best drink between 2016 to 2023.
2001 Luciano Sandrone Barolo Le Vigne
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
TH10042008. 14.5%. 100% Nebbiolo. Medium-bodied with good aromatics of violets. Well-balanced and superbly elegant with lively acidity and great minerality, it is surprisingly accessible on the palate at this still youthful stage. Fine-grained tannins with a good finish. A candidate for further cellaring and aging. 1,250 cases were produced. Drink between 2009 and 2022. 
Stock-lists:
Giron – Dr. NK Yong (Singapore)
* Booze Wine Shop (Singapore)
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Winery Images by Frank Tan. Photograph and text by Daniel. Hit us with your best shots; we’ll try our best to listen. Send your inquiries or comments here or via email to jiuwine@gmail.com