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Luciano Sandrone Barolo Aleste 2018 (1500ml)

$635.00
Out of stock
Luciano Sandrone Barolo Aleste 2018 (1500ml)
Producer Luciano Sandrone
Region, Country Barolo, Italy
Bottle Size 1.5L
Product Code 21871-1500

The name of the wine may have changed, but Sandrone’s famous single-cru Barolo is still, and will always be, 100% Cannubi Boschis. Boschis is a particular subzone near the northern end of the Cannubi hill. It’s a cru that is synonymous with this grower, as Luciano was the first to place its name on a label (1985), and it is located directly across from the Sandrone cellars. Sandrone farms three plots in Cannubi Boschis, totalling 1.9 hectares with south and south-easterly exposures, calcareous clay soils with some sand, and vines that are on average 37 years of age.


The Cannubi slope is complex, with soil changes, many different aspects and variation in altitude. Highlighting the uniqueness of the wines of Cannubi Boschis, as compared to the rest of the Cannubi hill, Alessandro Masnaghetti [L’Enciclopedia delle Grandi Vigne del Barolo] writes, “The wines, in general, have good body, much elegance, and more polished tannins than other Cannubi wines”. First made in 1985, this was one of the pioneering single-cru wines of the region, helping to awaken the wine world to the potential of Barolo’s varied and complex terroirs.


Aside from a little bit longer on skins, the winemaking is essentially identical to Le Vigne: destemming with a very high percentage of whole berries and a smaller percentage of whole bunches; wild yeast fermentation; aging in mostly used, 500-litre French oak casks (20% new); and bottling without filtration after 18 months.


Luciano Sandrone Barolo Aleste 2018 (1500ml)

Reviews

“Made with fruit from Cannubi Boschis, the Luciano Sandrone 2018 Barolo Aleste is plump and ripe, but this wine also shows a more delicate character that is its ace card. The aromas are filigreed and fine with dark fruit, spice and licorice. The effect is integrated, and the wine shows a lovely, softer personality to balance out this mildly concentrated expression.”
96 points, Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate
“The 2018 Barolo Aleste is gorgeous, but also very quite today. There’s terrific purity to the dark red/purplish fruit and a good bit of volume too, but readers will have to be patient. Bright acids and firm tannins lend energy. I admire the presence and texture here. The Aleste, from Cannubi Boschis, benefits from a site that can handle moisture. This is nicely done.”
94 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous
“Dried red berries and dried flowers, almost tobacco on the nose. Citrus and minty notes add character. Medium-to full-bodied, elegant and silky palate that thickens out with fine, creamy tannins as it progresses. Super texture to this, gently coating the palate. Rather firmer just at the end for now. Really refined and elegant. Best from 2024.”
94 points, James Suckling, jamessuckling.com

Reviews

“Made with fruit from Cannubi Boschis, the Luciano Sandrone 2018 Barolo Aleste is plump and ripe, but this wine also shows a more delicate character that is its ace card. The aromas are filigreed and fine with dark fruit, spice and licorice. The effect is integrated, and the wine shows a lovely, softer personality to balance out this mildly concentrated expression.”
96 points, Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate
“The 2018 Barolo Aleste is gorgeous, but also very quite today. There’s terrific purity to the dark red/purplish fruit and a good bit of volume too, but readers will have to be patient. Bright acids and firm tannins lend energy. I admire the presence and texture here. The Aleste, from Cannubi Boschis, benefits from a site that can handle moisture. This is nicely done.”
94 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous
“Dried red berries and dried flowers, almost tobacco on the nose. Citrus and minty notes add character. Medium-to full-bodied, elegant and silky palate that thickens out with fine, creamy tannins as it progresses. Super texture to this, gently coating the palate. Rather firmer just at the end for now. Really refined and elegant. Best from 2024.”
94 points, James Suckling, jamessuckling.com

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