A blend of several small parcels of vines from several communes, Le Vigne is Sandrone’s ode to the classic Barolo-wide blend that was once the norm. All the sites that contribute to Le Vigne are markedly different from one another in altitude, soil and exposure, and together provide a broad overview of Barolo in a given year. Twenty-twenty-two was the third year to include Nebbiolo from Sandrone’s new holding in Le Coste di Monforte. Sandrone has been farming this Monforte d’Alba site since 2000. In this vintage, Le Vigne includes fruit from five communes: Barolo, Serralunga d’Alba, Novello, Castiglione Falletto and Monforte d’Alba.
Like Aleste, approximately 20-30% of the grapes were fermented as whole bunches, with a very high percentage of whole berries in the destemmed portion (thanks to a state-of-the-art destemmer). The macerations were managed very carefully (now a little longer than in the past but very gentle), with Luca Sandrone aiming to capture as much fruit purity as possible. The notes below show you what to expect.
“There is a quiet pride to this wine that you feel before you even put your nose in the glass, the kind of confidence that only comes from knowing exactly what you are and exactly where you come from. Five vineyards spanning a perfect diagonal across the Barolo zone from Serralunga d’Alba to Novello come together in a seamless and deeply satisfying whole, dark cherry and mixed spice building into something genuinely authoritative, solid and completely, undeniably great.” 96 points, Jeff Porter, Wine Enthusiast
“From various altitudes, exposures and soils, Le Vigne gives a true panorama of the denomination – through the lens of the estate. The interpreters (aka winemakers) are Luciano’s younger brother Luca and granddaughter Alessia. The 2022 is immediately captivating. Mature dark cherries and prune plum are adorned with sweet wood spice, rose and toasted hazelnut. Generously concentrated but neither compact nor heavy. Between the layers, iron, mint and fennel poke through. This becomes more detailed and precise as it sits. Shoring up the whole are firm yet supple, grainy tannins.” 94 points, Michaela Morris, Decanter