2017 Luciano Sandrone Valmaggiore Nebbiolo d'Alba 'Sibi et Paucis'

Producer: This is a soft, full, and almost lush example of Valmaggiore, particularly in the nose, which is expressive and open, full of violets, licorice and red fruits. On the palate, the heat and stress of the vintage comes thru in the ripe fruit and the still-firm tannins.The flavours of blueberries, raspberries and violet extract are balanced by the good freshness and ripe tannins. The 2017 Valmaggiore shows balance and harmony throughout, with good length and no oak notes.

"The Luciano Sandrone 2017 Nebbiolo d'Alba Valmaggiore Sibi et Pauci comes roaring out of the gate with bold intensity, dark fruit, dried cherry and baked plum. This hot-vintage Nebbiolo offers pretty fullness in terms of aromas and flavors, but the wine proves thinner on the mid-palate. It is fully loaded up front but less so on the back end.
" 93 Point, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate



"Attractive strawberry and orange-peel character. Medium body. Light tannins and a fresh finish." 90 Points, James Suckling



"Features rich, bright cherry fruit and dense tannins. Earth, eucalyptus and floral notes add depth to this balanced yet muscular version. Possesses the weight and structure of a Barolo, but is a tad less complex and long. Decant. Best from 2021 through 2028." 90 Points, Wine Spectator


Luciano Sandrone, one of Barolo’s defining figures, began as a teenage vineyard worker, saved enough to buy his first Cannubi parcel in 1977, and made his early wines in his parents’ garage while holding a full-time job. By 1999 he’d moved into his own winery, having spent two decades shaping a style that respects Barolo tradition while embracing careful, thoughtful updates. His wines sit between the region’s traditional and modern camps: generous and approachable when young yet firmly built for aging. Extremely low yields, meticulous vineyard work, and a measured cellar approach—medium-length macerations and mostly used 500-liter tonneaux—give his small-production wines their hallmark precision, balance, and lasting power.