2018 Luciano Sandrone 'Le Vigne’ Barolo


Price:
Sale price$159.00
Stock:
Only 5 units left

Details:

Country: Italy
Region: Piedmont (Piemonte)
Sub-Region: Langhe
Appellation: Barolo DOCG
Grape(s): Nebbiolo
Wine Style: Red
Composition: Single Varietal
Practices: Practicing Biodynamic, Practicing Organic, Sustainable Viticulture

Taste Block

Tasting Notes

The warm-but-not hot vintage of 2018 gave us a Le Vigne Barolo of great delicacy and excellent structure. The nose is forceful but not explosive – it is balanced and open, expanding upwards in the glass with spicy notes framing black and red fruits. On the palate, the wine is open and engaging, recalling vintages of similar climatic character such as 2012 and 2015. The tannins are ripe, open and silky, the mouthfeel is filling without being heavy, the acidity is fresh and the finish is long with a distinct mineral note.

“The delicate mix of creamy red berries and savory, truffley notes keeps your nose glued to the glass. And that subtlety is carried over into the medium-to full-bodied palate, where there’s a youthful balance of silky fruit and lightly firm tannins that drives gently through the long finish. Subtle is the word, but excellent is the verdict.” 95 Points, James Suckling, (June 2022)

“One of my personal favorites, the 2018 Barolo Le Vigne is savory in character and packed with dark fruit. Ripe cherry and redcurrant cedes to spice, licorice and fragrant rose. The oak is integrated, but there are added accents of spice and dark tar. Le Vigne is a blend of fruit from Baudana in Serralunga d'Alba, Villero in Castiglione Falletto, Vignane in Barolo and Merli in Novello.” 96 Points, Monica Larner, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate (June 2022)

“Camphor, violet, red berry and oak-driven spice are front and center on this fragrant red. Elegantly structured and vibrant, the focused palate delivers juicy red cherry, crushed strawberry, star anise and a hint of mocha alongside taut, fine-grained tannins. Bright acidity keeps it balanced.” 94 points, Kerin O’Keefe, Wine Enthusiast (June 2022)

“A taut red, with alluring aromas and flavors of rose petal, strawberry, cherry, tea and graphite fused to an elegant frame. Reveals its structure on the long finish, where there's plenty of fruit in the end. Delivers terrific balance and harmony.” 95 points, B.S., Wine Spectator (January 2023)

The 2018 Barolo Le Vigne is a mid-weight, tightly wound wine, with a classic sense of austerity that will need at least a few years in bottle to start softening. Red cherry fruit, white flowers, mint and chalk lend brightness and tension throughout. In 2018, the blend of vineyards is Baudana, Villero, Vignane and Merli.” 93 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous, (November 2021)

 

Pairing Block

Food Pairing

Barolo’s firm structure, elevated acidity, and layered, long-developing character make it especially suited to savory dishes with depth, richness, and earthy components. Its combination of tannin and freshness complements braised meats, roasted proteins, and preparations featuring mushrooms, herbs, or gentle spice, while its complexity benefits from foods with equally nuanced flavors. The wine pairs best with slow-cooked beef, game, truffle-inflected dishes, aged cheeses, and Piedmont classics where the structure, warmth, and intensity are on par with the character of the wine.

Producer Block

About the Producer

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.

You may also like

Recently viewed