2019 Luciano Sandrone "Aleste" Barolo

Producer: The 2019 Aleste Barolo shows the character of the favored site on the Cannubi hill – in a cooler year like 2019, it exhibits more generosity and expansiveness than would normally be expected. The warm, low-lying Cannubi site gave this young wine heft and flesh, while still retaining the austerity and agebility that result in cooler years. The nose is still closed but shows rose and violet notes, with good dark fruits and spice notes. On the palate, a wine of uncommon grace and power, the hallmarks of the Cannubi hill. Dark berries, licorice and spices come out on the palate, with tarry roses and mineral notes.

"Camphor, forest floor, cedar and rose aromas come to the forefront on Sandrone’s stunning 2019 Barolo Aleste. It’s racy and youthfully austere, delivering red cherry, pomegranate, star anise, cedar and white pepper framed in tightly wound, fine-grained tannins. Bright acidity keeps it energized and beautifully balanced. This needs several years to fully unwind and shows serious aging potential. (6/2023)" 98 points, Kerin O'Keefe

"Aleste is a contraction of the names Alessia and Stefano, grandchildren of the late Luciano Sandrone. With fruit from Cannubi Boschis, the 2019 Barolo Aleste shows important richness and structure. This is the proverbial Barolo with a capital B. It reveals thick layers of dark fruit, cherry and spice. It shows sweet tannins and impactful texture. When tasting at the winery, Le Vigne is usually served first, and Aleste comes after that. Both wines promise a very long aging window. (ML) (8/2023)" 97 points, Wine Advocate

"The 2019 Barolo Aleste is another stellar wine from Sandrone. Like Le Vigne, the Aleste is a tightly wound ball of energy. Dark cherry, mocha, plum, licorice and lavender all race across the palate. This racy, but youthfully austere Barolo has a ton to offer. There's more density and a darker profile than in the Le Vigne, sort of like a soloist to Le Vigne's orchestra. (AG) (1/2023)" 97 points, Vinous

"Aleste is a contraction of the names Alessia and Stefano, grandchildren of the late Luciano Sandrone. With fruit from Cannubi Boschis, the 2019 Barolo Aleste shows important richness and structure. This is the proverbial Barolo with a capital B. It reveals thick layers of dark fruit, cherry and spice. It shows sweet tannins and impactful texture. When tasting at the winery, Le Vigne is usually served first, and Aleste comes after that. Both wines promise a very long aging window." 97 Points, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

"This red leans more toward black cherry, blackberry and violet flavors, with tar, tea and autumn wood underbrush accents lurking underneath. Firm, dense and persists on the sinewy finish. Combines elegance with power, but needs time. Best from 2027 through 2048." 96 Points, Wine Spectator

"An integrated and well-crafted Barolo with flowers and lemon peel to the cherry and strawberry aromas. Medium-bodied with chewy tannins and a linear drive throughout. Tight and muscular." 95 Points, James Suckling

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.