2021 Luciano Sandrone Barolo 'Le Vigne'

98 Points, James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com: "This is an austere wine that’s complex and multilayered, with aromas of fresh red currants, red cherries, violets and a hint of licorice. Graphite dominates the flavors, with a full body, firm velvety tannins and long, juicy, energetic and perfectly woven acidity. Polished, elegant finish. Drinkable now, but best from 2026.: 04/25

97+ Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous: "The 2021 Barolo Le Vigne is a classy, seamless wine. Crushed flowers, bright red-toned fruit, blood orange, mint, spice and kirsch open gracefully in the glass. This is such an elegant, sophisticated Barolo. The recent shift of sites to Serralunga and Monforte, along with longer ferments, has transformed the Le Vigne into a darker, more somber wine, while the inclusion of stems in some lots adds aromatic dimension. Le Vigne is a wine in movement." 01/25

97+ Points, Monica Larner, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "This is a blend of fruit from Le Costa di Monforte in Monforte d'Alba, Baudana in Serralunga d'Alba, Villero in Castiglione Falletto, Vignane in Barolo and Merli in Novello. That wide span of fruit across various exposures, elevations and soil types becomes the Luciano Sandrone 2021 Barolo Le Vigne. I always have special affection for this wine, and between the Aleste and Le Vigne, this is my preferred bottle. I love the brightness and focus of the fruit, the pretty complexity and the rich mouthfeel. The fruit aromas are laced with licorice, cola and spice. The high notes are quite apparent in this excellent vintage. I came back to taste this wine 24 hours later and found those notes to be just as intense and beautiful. This is a release of 23,000 bottles." 01/25

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.