Sandrone farms organically in Barbera d'Alba without bothering to chase the certification. Copper and sulfur only when the fungus demands it, composted dairy manure every four to six years, and that's the whole program. The 2020 comes on with plum and a serious frame for Barbera, red and black fruit folding into vanilla and spice the barrel hasn't fully surrendered yet, ripe fruit on the mid-palate meeting tannin head-on. Proof that Barbera can carry real structure when someone takes it seriously.
Tasting Notes
On the nose, the wine shows its imposing structure and typical aromas of plum. Red and black fruits then unite with soft, still noticeable vanilla and spice notes from the barrel. On the palate, flavors of ripe fruit complements the tannins.
Professional Ratings
92
VinousThe 2022 Barbera d'Alba is packed with ripe red cherry/plum fruit. Mocha, spice, cedar and leather add layers of nuance. This succulent, forward Barbera is an absolute delight.
About the Producer
The late Luciano Sandrone was an iconic figure in Barolo, with an extraordinary story of determination. He started to learn viticulture at the age of 14, and after years of work as a cellarman he depleted his life savings and purchased his first vineyard on the Cannubi hill in 1977, though he could only manage his land on the weekends while he continued to work. He made his first vintage in 1978, in the garage of his parents, and then spent years refining his ideas about how to make a wine of distinction and utmost quality that respected the traditions of Barolo while incorporating new ideas a…
