Sandrone Barolo le Vigne 2015 (750ML)

97 JD / 97 JS / 95+ WA / 95+ VM / 17.5

The 2015 Barolo Le Vigne is a multi-vineyard blend from the sites of Vignane (Barolo, just beside Bussia), Merli (Novello), Baudana (Serralunga d’Alba), and Villero (Castiglione Falletto). It sees the standard relatively short maceration and is brought up in 25% new French oak 500-liter barrels. It’s a more expressive, sexy, and exuberant wine compared to the floral yet precise Alestes release and has classic notes of ripe cherries, asphalt, licorice, loamy soil, and dried herbs. It too shows the warmth and sunny style of the vintage yet has beautiful tannins, terrific balance, and a great finish. It’s another beautiful 2015 that has the fruit and texture to shine today yet the underlying structure and balance to keep for 25-30 years. Jeb Dunnuck

A tight and focused Le Vigne with strawberry, orange-peel and floral aromas and hints of hazelnuts. Not giving it all now. Full-bodied, very intense and focused. Extremely long and polished, tannic finish. Drink in 2023 or onwards. James Suckling

Luciano Sandrone expected this would be a beautiful year for Nebbiolo, with fruit showing the qualities of an important wine all throughout the growing season and right up to harvest. And yes, the 2015 Barolo le Vigne did turn out to be a great vintage, with a full aromatic array of perfumed rose, lavender and violet. For all of its generosity and expressiveness, with just a beautiful bouquet that sings out a seductive mezzo-soprano aria, be forewarned that in the mouth this is followed by rigidity and nervousness. That explosive bouquet might mislead you into thinking this is a rather evolved wine, but you certainly feel its youth on the palate. To be frank, this was an easy year to make wine, and it's not a big surprise that this edition of le Vigne turned out to be as classic and as good as it is. It should get even better with time. Monica Larner – The Wine Advocate

The 2015 Barolo Le Vigne is a wine of pure and extreme grace. Silky and nuanced on the palate, with tremendous character, the 2015 is all class. Rose petal, mint and sweet red berry fruit are laced together in this super-expressive Barolo. Medium in body, with radiant fruit and brisk tannins, the 2015 Le Vigne is a terrific example of the vintage at its best. Today, the 2015 is decidedly reticent. I have seen Le Vigne open up with time in bottle. I imagine that will be the case here as well, although the wine is quite closed down at this stage. Vineyard sources are Baudana, Villero, Vignane and Merli. Antonio Galloni – Vinous Media

From vineyards in Serralunga d'Alba (Baudana), Castiglione Falletto (Villero), Barolo (Vignane) and Novello (Merli).
Tasted blind. Dark ruby with orange tinges. A little reductive, herbal and closed. Shy but concentrated on the palate, too. There is great balance between brooding perfumed fruit, tangy acidity and coating tannins indicating this has loads of potential, but is not ready yet. (WS) JancisRobinson.com