Luciano Sandrone, Barolo
Enticing aromas of tart plums, boysenberries and wildflowers lift from the glass of this energetic and singular Barbera. The fleshy palate is driven by tart blue and black fruits that yield mixed spices and mouthwatering acidity on the finish. — Jeff Porter
This is very attractive with fresh dark and blue fruit together with hints of violets, dried citrus peel and cocoa, following through a medium-bodied, textured and sleek palate with crunchy acidity and vibrant juiciness to the fruit.
The 2020 Barbera d'Alba is another wine that shows the greater refinement at Sandrone these days. Even so, there's plenty of richness in the ripe red cherry, plum, mocha and spice flavors. Soft, silky contours wrap it all together, with a gentle kiss of oak that lingers. The 2020 is an absolute delight. - Antonio Galloni
The 2019 Barbera d'Alba is pure seduction. Silky and plush, with lovely red berry fruit, spice and floral notes, the Barbera is wonderfully expressive today. Here, too, readers will find a much more restrained style than in the past. - Antonio Galloni
The Luciano Sandrone 2018 Barbera d'Alba is a wine of remarkable smoothness and integration. There are absolutely no sharp edges here, as this Barbera is polished and buffed over twice for good measure. It is packed tight with luscious dark fruit and blackberry preserves. That dark core is framed by light touches of Indian spice, campfire ash and truffle. There is a note of cherry sweetness on the close, but it is beautifully softened by all that rich intensity. If you are a fan of the Barbera grape, let me draw your attention to this tremendous value. - Monica Larner
The 2017 Barbera d'Alba is a child of a hot vintage, and there's no missing its correspondingly sweet and dark fruit flavors. This vintage actually makes for an especially vibrant expression of Barbera, with solid notes of prune and spice. The fruit comes from parcels between Monforte d'Alba and Novello, from higher elevations where there is more wind and coolness. There is a pretty sweetness here and a nice balance and freshness considering the heat. You might pair this one with a beef-and-beet borscht topped with sour cream and dill. - Monica Larner
Ripeness is pushed to the edge in the 2017 Barbera d'Alba, a wine that very much shows the flamboyance of the year. Super-ripe red cherry, red plum, exotic flowers and sweet spice all race out of the glass in a hedonistic, full-throttle wine loaded with personality. There is zero subtlety here, but the wine is undoubtedly very pretty. - Antonio Galloni
The 2016 Barbera d'Alba is all class. Sumptuous and beautifully layered, the 2016 is a real joy to taste, even at this early stage. Super-ripe dark cherry, plum, licorice, tobacco and sweet spice infuse a sumptuous, lush Barbera that hits all the right notes. This is a stellar showing from the Sandrone family. - Antonio Galloni
The 2015 Barbera d'Alba will be released later this year in September. This is a darkly extracted expression from a warm vintage. Barbera loves the extra heat and the fruit within this wine expresses itself with cheerful abundance and intensity. One of the best characteristics of Barbera is that its acidity remains intact even in the warm years. That inherent freshness defines this wine, adding vigor and stamina to those long and luscious fruit flavors. This an extrovert wine with plump richness and succulence. - Monica Larner
The 2015 Barbera d'Alba will be released later this year in September. This is a darkly extracted expression from a warm vintage. Barbera loves the extra heat and the fruit within this wine expresses itself with cheerful abundance and intensity. One of the best characteristics of Barbera is that its acidity remains intact even in the warm years. That inherent freshness defines this wine, adding vigor and stamina to those long and luscious fruit flavors. This an extrovert wine with plump richness and succulence. - Monica Larner
Flot Barbera med fin balance mellem det kraftfulde og det elegante. Elegant kirsebærintensiv næse med snert af læder og frugtdomineret mund med fin syre og noter af lys chokolade, kantareller og ristede nødder og let støvet eftersmag med et hint af fad.
The quality of fruit in the 2013 Barbera d'Alba will not go unnoticed. This seamless wine opens to dark color and concentration with leathery aromas that are fused with plum, blackberry and cassis. It is a weighty and opulent wine that never feels too heavy or flat. In fact, the mouthfeel is bright and tonic with medium richness overall. The wine achieves a rare level of balance that is not easy for the Barbera grape - Monica Larner
